Soft Top Leading Edge Will Not Extend *Picture Attached

[Gilbertj66]

Good Evening,

I am, for the first time in 20 years, opening the top of a 1969 280SL Automatic.  The leading edge will not extend.  I'm hoping that this is a softball for all of you and I appreciate any insight or guidance you can provide.



Sincerely,

'69 Pagoda

[Vander]

Pull the front away from the top of the windshield, then smack hard and upwards where the red circle is. This will make it one erect piece, instead of 2 halves folded in the middle.

[Gilbertj66]

I appreciate the swift response. 

I tried that, along with squeezing on the two frame pieces in the red circled area while pulling forward on the leading edge.  It will not give.  I lubricated all of the joints and will have to try again tomorrow.  The rain has moved in and I had to get it back into the garage (with the hardtop on).

[Cees Klumper]

Move the rear section back first?

[Gilbertj66]

I tried that as well.  I'm sure it is just VERY stiff from sitting for so long.  However, I didn't want to apply too much pressure to any part of the system before reaching out to the forum for feedback.  The technical manual was very helpful in outlining the correct way to get the lower bow/bracket (if it does not remain latched, at it did not) out of the storage compartment.  It would appear that the two springs in the glove compartment are from the soft top frame mechanism (will reinstall those tomorrow).  Although, they don't appear to have any bearing on the current issue.

[lreppond]

I think you’re very wise to proceed cautiously.  The frame can be finicky: lubrication may have dried; the fabric may have  shrank; there may be a little rust.   All could be due to living in a humid environment  I’d check each articulating joint before forcing anything. Move it in whatever direction you can to loosen its joints.

My experience has been that when I force, I break!  Let us know how you resolve this issue. 

[Gilbertj66]

Thanks!

The car has actually lived it's entire life in Arizona (2nd owner since '81, numbers matching with data card).  Just brought it out East to get it road worthy again and will probably put it on the market in a month or two.  Having fun working on a few things and haven't seen the soft top in over 20 years (until today).  I'll work on the joints again tomorrow and report back to the forum. 

If anyone has had the same problem, by all means, let me know what worked for you!  Thanks, in advance.

[rwmastel]

I believe I've seen owners remove the entire soft top and put it on a homemade jig to slowly stretch it into shape.  Did you search the Forum?

EDIT:  I found a few quick hits, many more to look at.

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=12934

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=7091

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=32658

Finally, you posted this in the Full Members  Board.  This keeps the vast majority of our members from finding your post, and thereby reducing the potential assistance.

[Gilbertj66]

Thanks for the feedback. 

Literally my first post and appreciate it.  Will follow-up with the links you sent and report back.

[rwmastel]

There are many more search results, I just put up a few samples.  Search feature is your friend when finding info in 20 years of forum messages.

[BobH]

This post may also help

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=24504.0

Just read your post again, looks like the soft top in the link above is stuck in the well, hence why it won't move, different problem from yours

[kampala]

Search on YouTube     “W113 soft top “

Many videos show how it works and how to straighten that elbow.