Rear Hard top latches

[Miloslav Maun]

Hi,

Could you please post a picture of how the rear latches should be installed?

I have the latch, then goes the top chrome bushing, then I put it in the hard top base hole, lock it with the nut. But what about the chrome and rubber plate? If I put them before the plastic bushings, the hard top sits too high...

Thanks for any help.

[Miloslav Maun]

Hmm, nobody here....  
I guess with the photos the explanation would be easier.
Is this the way the latch should look like?

Download Attachment: Resize of IMG_0857.jpg
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I find it to be sitting rather high...

[66andBlue]

Hello Muf,
here are a few pictures of the handle in various stages of original assembly and dismantling. Perhaps that may help you. I assembled it as follows from top to bottom: handle, - through hole in MB-tex and hardtop body  - chrome ring, rubber O-ring, black plastic cone, white plastic cone with locking bar.

Download Attachment: HardtopLatch.jpg
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Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

[Miloslav Maun]

Alfred, thank you for the excellent photo! That is what I thought. This way I installed it. But it is still sitting too high. Maybe my Hardtop base is already bent...

[66andBlue]

Muf, what do you mean with "sitting to high"? Is there a gap between hardtop and base? Is it high on both sides, or only one side?
Post a picture showing the problem and perhaps one of the gurus here will have a solution .. short of having the hardtop base straightened out.

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

[66andBlue]

Today I ordered a new pin and sleeves for the hardtop handle from Gernold and during the conversation he warned me that the left and right handles are not identical. Sure enough when I checked I had them reversed.[:0]
So I am posting a few more pictures showing how to assemble the handles and how to distinguish the left from the right handle (see picture #3).

Download Attachment: HardtopHandle.jpg
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Download Attachment: Locking_plate.jpg
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Download Attachment: Locking_pin.jpg
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Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

[deke54]

I have the same question about the way the rear latch should sit in the receiver.  I haven't had this problem in past years but it does seem to me that when I installed the hardtop this year it is sitting higher than I remember. Should all but the round base of the handle be below the surface of the receiver or should the rubber seal and metal ring also be above?  Thanks.

[georgem]

An interesting thread, especially for someone who has a broken latch handle.

Does anyone have an idea where I could round up a latch handle - drivers side for US cars, passenger side for those of us who drive on the correct side of the road!!!

Any leads would be appreciated.

George
Brisbane
Australia

blue 230 SL