I have been working on my soft top frame and discovered something about the design of the frame that I did not know until moments ago. This is my second 280SL so I've been around them for 20 years and for that time the rear corners of the top material have curled up because they come in contact with the wheel well in the storage area.
I don't think it is supposed to work this way. Once I took the material off and got a good look at the mechanics of the folding top I discovered that the rear hoop is suspended up off the base of the storage area so that the corners do not flatten out.
Here are some pics to help visualize. The first picture shows a rubber bumper that sometimes leaves black marks on the inside material of your soft top. It plays a very important part in folding and storing the soft top. The rear hoop needs to be pressed snuggly against this stop to make the corner suspension cam do its job.
Here is the bumper and rear hoop section as designed to fold.
Download Attachment: bumper hoop.JPG43.48 KB
When the rear hoop is pressed snuggly up against the bumper and the top is folded into the rear compartment a cam at the hinge section is held firmly by a pin with a roller on it. The pins purpose is to suspend the rear hoop so that it does not touch the bottom of the storage area. That's my theory anyway.Here is a pic of the cam and pin I'm speaking about.
Download Attachment: cam and pin.JPG69.65 KB
With the rear hoop resting snuggly up against the rubber stop this cam and pin do their job. If the rear hoop is not pressed up against the stop when the top is folded and lowered the cam and pin with not line up in position to do their job and the pin may become bent. Here is a pic of the corner of the rear hoop with a tape measure to show that it is suspended off the base approximately 1 inch.
Download Attachment: corner suspend.JPG85.1 KB
The last picture shows the corner suspended from the base. It also shows how the rear hoop nests with the other section of the top as it folds. Very, very nicely designed and now much appreciated.
Download Attachment: rear hoop and mid section.JPG66.06 KB
I will be interested to know how many of you have your rear hoop and material resting on the wheel well inside the storage area. Maybe I'm the only one?