lakeeriesailor
Member
I will try to post a picture a bit later.
Clean out soft-top drain
- Thread starter Wondermike
- Start date
I wouldn't consider just drilling a hole unless the tubing to carry the water to it's discharge point is in place. Who knows where the water will end up otherwise? And you'll get dirt, insects, and noise coming through the hole into the passenger compartment without the tubing in place.
pvr said:
Not according to some members :? several post-facelift owners have reported the same wet motor problems despite the improved sealing of the housing - someone even suggested the sealing was actually keeping more water inside the housing once the thing was flooded, so drain cleaning is still going to be worthwhile.
Such a c**ap design :thumbsdown:
Stuart Truman
Lifer
aquazi said:I cleaned my drains for the first time today... Complely blocked full of mud like substance
I removed the plugs and shoved a straw up there until they were clearer... But not 100%
Spent ages trying to unscrew the plugs then realised they just pull out
A small bottle brush with nylon bristles on a wire handle works a treat, you push it up and the bristles trap all the debris and pull it out
Thought I would have a go at the Q&D method from Trex's post. Started on the right hand side and found the hole and started to clean it out using some rods meant for pushing cable through tight spaces, but I met resistance pretty quickly.
They are 6mm wide at the joins so before trying to push too hard, how wide is the hole. It sounds like 8mm but I am not sure if there is some sort off inner rubber tube that may be blocking things? Or do I just have loads of gunk.....
They are 6mm wide at the joins so before trying to push too hard, how wide is the hole. It sounds like 8mm but I am not sure if there is some sort off inner rubber tube that may be blocking things? Or do I just have loads of gunk.....
Are you going in from the top or bottom? There is some sort of sleeve restricting the tube near the top when approached from the bottom. It can take several pokes to get past it, which is why in part the bottle brush idea is great. The bristles help keep the wire from snagging on the restriction. From the top I would think what you see is what you get. You can just barely make it out on the right side with a torch, the left is completely hidden.SteveD said:
Thanks for info. That was from the top. I thought I would see how clogged the right hand side was before looking at the left - but I was afraid to push too hard. I shall see if we have a bottle brush
This is all too little too late anyway as my roof motor has gone. I will be attempting to replace that in the next few weeks so I guess I will get to the left hand side then.
This is all too little too late anyway as my roof motor has gone. I will be attempting to replace that in the next few weeks so I guess I will get to the left hand side then.
I don't think there is much you can damage from the top short of using a hammer and rod. Whilst you have the roof off giving good access to the top of the drain tube, perhaps you could investigate a bit about the nature of this constriction and it's actual size? Such info would be of interest to me and other's as well I should think.
OK. I have had a look at this.
This is the space for hydraulic motor
And this is a closer pic of the actual drainage hole
As you can see, there is a lot of crap in the general area. The hole itself was about 15mm at the top - but mine looked like someone may have drilled it out in the past. There seemed to be some tubing or something else about 60 or 70mm below the hole. The problem seems to be the residue when dirty water gets in. When that builds up the hole will get blocked. It drained away fairly quickly when I poured water in, but the residue remained. My motor was also loose from its mounting and that may well have blocked up the hole a bit slowing drainage.
When you pour in a lot of water, the well fills and drains away - quite quickly, but not immediately even when completely clear.
The right hand side hole is in a similar smaller well, but the hole is also smaller. Not such a problem if that drain clogs up but mine looked pretty clean at that side.
This is the space for hydraulic motor
And this is a closer pic of the actual drainage hole
As you can see, there is a lot of crap in the general area. The hole itself was about 15mm at the top - but mine looked like someone may have drilled it out in the past. There seemed to be some tubing or something else about 60 or 70mm below the hole. The problem seems to be the residue when dirty water gets in. When that builds up the hole will get blocked. It drained away fairly quickly when I poured water in, but the residue remained. My motor was also loose from its mounting and that may well have blocked up the hole a bit slowing drainage.
When you pour in a lot of water, the well fills and drains away - quite quickly, but not immediately even when completely clear.
The right hand side hole is in a similar smaller well, but the hole is also smaller. Not such a problem if that drain clogs up but mine looked pretty clean at that side.