Penthouse Maintenance and other issue

[charlie56]

Last week I was up in the Inyos (Papoose Flat is gorgeous by the way). The morning we were leaving I could not get the top down. The drivers side came down fine but the passenger side hung up. I cycled it several times, banged on the rods with my hand, shook the top back and forth, removed the fabric covering to look for problems, nothing was working. Finally I just closed my eyes, gritted a bit, and kept pushing the button. Big, bang! The passenger side finally came down. When I got home I sent and email to Peter at SMBW.

His Reply
The problem with the top could be the center supports, the ones that slide in and out. They could be getting stuck, it sometimes happens if they are dry or slightly bent.
Try applying lube on them then try it a few times. If the problem continues you will have to bring it in and have our guys look into it.

Not wanting to have grease on the support that we grab to crawl up into the bed, I tried dry lubricant. That didn't work at all. I tried some silicone lube. Cycled it a few times and it seems as good as new. Maybe that its working now I will clean it off and dry the dry lube again. Anyone have any better suggestions?

Not related, but another body problem we had on this trip was the Aluminess galley box. I had put 7 gallons of water on the top rack. That weight, with the washboard roads we were on, sheared off the bolts holding the latch clip to the bumper. (just a little body damage.) Note that I did not have the little ramp under this side as I do on the spare tire rack side. Ordered a new latch and ramp from Aluminess. I think with the ramp, it will work much better when carrying the additional water weight. The heavy duty ratchet and strap that is in the Black Rat recovery gear kit really came in handy.

[LenS]

A photo showing where you applied the lub would be helpful. Sounds like it worked. The location is not clear to me.

[Ford_6L_E350]

I'm guessing it is the actuator on the electric lift mechanism. If not, I'm also confused as you are.

Mike

[charlie56]

Here is a photo
It's the center support "brace" on an electric top. Not the actuator.



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[TwoVans]

So you just sprayed some silicone on the silver part?

[charlie56]

Originally Posted by jessenej

So you just sprayed some silicone on the silver part?

Not a spray, it was a silicone based lube in a tube. That got it working again.

After it cycles a few more times I will clean it off and dry a dry spray on lube because we are always grabbing that part to pull us up onto the the upper bunk.

[Ford_6L_E350]

Originally Posted by charlie56

After it cycles a few more times I will clean it off and dry a dry spray on lube because we are always grabbing that part to pull us up onto the the upper bunk.

Could that be part of the reason it quit working?

Mike

[charlie56]

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

Could that be part of the reason it quit working?

Mike

I know what your getting at...

No that's not the reason. The one that locked up is on the passenger side. We only use the one on the drivers side to help stabilize us while climbing into the loft. No, I think the problem is just the lack of lubrication. Nice try though Mike.

[daveb]

Mine are the old flat type and I have to do the same from time to time but use silicon spray. Makes a difference on how smooth it works. Charlie, did you try pushing up on the top, then tried to lower it? I've found if I push up on the PH, it will jump slightly from time to time but lubing is the key. I also spray the tracks and ram as suggested by SMB.

Dave

[ANZAC]

Why didn't you have the ramp under the galley box arm?

I was wondering how the box would do with a few gallons there over some REALLY rough roads (I've only done about 2 miles offroad with water on mine)