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Can't get it up manually...but Number5 did!

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wonkydonkey
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Can't get it up manually...but Number5 did!

Post by wonkydonkey » Fri May 25, 2018 10:26 pm

Evening all. Decided to relocate my roof motor today. Happily I had the motor in my hands within 40 minutes (without removing the roof), but the wires weren't long enough to bring the motor into the boot. The motor has already been replaced in the car's past and it was nice and dry, but the short wires and a seemingly snagged hydraulic hose worried me. Decision: remove the roof to investigate.

I followed Shipkiller's guide...all nice and easy apart from the front hoop clip on the passenger side. It will not budge and the roof is now stuck in the "down" position.

The bypass was working well (both engaging and disengaging) before I disconnected the battery, and the roof DROPPED easily, but I cannot raise it manually to allow me to get a better purchase on this persistent hoop clip. Are they normally super heavy to raise manually?
Last edited by wonkydonkey on Tue Jun 05, 2018 8:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Number5
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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by Number5 » Fri May 25, 2018 10:35 pm

They shouldnt be heavy to lift if the hydraulic bypass has engaged.

If the motor is now in the boot, then disconnect each hydraulic line from the pump and then try moving the roof manually. (use a mug or similar to hang the disconnected lines in and catch the fluid)
That way you'll know if its the hydraulic pressure your working against or another physical obstruction.

PS. The standard lines should be long enough for the motor to drop into the boot corner. Maybe you've still got a cable tie holding one back ?
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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by Marlon » Fri May 25, 2018 10:39 pm

This topic heading made me chuckle - love the bracketed clarification that its the roof you're on about :D
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wonkydonkey
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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by wonkydonkey » Fri May 25, 2018 10:41 pm

Thanks for the reply Number5. Unfortunately the motor never made it right out into the boot because of the short wire and hose lengths. This of course means the motor is out of reach and trapped in by the roof. It also means that my hoop is unbolted and inaccessible and I'm not sure how good an idea it would be to operate the roof electrically like this.
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey

Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>

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wonkydonkey
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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by wonkydonkey » Fri May 25, 2018 10:42 pm

Marlon wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 10:39 pm This topic heading made me chuckle - love the bracketed clarification that its the roof you're on about :D
Haha gotta laugh when a quick job turns ugly! :wink:
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~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey

Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by Number5 » Fri May 25, 2018 11:28 pm

Where in Somerset are you ?
Is the car driveable or garaged at the mo ?
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wonkydonkey
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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by wonkydonkey » Fri May 25, 2018 11:42 pm

Number5 wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 11:28 pm Where in Somerset are you ?
Is the car driveable or garaged at the mo ?
I'm down near Burnham on Sea. The car is garaged and undriveable in its current condition unfortunately. I'll have to try powering it up a bit tomorrow I think, then see if the hoop will unclip. I've got three of the hoop retaining screws back in to prevent it lifting during roof operation.
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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by Ducklakeview » Fri May 25, 2018 11:47 pm

If the roof has been off previously there's every chance they've wrapped the cable around the ram, making it too short to drag into the boot. Seen it many times, just unbolt the ram and lift the corner of the roof out to unwind it.

Mike
Last edited by Ducklakeview on Fri May 25, 2018 11:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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wonkydonkey
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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by wonkydonkey » Fri May 25, 2018 11:53 pm

Ducklakeview wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 11:47 pm If the roof has been off previously there's every chance they've wrapped the cable around the ram, making it too short to drag into the boot. Seen it many times, just unbolt the team and lift the corner of the roof out to unwind it.

Mike
I think that's what has happened. I was going to leave the roof in place until I realised the wiring and hoses hadn't been routed nicely by the previous worker. I'm struggling to lift the corner of the roof where the motor is, due to the hoop being stuck. I removed seven hoop screws but it's behaving as though it's somehow still fixed. Not being able to raise the roof is making things difficult.
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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by Ducklakeview » Fri May 25, 2018 11:59 pm

You don't need to remove any of the hoop bolts in order to lift the corner out, even with the roof fully retracted, which is the best position for it to be in when doing it.

Mike

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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by wonkydonkey » Sat May 26, 2018 12:02 am

Ducklakeview wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 11:59 pm You don't need to remove any of the hoop bolts in order to lift the corner out, even with the roof fully retracted, which is the best position for it to be in when doing it.

Mike
I see what you're saying Mike. I'll have a look with fresh eyes tomorrow and see if I can sort out the routing of the wires and hoses with everything as it is. Thanks for the replies.
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~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey

Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by Number5 » Sat May 26, 2018 12:02 am

Im not far away and I'll pop down to you if you like but I may struggle to do anything for a week or so, unless I can squeeze it in this sunday.
Drop me a PM with your contact details if so and we'll see what we can sort.
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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by Number5 » Sat May 26, 2018 12:06 am

Ducklakeview wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 11:59 pm You don't need to remove any of the hoop bolts in order to lift the corner out, even with the roof fully retracted, which is the best position for it to be in when doing it.
Mike
Really Mike ?
Surely you wont get the flexibility to lift the strut out with the hoop still bolted in ? I can't see that that is possible myself for fear of over twisting it ?
Alpina Roadster #307
Porsche Boxster GTS
Previous Zs
Stratus E86
G29 30i
1x Imola Z4MR
Alpina #019
10x E85 Se/Si Roadsters
2x E89's
Roof Motor Relocations (Bristol)

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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by Ducklakeview » Sat May 26, 2018 8:13 am

Number5 wrote: Sat May 26, 2018 12:06 am
Ducklakeview wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 11:59 pm You don't need to remove any of the hoop bolts in order to lift the corner out, even with the roof fully retracted, which is the best position for it to be in when doing it.
Mike
Really Mike ?
Surely you wont get the flexibility to lift the strut out with the hoop still bolted in ? I can't see that that is possible myself for fear of over twisting it ?
Done it plenty of times, trick is to raise roof about 6"and it comes out easily. Remember there isn't actually a bolt in the hoop at the door ends.

Mike

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Can't get it up manually (roof)

Post by Number5 » Sat May 26, 2018 8:54 am

Ducklakeview wrote: Sat May 26, 2018 8:13 am
Number5 wrote: Sat May 26, 2018 12:06 am
Ducklakeview wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 11:59 pm You don't need to remove any of the hoop bolts in order to lift the corner out, even with the roof fully retracted, which is the best position for it to be in when doing it.
Mike
Really Mike ?
Surely you wont get the flexibility to lift the strut out with the hoop still bolted in ? I can't see that that is possible myself for fear of over twisting it ?
Done it plenty of times, trick is to raise roof about 6"and it comes out easily. Remember there isn't actually a bolt in the hoop at the door ends.

Mike
OK, I'll take your word on that, but I've always unbolted back to the centre + 1 which gives then plenty of movement. It is always the corner bolt that gives the most trouble to get back in though.
Alpina Roadster #307
Porsche Boxster GTS
Previous Zs
Stratus E86
G29 30i
1x Imola Z4MR
Alpina #019
10x E85 Se/Si Roadsters
2x E89's
Roof Motor Relocations (Bristol)

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