Help with a broken electric roof bottom hinge

I have a 1992 Clipper with an electric roof I have been happily using it all summer with no problems until the other night when there was a load noise and it all went horribly wrong.

It appears that the bracket at the bottom of the lowest hinge attached to the body of the car just behind the passenger seat shown on the attached picture has sheared away from the body (picture of the one that wasnt bolted on the other side not the sheeared one).





What I have noticed on check is that on the one side it wasnt bolted to the body as shown in picture, it was only bolted on the side the lifting ram is (passenger side)

Questions:

Should it be bolted on both sides?

Has this happened to any one else and if so any advice to share.

I was going to get a patch welded on with a new hole and nut does this seem sensible?

Cheers

Been looking more closley and the main pivot seesm to have broken as well  piture below

yeah it should be bolted on both sides, looks like someone has been fiddling and not assembled the roof properly. looking at your pics id say only option is a new frame
manual frame is different to power as well so make sure you get the right one. if it was me id consider going manual and sellign on all your electric bits for some proffits. quicker to put up a manual one, you loose a lot of weight plus gain a load more boot space… to boot

edit: there are brackets for the hood mech that are needed to convert a manual, so these will need the spot welds drilling off. tough call to make, especially if you're struggling to get the power roof bits! you will get good money though if the kit is complete, as  they dont often come up with brackets, boot cards, roof frame etc.  you might be able to weld the power roof bits onto a manual frame, but not sure on that one.

Hi! This exact same thing happened to m last night and I’ve been scratching my head about what to do! I would greatly appreciate any updates on your fix for this problem! I am struggling to find a new pivot anywhere so if you know anywhere I can pick one up I would be thankful for the info, thank you!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I come across this a lot as a specialist roof fitter for these cars.

I use a shouldered bolt and nyloc nut, so it doesn’t undo.

No good using a standard thread bolt as it cuts into the hinge hole and then the thread area wears and the frame jolts.
This occurs from wear and tear and people not lubricating all the hinge points.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks a lot chortle for your speedy reply! Any chance you would know the size of the bolt and nut needed so I can resolve the issue? Would come to you for the fix but unfortunately you are hours away from me


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just take the pin with you to a fastener place, they’ll have some callipers to measure the diameter.
You can see how far it goes through the hinge. So grab your tape measure, you got the photo for reference.
I’m not at the unit today so don’t have the measurements handy.
Ideally if they have the thin plastic spacer washers that will help too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

chortle said

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice Logo….. "Tops for those on the go."
yeah you can have that as a gimme….

Cheers Briano


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

chortle said

I come across this a lot as a specialist roof fitter for these cars.


This occurs from wear and tear and people not lubricating all the hinge points.

Ya know, you can't stress that enough They call it Maintenance for a reason…I haven't seen any "Lectric" tops in all the ones I have replaced over here….. You get all the fun What I get all the time is gee my handle snapped as I was locking it….
My question is, do you roll your rear windows down a bit, prior to latching it, and when was the last time you oiled the pivots points? To which they usually say, "Roll down what, and why do I need to oil things, I check the oil regularly and have it changed often."  

Briano1234 said

chortle said

I come across this a lot as a specialist roof fitter for these cars.


This occurs from wear and tear and people not lubricating all the hinge points.

Ya know, you can't stress that enough They call it Maintenance for a reason…I haven't seen any "Lectric" tops in all the ones I have replaced over here….. You get all the fun What I get all the time is gee my handle snapped as I was locking it….
My question is, do you roll your rear windows down a bit, prior to latching it, and when was the last time you oiled the pivots points? To which they usually say, "Roll down what, and why do I need to oil things, I check the oil regularly and have it changed often."  

True that,
It’s like what? Treat the top?

Yes treat the top, dry brush, clean with proper cleaner,wet brush, rinse and rinse again.
Dry then apply waterproofing and sun retarding liquid treatments.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh and don’t use a a pressure washer unless you want odd streaks left on your fabric.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk