Can't open the soft top storage well.

[sfox]

I am a new member and joined soon after I purchased a 1967 230 SL. I have had a lot of fun so far fixing a number of things. I have used the forum a lot and have found a lot of great advise. The previous owner had purchased the firewall pads and a carpet kit. I successfully installed the firewall pad and decided to tackle the carpet today. It was a lot of work, but again the tips I got from some of you made the job easier.

I was doing great until I made a big mistake. I took off the handle that unlocks the storage compartment to put the carpet on the back behind the seat. I foolishly laid the handle in the storage compartment. Later in the day I folded the top back in and closed the lid. I realized immediately what I had done. Now obviously I can't open the lid.

Has this ever happened to anyone? Is there another way to open the lid. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

sfox

[SteveK]

There are a number of posts on this one that I have read.  You get to it from the hole in the trunk, just below the rear soft to lit latch in the center of the car.  Search on "soft top lid latch" and you will find it.

[Peter van Es]

Or in the Technical Manual: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Tops/SoftTop#BrokenHandle

Peter

[jameshoward]

Peter's wiki link contains the answer. I had a similar problem in that my handle became loose and didn't connect to the drive that operates the mech. I couldn't open the box using the central hole. Instead, I had to get a strong piece of twine (poly cord; the sort of stuff that parachute lines are made from) and then using a coat hanger I threaded the cord through the operating mechanism on the side (the final para in the Wiki post). It took a bit of doing, but I managed to threat the cord through and open the lid eventually. Study a few photos of the mechanism to understand how it works before you labour away. And if you can open it using the central hole, that seems to me to be ideal. My mech was too stiff.

I have left the piece of cord threaded to the side mech - just in case this happens again.

Enjoy!

JH

[jeffc280sl]

Take a large flat screw driver and insert it where the handle was located.  If you get the correct size you will be able to open the back hatch in the same way as the handle.

[sfox]

 

Thanks for all of your help! I was able to unlock it. I used the screw driver trick. Thanks Jeff!

[jeffc280sl]

You're welcome.  Now that you can see everything it really is a simple solution.  Glad it worked for you.