Manual Top Operation
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
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Manual Top Operation
Just in case you are new here, and don't have an owner's manual, I thought I'd do a video on manual top operation.
I did my best, took (believe it or not) I THINK 12 takes - this was the best one. Sorry I could not get a hot model to stand in for me.
HEY, I uploaded in HD, what happened?
I did my best, took (believe it or not) I THINK 12 takes - this was the best one. Sorry I could not get a hot model to stand in for me.
HEY, I uploaded in HD, what happened?
Last edited by pizzaguy; 09-09-2013 at 10:02 PM.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Age: 64
Posts: 13,450
Received 880 Likes
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686 Posts
Re: Manual Top Operation
Yea, But I'm my own worst critic. Still not happy with it - but I met a lady on Facebook who bought her car with no manual, from a Ford dealer who knew nothing, and she had NO idea you could do this. So I KNOW there are people who have no idea, and I hate that someone might run into trouble just 'cause they didn't know.
And that lady? She just messaged me on Facebook that she found the tool in the pouch between the seats....
And that lady? She just messaged me on Facebook that she found the tool in the pouch between the seats....
Re: Manual Top Operation
I truly enjoyed the video Marc.
You appeared relaxed and were very informative in a simple step by step process that anyone can appreciate if they own a Roadster and I'm sure there is no other video out there that shows the real simplicity to doing this operation
Thank You on behalf of ALL Roadster owners out there
Gary
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Florence, on the beautiful Oregon Coast
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Re: Manual Top Operation
pizzaguy,
thank you, that's a really good tutorial!
You made a remark (with an implied question in it) about the rear bow latch when you were locking it, and I would like to respond. When you locked the rear bow latch with the 6-mm Allen wrench, you humbly said that you were not sure whether the hydraulics lock the rear bow any tighter than the Allen wrench does after you hear the "click". The answer is, the hydraulics might pull down the rear bow a tiny bit farther during the locking process (depending on how much force you used manually), but the end result is the same: once the lock clicks, that is its final latched position. Thank you for bringing it up in the video, and thank you for your attitude that makes people avoid panicking.
One more (lengthy) comment: it appears that Crossfire owners have more than their fair share of tops needing to be moved manually. Most of the posts on this forum show electrical causes for the top not moving via the hydraulic system any more. Over the years, the main cause for the system not working will be shifting to hydraulic leaks. At Top Hydraulics, we are now rebuilding and upgrading Crossfire top hydraulic cylinders on a daily basis, and so far the cylinders mostly come from fairly warm climates. The reason is, the seals in ALL Crossfire cylinders are decaying with time, and that decay is a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction is accelerated by heat and by contamination in the hydraulic fluid. The design criteria for the cylinder seals were for a service life of ten years in relatively warm climates. It is a shame that the OEM manufacturer didn't spend a little more money on putting better seals into the cylinders. There is no DIY fix for all Crossfire cylinders - leave it to the pros, and we can do an excellent job for a relatively low price after you take the cylinders out of your car in DIY and send them to us. I hope that some awesome forum member will be willing to make a DIY on how to remove the cylinders - I don't own a Crossfire and don't have access to one. In a few years, there will be many posts on this forum about folks dealing with leaks in their hydraulic system. Pizzaguy, it is awesome that you made this video, because it is going to be very helpful for folks with hydraulic leaks once they become commonplace.
Klaus
Top Hydraulics | Rebuilt and Upgraded Convertible Top Cylinders, Pumps, Hydraulic Lines - Top Hydraulics, Inc
relevant part numbers for hydraulic cylinders:
Rear bow latch 05142957AA aka A 193 750 0184
Tonneau cover latch 05166559AA aka A 193 750 0183
Folding top rear bow hydraulic cylinder 05142640AA (left side)
Folding top rear bow hydraulic cylinder 05170014AA (right side)
Main drive cylinder 05142639AA (left side)
Main drive cylinder 05170015AA (right side)
Tonneau cover lift cylinder 05142641AA
thank you, that's a really good tutorial!
You made a remark (with an implied question in it) about the rear bow latch when you were locking it, and I would like to respond. When you locked the rear bow latch with the 6-mm Allen wrench, you humbly said that you were not sure whether the hydraulics lock the rear bow any tighter than the Allen wrench does after you hear the "click". The answer is, the hydraulics might pull down the rear bow a tiny bit farther during the locking process (depending on how much force you used manually), but the end result is the same: once the lock clicks, that is its final latched position. Thank you for bringing it up in the video, and thank you for your attitude that makes people avoid panicking.
One more (lengthy) comment: it appears that Crossfire owners have more than their fair share of tops needing to be moved manually. Most of the posts on this forum show electrical causes for the top not moving via the hydraulic system any more. Over the years, the main cause for the system not working will be shifting to hydraulic leaks. At Top Hydraulics, we are now rebuilding and upgrading Crossfire top hydraulic cylinders on a daily basis, and so far the cylinders mostly come from fairly warm climates. The reason is, the seals in ALL Crossfire cylinders are decaying with time, and that decay is a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction is accelerated by heat and by contamination in the hydraulic fluid. The design criteria for the cylinder seals were for a service life of ten years in relatively warm climates. It is a shame that the OEM manufacturer didn't spend a little more money on putting better seals into the cylinders. There is no DIY fix for all Crossfire cylinders - leave it to the pros, and we can do an excellent job for a relatively low price after you take the cylinders out of your car in DIY and send them to us. I hope that some awesome forum member will be willing to make a DIY on how to remove the cylinders - I don't own a Crossfire and don't have access to one. In a few years, there will be many posts on this forum about folks dealing with leaks in their hydraulic system. Pizzaguy, it is awesome that you made this video, because it is going to be very helpful for folks with hydraulic leaks once they become commonplace.
Klaus
Top Hydraulics | Rebuilt and Upgraded Convertible Top Cylinders, Pumps, Hydraulic Lines - Top Hydraulics, Inc
relevant part numbers for hydraulic cylinders:
Rear bow latch 05142957AA aka A 193 750 0184
Tonneau cover latch 05166559AA aka A 193 750 0183
Folding top rear bow hydraulic cylinder 05142640AA (left side)
Folding top rear bow hydraulic cylinder 05170014AA (right side)
Main drive cylinder 05142639AA (left side)
Main drive cylinder 05170015AA (right side)
Tonneau cover lift cylinder 05142641AA
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Age: 64
Posts: 13,450
Received 880 Likes
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686 Posts
Re: Manual Top Operation
Yea, your business is going to get busy over time. I have a lady on FB about to pay $800 for a leak fix, I will send her your way.
MAN, where where you when that guy showed up this spring looking for a cylinder repair?
MAN, where where you when that guy showed up this spring looking for a cylinder repair?
Last edited by pizzaguy; 09-10-2013 at 05:05 PM.
Re: Manual Top Operation
We figure Spring starts in April, or even May or even ......
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Florence, on the beautiful Oregon Coast
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Re: Manual Top Operation
Klaus
Top Hydraulics | Rebuilt and Upgraded Convertible Top Cylinders, Pumps, Hydraulic Lines - Top Hydraulics, Inc
Re: Manual Top Operation
1. the 'official' flat metal tool, or a 10 mm open end wrench ground thin and painted so it doesn't rust.
2. a 6 mm Allen wrench.
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Re: Manual Top Operation
You don't REALLY need the 'special tool', take a cheap 10mm open end wrench and grind it thin and paint it to prevent rust.
Throw that and the 6mm hex Allen wrench in the console.
If you just got to have it, fire a PM to MrMiata and see if he has any left from the batch he had made.
Throw that and the 6mm hex Allen wrench in the console.
If you just got to have it, fire a PM to MrMiata and see if he has any left from the batch he had made.