HandyAndy
Newbie
Posts: 41
Loc: Iowa City, IA
Reg: 09-05-19
|
08-06-22 06:02 PM - Post#2845557
The top will go up part way and then stop. If you wait a minute or two, you can complete the up cycle. The same thing happens in the down cycle. I by-passed the switch running 12V directly to the motor leads. It operated just the same. Is there an internal thermal protector on the motor or is the motor shot? It looks to be original equipment.
|
|
steve65
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1179
Age: 66
Loc: Langley, BC
Reg: 09-25-13
|
08-06-22 08:12 PM - Post#2845560
In response to HandyAndy
Sounds to me like you are low on fluid. The pump is hydraulic (spelling is wrong I’m sure).
My ‘65 was the same way, I rebuilt the pump and it worked like brand new. Wasn’t too hard to do. Mostly O rings and bleeding the lines.
Steve
Steve Duncan
66 Impala 2dr Coupe
Sold, gone to a better home.
|
|
 timmyg65
"11th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 24
Reg: 08-17-14
|
08-07-22 01:02 PM - Post#2845580
In response to steve65
Here are a few pictures of a disassembled convertible top motor/pump assembly. The last pictures shows the circuit breaker for the motor.
My experience with these power top motors is that very rarely is there an actual issue with the motor components. I see more problems with the old brake fluid putting a drag on or stalling the motor because it gums up the pump gears in the housing. I dont recommend using brake fluid at all. I use ATF . Have you confirmed that your top mechanism is free to open and fold back without binding or old top material age causing the extra effort to retract the top back and fold into the trunk?
|
HandyAndy
Newbie
Posts: 41
Loc: Iowa City, IA
Reg: 09-05-19
|
08-07-22 03:29 PM - Post#2845583
In response to timmyg65
Thanks for the information.
I'll confirm the fluid level; however, I don't see any signs of a leak.
I'll need to check the top mechanism for for ease of operation manually.
Once I get a little time, I'll give your suggestions a try and report back.
Thanks again,
|
fire259
Senior Member
Posts: 351
Loc: No. White Plains, NY 10...
Reg: 06-20-01
|
08-16-22 09:40 AM - Post#2845989
In response to HandyAndy
If the fluid level looks good, try disconnecting both pistons from the top. Operate the switch up and down. Maybe, you have one or both "lazy" pistons that need to be replaced.
|
HandyAndy
Newbie
Posts: 41
Loc: Iowa City, IA
Reg: 09-05-19
|
07-08-23 07:01 PM - Post#2860132
In response to fire259
Finally, an update. Today, my brother and I disconnected the top from the lift arms and the top moves freely through the entire range of motion. Next the motor was removed, disassembled, cleaned and reinstalled. The system was purged from what looked like brake fluid. There wee no signs of any leaks on the system; however, there might have been a half quart of brake fluid drained from the system. The pump was reasonably clean and there was a small amount of sludge in the pump reservoir. We used about a quart of ATF refilling the system.
The system was operated several times with the lift arms disconnected through the entire range of motion up and down. Once the lift arms were reconnected, the system operated up and down about four times without any stopping mid-range. Success! Then it stopped mid-range a few times. We let the system cool down for a while and it raised and lowered through its full range of motion.
So, intermittently the motor/pump seems to work better more times than not.
Our questions:
Could we have simply overheated the internal thermal protector?
Could the system have simply been low on brake fluid?
Any other thoughts or recommendations?
Going forward, my brother will operate the convertible top motor to see how it works cold.
Thanks for your input.
|
Oshawa65SS
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1296
Age: 64
Loc: Grande Prairie AB & N...
Reg: 09-22-14
|
07-08-23 07:47 PM - Post#2860133
In response to HandyAndy
Yeah you're not supposed to run it a bunch of times continuously.
There's some good tips here about purging air bubbles too:
http://topsdown.com/pages.php?pageid=6&send_is...
Ryan
65 Impala SS Evening Orchid convertible 283 2V, PG, 10 bolt 3.08 open by PO, originally 3.36
Build date Dec. 21 '64 Oshawa |
|
HandyAndy
Newbie
Posts: 41
Loc: Iowa City, IA
Reg: 09-05-19
|
07-10-23 02:22 PM - Post#2860175
In response to Oshawa65SS
Ryan,
Thanks for the information in reference to the 1966 Impala convertible top. We'll see how it operates going forward and report back.
Thanks again,
Andy
|
HandyAndy
Newbie
Posts: 41
Loc: Iowa City, IA
Reg: 09-05-19
|
06-10-24 07:39 AM - Post#2870721
In response to HandyAndy
I want to close the loop on this one.....
My brother got his '66 out of winter storage about six weeks ago. FYI-the convertible top system was emptied and refilled with ATF last year. According to my brother, the top is operating through the entire range, up and down, without any problems noted.
Thanks for all the help and great info!
|
 Magnetocheck
"2nd Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 481
Age: 69
Loc: Charlotte, NC, USA
Reg: 09-05-22
|
 06-10-24 09:18 AM - Post#2870730
In response to HandyAndy
Good work!
Bob
'65 Impala SS 396 Convertible
Member, National Impala Association |
|
|
Gain extra benefits by becoming a Supporting Member 
