the inevitable has happened, roof failure
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the inevitable has happened, roof failure
Well peoples it is with much regret that I have to inform you all that after 4 trouble free years of operation the inevetable has happened, the roof has stopped working.
Yesterday at the top of Mt Dandenong I closed the roof like normal whilst we went to have lunch thinking that if the weather was to change I didn't want to come out to a mobile swimming pool. After a wonderful feed and chat with some good friends it was time to hit the road and cruise home. Jump in kick the old girl in the slats and away she fires, I'm paranoid I'd flatten the battery if don't fire her up first, drop all the windows unlatch the two header locks and hit the majic button. All systems are go the trunk locks unlock the deck lid raises to just clear the screw locks and then clunk clunk clunk. WTF! This isn't right, this hasn't happened before, not in front of the biggest gathering of people EVER eagerly waiting to watch the majic unfold before their very eyes Candy, that's her name, fails to launch.
Now I have been warned of this happening by all insundrie and thought maybe, one day but not this day not any day I had a false sense of security, Candy wont fail me, bitch.
Michele and I love to cruise topless, roof off that is, so long as it's not raining,and we've been caught out more than once, the roof comes off. What's the point in having a convertible if you don't take the roof off I say, any who now we have a convertible that wont convert and are faced with the problem of finding someone who can fix her. All the other stuff I can usually get fixed at the local mechanic but this is specialist work and frankly I'm not sure where to look.
If anyone knows of anyone who can help out I'd love to hear from you.
Luckily I was able to securely lock the deck lid down, lock the header rail latches put up the windows and drive home.
I'll keep you posted with any updates.
Tony.
Yesterday at the top of Mt Dandenong I closed the roof like normal whilst we went to have lunch thinking that if the weather was to change I didn't want to come out to a mobile swimming pool. After a wonderful feed and chat with some good friends it was time to hit the road and cruise home. Jump in kick the old girl in the slats and away she fires, I'm paranoid I'd flatten the battery if don't fire her up first, drop all the windows unlatch the two header locks and hit the majic button. All systems are go the trunk locks unlock the deck lid raises to just clear the screw locks and then clunk clunk clunk. WTF! This isn't right, this hasn't happened before, not in front of the biggest gathering of people EVER eagerly waiting to watch the majic unfold before their very eyes Candy, that's her name, fails to launch.
Now I have been warned of this happening by all insundrie and thought maybe, one day but not this day not any day I had a false sense of security, Candy wont fail me, bitch.
Michele and I love to cruise topless, roof off that is, so long as it's not raining,and we've been caught out more than once, the roof comes off. What's the point in having a convertible if you don't take the roof off I say, any who now we have a convertible that wont convert and are faced with the problem of finding someone who can fix her. All the other stuff I can usually get fixed at the local mechanic but this is specialist work and frankly I'm not sure where to look.
If anyone knows of anyone who can help out I'd love to hear from you.
Luckily I was able to securely lock the deck lid down, lock the header rail latches put up the windows and drive home.
I'll keep you posted with any updates.
Tony.
tony b- Posts : 89
Join date : 2012-05-14
Location : Australia
That really Sucks!
Evening Tony,
NOT GOOD NEWS!
Soft tops are like - - - - - they don't always open up when you want!
You should of bought a 1964 Hardtop
NOT GOOD NEWS!
Soft tops are like - - - - - they don't always open up when you want!
You should of bought a 1964 Hardtop
Giobus- Admin
- Posts : 604
Join date : 2012-04-11
Location : Boronia, Victoria
Re: the inevitable has happened, roof failure
I'm not, like every body else, hahaha!
tony b- Posts : 89
Join date : 2012-05-14
Location : Australia
Re: the inevitable has happened, roof failure
Hi Tony
These may or may not help, but might be worth a read anyway.
http://www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6189&highlight=deck+lid+open+roof
http://www.tbirdforum.com/forums/flair-birds-1964-1966/374-convertible-top-prob.html
DaveG- Admin
- Posts : 1015
Join date : 2012-02-24
Location : Narre Warren
top up top down can be a real problem
Hi Tony , after owning these things for 20yrs you learn a little about them , The top is not complicated, understanding how it works is .
You will find it will be one of 2 things ,the relay wire connection for the hydraulic pump deck up mode or the wire conection to the pump , the pump one just clean main wires to pump can burn or corrode .
Highly unlikely to be the deck switch i only had one go out many years ago never heard of one going again.
From memory the deck up relay is the one on drivers side close to seat back , this is by memory i dont have manual i keep lending them to people who dont bring them back , getting sick of buying new ones .
To get to the relays you have two options the one i recomend for you is to take back seat out , this is alot easier than undoing deck cylinder bolts under back of bird, the deck dosn`t come up much because of hose length and makes it real diffecult to get in trunk , whoops boot , you should always carry a jump wire with you , diagram in manual these are helpfull for working out what the hell is going with the bloody top . These relays carry 40amps and over depending on condition of your pump and wiring , thats why after 45+yrs they stuff up a good freind of mine is an auto elect he gets frustrated at why we dont just go the new relays and move on , i told him its to do with the $1500 to do it .
The main thing to look for is melted rubber on relay wire fittings or burnt corroded connectors. If you have a manual they are very discriptive on how to fault find and a recomend anyone with a convertible to try and understand them I am happy to help more but of to cooly rocks QLD tomorrow can help when i get back , but hey i`m no expert on these only learnt by my own problems and didn`t want to get ripped by paying some one else . Mr64tbird
You will find it will be one of 2 things ,the relay wire connection for the hydraulic pump deck up mode or the wire conection to the pump , the pump one just clean main wires to pump can burn or corrode .
Highly unlikely to be the deck switch i only had one go out many years ago never heard of one going again.
From memory the deck up relay is the one on drivers side close to seat back , this is by memory i dont have manual i keep lending them to people who dont bring them back , getting sick of buying new ones .
To get to the relays you have two options the one i recomend for you is to take back seat out , this is alot easier than undoing deck cylinder bolts under back of bird, the deck dosn`t come up much because of hose length and makes it real diffecult to get in trunk , whoops boot , you should always carry a jump wire with you , diagram in manual these are helpfull for working out what the hell is going with the bloody top . These relays carry 40amps and over depending on condition of your pump and wiring , thats why after 45+yrs they stuff up a good freind of mine is an auto elect he gets frustrated at why we dont just go the new relays and move on , i told him its to do with the $1500 to do it .
The main thing to look for is melted rubber on relay wire fittings or burnt corroded connectors. If you have a manual they are very discriptive on how to fault find and a recomend anyone with a convertible to try and understand them I am happy to help more but of to cooly rocks QLD tomorrow can help when i get back , but hey i`m no expert on these only learnt by my own problems and didn`t want to get ripped by paying some one else . Mr64tbird
mr64tbird- Posts : 38
Join date : 2012-03-20
Re: the inevitable has happened, roof failure
Thanks Mark and Dave, looks like I better make me a jumper cable and pull out the back seat this week end, if I have time. We too are off to Darwin for a couple of weeks and this is the last week end I have to have ago at fixing it.
Thanks for all your input, I'll let you know how I go.
I hope you feeling better Mark.
Tony.
Thanks for all your input, I'll let you know how I go.
I hope you feeling better Mark.
Tony.
tony b- Posts : 89
Join date : 2012-05-14
Location : Australia
Re roof failure
Giday mate don't worry this could very well be an easy fix mine dose it to. it is more than likely the car may have been parked in a pot hole or on a funny angle or the bushers are worn on some of the ram pins and it just hasen't pushed the boot activation button in enough , a way to test this is simply while it's making that clunk , clunk get somone to help it up just a little and hopefully away it will go if this is the case it's just a tiny tiny adjustment, hope this is all it is.
Plucker- Posts : 21
Join date : 2012-06-04
Age : 54
Location : Sunshine Coast Queensland
Re: the inevitable has happened, roof failure
Thanks Plucker and welcome aboard, one of the other member swith m, he has a 61 the same colour as yours, offered the same advice when t happened. We tried it but unfortunately I couldn't be so lucky.
ANy who I have got some really great tips to try out so that will be my next attack, I think.
Tony.
ANy who I have got some really great tips to try out so that will be my next attack, I think.
Tony.
tony b- Posts : 89
Join date : 2012-05-14
Location : Australia
RE: roof failure
tony b wrote:Thanks Plucker and welcome aboard, one of the other member swith m, he has a 61 the same colour as yours, offered the same advice when t happened. We tried it but unfortunately I couldn't be so lucky.
ANy who I have got some really great tips to try out so that will be my next attack, I think.
Tony.
Might be a bit rough
Giobus- Admin
- Posts : 604
Join date : 2012-04-11
Location : Boronia, Victoria
Re: the inevitable has happened, roof failure
Giobus wrote:tony b wrote:Thanks Plucker and welcome aboard, one of the other member swith m, he has a 61 the same colour as yours, offered the same advice when t happened. We tried it but unfortunately I couldn't be so lucky.
ANy who I have got some really great tips to try out so that will be my next attack, I think.
Tony.
Might be a bit rough
Hey Gio
it's not a Toyota mate, It's "Unique in all the world"
DaveG- Admin
- Posts : 1015
Join date : 2012-02-24
Location : Narre Warren
RE: Roof Failure
DaveG wrote:
Hey Gio
it's not a Toyota mate, It's "Unique in all the world"
Unfortuantly been "Unique in all the world" has its set backs, when they fail no one know how to fix them.
Just like Toyota's !!!!
So you have to resort to other means
Giobus- Admin
- Posts : 604
Join date : 2012-04-11
Location : Boronia, Victoria
Re: the inevitable has happened, roof failure
I can't believe you could even think of saying that T word yet alone saying it's like a Tbird.
What next.
Tony.
What next.
Tony.
tony b- Posts : 89
Join date : 2012-05-14
Location : Australia
RE: The T word
Evening Tony,tony b wrote:I can't believe you could even think of saying that T word yet alone saying it's like a Tbird.
What next.
Tony.
I did mentuion the Crowbar, but it was Dave who mentioned the T word !!!
Anyway, how is it going???
Giobus- Admin
- Posts : 604
Join date : 2012-04-11
Location : Boronia, Victoria
Re: the inevitable has happened, roof failure
G'day Gio alls good, big day planned for tomorrow? Try and fix the roof.
Tony.
Tony.
tony b- Posts : 89
Join date : 2012-05-14
Location : Australia
Re: the inevitable has happened, roof failure
tony b wrote:G'day Gio alls good, big day planned for tomorrow? Try and fix the roof.
Tony.
If you need a hand, or to celebrate with a Beer after the repair.
Give us a call, l'm home all weekend (Girls are down the beach)
Giobus- Admin
- Posts : 604
Join date : 2012-04-11
Location : Boronia, Victoria
RE: ROOF FAILURE
Hi Tony,
What was the outcome of the failure with the roof???????
Are you again cruising with the WIND in your hair????
What was the outcome of the failure with the roof???????
Are you again cruising with the WIND in your hair????
Giobus- Admin
- Posts : 604
Join date : 2012-04-11
Location : Boronia, Victoria
Re: the inevitable has happened, roof failure
Hi Gio, still the same no change. Didn't have a chance to have a look at it.
Unfortunately Icouldn't get the speaker of the house to go to the beach on account that we ain'y got one. Any who there was a long list of things that were more important in the eyes of the minister for war than my little problem so in order for world peace, I put up the white flag and I surrendered.
Yeah yeah I know what you could say to that but remember we've all done it and hell I usually get away with doin what I want so I can't complain.
I supose the other thing was I had know idea what I was doing yet alone were to start.
It will all have to wait now until after Rusty Springs, yes its still on just a small intimate group but it should be fun, as I am off to the NT tomorrow.
So thanks for enquiring, I sure am gonna miss reading all of your updates and your bird is lookin mighty sharp.
Happy TBirding, Tony.
Unfortunately Icouldn't get the speaker of the house to go to the beach on account that we ain'y got one. Any who there was a long list of things that were more important in the eyes of the minister for war than my little problem so in order for world peace, I put up the white flag and I surrendered.
Yeah yeah I know what you could say to that but remember we've all done it and hell I usually get away with doin what I want so I can't complain.
I supose the other thing was I had know idea what I was doing yet alone were to start.
It will all have to wait now until after Rusty Springs, yes its still on just a small intimate group but it should be fun, as I am off to the NT tomorrow.
So thanks for enquiring, I sure am gonna miss reading all of your updates and your bird is lookin mighty sharp.
Happy TBirding, Tony.
tony b- Posts : 89
Join date : 2012-05-14
Location : Australia
Re: the inevitable has happened, roof failure
Hi all,
believe it or not the roof is finally fixed so come Sunday Fathers Day we are cruisin topless as the weather forecast is favourable.
As for the problem, not as simple as I first thought. Apparently the brushes in the pump motor has worn out. These have been replaced by the lads at the auto elecs and now she works like a bought one.
Thanks to all for yor offers of help, advice and godd wishes. It seems the're not all tha complicated after all. How did they get in you may ask, why they took the back seat out of course, Thanks for the tip Mark.
Tony B
believe it or not the roof is finally fixed so come Sunday Fathers Day we are cruisin topless as the weather forecast is favourable.
As for the problem, not as simple as I first thought. Apparently the brushes in the pump motor has worn out. These have been replaced by the lads at the auto elecs and now she works like a bought one.
Thanks to all for yor offers of help, advice and godd wishes. It seems the're not all tha complicated after all. How did they get in you may ask, why they took the back seat out of course, Thanks for the tip Mark.
Tony B
tony b- Posts : 89
Join date : 2012-05-14
Location : Australia
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