Auto free top roof workings

[Graham]

Can any body explain to me how the roof operates, (what actions open and close the roof).I can see the pistons which i pressume drive it open? but what then drives it closed.

[francophile1947]

The switch in the roof above,and to the left of, the driver, opens and closes the AFT. Car must be in N or P and handbrake on. Also, to close the roof, you need to push the switch, in the AFT roof, before working the one above the driver. It's wise to have the engine running when opening and closing it.
It's actually powered by motors at the rear of the roof.

[MAZABON]

not sure if you are asking how to opperate it or how it opperates but here are my thoughts on it

asuming you are refering to the Auto Free Top rather than a aftermarket roof, it is driven up and down via electric motors and a slide rail mechanism, the gas struts are only there to assist and dampen the process, they help take load off the motors and mechanism when going up and support most of the weight when it is up and as the roof is heavy most of the coming down is almost under its own weight so again they dampen the action hence less load on the mechanism and motors

[missfixit70]

Had a vague memory of a very informative thread, just did a search, this may help - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=31734

[alant54]

Had a vague memory of a very informative thread, just did a search, this may help - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=31734

Well done Kirsty.....excellent find..... ...I vaguely remember a similar post to which I replied..but this superbly informative post makes mine seem like gibberish.....

OK I know...nothing new in that.....

Alan

[missfixit70]

Mebe that makes you a genius though Alan

[Graham]

Many thanks to all who have replied to this thread.But to clarify things it is the actual mechanics of the roof that I'am interested and wondered if any body had a full working description with posible some idiot proof scetches or drawings to explain to a novice like myself.

[mikeonb4c]

Many thanks to all who have replied to this thread.But to clarify things it is the actual mechanics of the roof that I'am interested and wondered if any body had a full working description with posible some idiot proof scetches or drawings to explain to a novice like myself.

Not that I am aware of although it is one of the things the Workshop Manual does cover in pretty good detail. But knowing how to and doing it successfully may still be some way apart when it comes to fixing an AFT. Where are you based, as - for example - my Bongo mechanic in Bury is fast becoming an expert in fixing faulty AFT roofs, and his charges are very reasonable (it is said to be a 4 man job to lift the roof off manually, or womanually come to that ha ha!)

[mikexgough]

Many thanks to all who have replied to this thread.But to clarify things it is the actual mechanics of the roof that I'am interested and wondered if any body had a full working description with posible some idiot proof scetches or drawings to explain to a novice like myself.

I don't think this has been done previously.....for me I would probably say that the Workshop manual "blown up" parts diagram and a "live" Bongo would explain it best...... which could I guess be a basis of a factsheet type description of "How it works"

[AlliDelta]

I removed a roof recently... Bit of a job and bloody heavy. 4 man job indeed. The roof works by using a long almost screw like stiff metal cable to alter the position of some runners which in turn change the hinging point of the roof, on lifting they move forward on lowering backwards. This is acheived by 2 worm drive motors on either side of the roof it's a bit confusing on first glance as the cables feed into both sides of the mechanism, this is because as the roof goes up the excess cable has to go somewhere, which it does, into the opposite side into a slot in the aluminium extrusion. Quite clever really if a total head bender to work out how it does it. The 2 gas struts just give a helping hand to take the weight of the roof.

This probably hasn't helped at all.