Thread: Convertible top problem

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OK, I have a 1940 Ford Convertible with a power top. The top goes down but, will not go up. If I grab hold of it and help it, it will come up as I pull on it. Any ideas? Someone said the pistons have a place to fill them. I don't see any. I can see a strip of relays and a bunch of wires attached. I will have to figure out how to take off the panel to get to them.

It does sound like a pressure problem. Your motor for the top should have a resovoir attached to the pump or the motor it self. Check for a filler hole to put fluid into that assembly. The fluid level will vary from what ever position the pistons in either extended or retracted. You would not add fluid to the cylinder it self. Check for level of fluid both in the extended and retracted state. Too little fluid will not give you full extension and too much fluid will blow the seals.

That's the problem there is no way to check it. It's one piston and a sealed unit runs the whole top. Sorry so late getting back.

Scroll down here to Hydraulics. These fellows offer a rebuild service for 150 clams.
https://www.convertibletopguys.com/c...ord#hydraulics

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Thanks but it's a different style piston set up. This is electric and only one piston. No oil in it just a bunch of relays and wires. never seen this before. I have a picture of it and will try to down load the picture.

[IMG]20150517 jpg[/IMG]

Can't get it to down load. Have to send it by email I guess.

At the bottom of the "reply" box, click "Go Advanced". Enter your text in the big box, then scroll down to the "Additional Options" area, and select "Manage Attachments". At the top click "Add Files", which will open your computer folders where you select the image file that you want to attach - click it and select "Open". That will list the file at the bottom of the Manage Attachments box, so you just select "Upload" and the picture will appear in your thread.

If it's indeed "electric...., no oil" then that "piston" is not a piston, but a linear actuator, seems to me.

If it's an original 1940 Ford droptop, it's vacuum powered. There should be a vacuum line from the intake manifold to a control on the left side of the steering column. I understand that some have an electric motor to generate vacuum, but I've never seen that. Since it drops easily and requires a little assist to raise, it sounds like you have weak vacuum. If it's not original, or it's a conversion, then I don't have a clue. Photos would help.

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

it sounds like you have weak vacuum.

AHA,, lumpy cam strikes again.

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Originally Posted by techinspector1

AHA, lumpy cam strikes again.

Lumpy? Wasn't that a character on "Leave it to Beaver?"

Keeps telling me file to large

It's not an original drop top. Someone chopped it 2 inches and changed out the piston to electric. Going to try and shrink picture.

Originally Posted by rspears

If it's indeed "electric...., no oil" then that "piston" is not a piston, but a linear actuator, seems to me.

And it's probably not big enough to handle the upward load or the mechanism is in a bind. It shouldn't take as much force to lower the top as it would to raise it.