help!roadster top handle disconnected

[bob66542]

just took hardtop off of my new toy to check condition of soft top consulted owners man. swiveled handle up, and it came off in my hand! what do i do now? how can i open top cover w/out handle-surely theres a way-please help- bob66542@yahoo.com

65 SL 230 4-sp. purchase 12-08-03

[J. Huber]

Hi Bob.

I have never done it so I am going on what I've read ... You can access the lever from a hole in the trunk. Apparently a large flathead screwdriver (and a long skinny arm?) will get you close.

I found this related discussion on the Pagoda113 site: http://pagoda113.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=3846000021&f=2076001521&m=5466031521&r=3566031521#3566031521

Good Luck

James
63 230SL

[John A. Dean]

I had the same thing happen to me and spent a long time trying to figure out how to release the spring loaded mechanism through a remote site (like the holes where the soft top supports sit when up.)  I eventually placed the handle back into the original hole, wiggled it around some and it found its way back into the correct hole and as I turned the handle, the cover popped open!  The nut that keeps the handle in the appropriate place had worked itself loose and was lying in the bottom of the tray.  Needless to say, when replacing the nut, I used lock washers, and Lock-Tite to help prevent the mishap from recurring.

1969 280SL, manual, MB TEX, green/cognac

[Kenneth Gear]

Same thing just happened to me but the nut was nowhere to be found anyone know what size that is???

It's also a good idea to tie a wire to the release cable at each side of the car in the area where it opens to the trunk.  It would make it much easier to release the cover should the cable or handle even break again.

Ken G
1971 280 SL
Silver/red

[enochbell]

Bob, the "emergency release" is located midline in the very front and top of the trunk.  Just stick a large flat bladed screwdriver in the hole and you will feel the center carrier for the release cable. Carefully move the carrier to the left, pray that the reason the handle came off was not because the catch(es) are frozen, and the soft top boot lid will pop.

Good luck,

Greg

'64 230sl, fully sorted out...ooops, spoke too soon

[enochbell]

And another thing: when putting the soft to up, please be sure that the soft top lid is COMPLETELY closed and latched before you secure the rear bow of the soft top in its keeper.  Otherwise you will nick the paint on the soft top lid with the soft top hinge.

Greg

'64 230sl, fully sorted out...ooops, spoke too soon

[Kenneth Gear]

Another tip would be to look inside the top storage bay to get a good look at how the latch works and where you'll need to put the screw driver should you ever need to pop it open through the hole in the trunk.

Having spend over an hour fiddleing with it yesterday, I couldn't remember how the latch worked nor could I figure it out based upon what I was feeling through the tiny hole in the trunk.

Ken G
1971 280 SL
Silver/red