roof im afraid

[redcastle]

here's a puzzle and hope someone can help..
roof has always been fine if a bit slow but always needed a final push to get it all the way. I got fed up with it and thought time to do some maintenance so raised the roof and cleaned and greased the rails and anything else that looked like it may move, used the proper lithium lubricant spray

dropped the roof no problem but now it will go up about three inches and stops, use the switch to drop it 1/2" and then up again it will go up another three inches and so it goes on, toggling the switch seems to help but when its over halfway you have to push it and use the up button to get it all the way. what on earth have I sprayed that shouldn't have been sprayed ?

feeling very silly

thanks folks

[mikeonb4c]

Did you get anywhere near the (ageing) motors maybe?

[redcastle]

where are they located Mike, sorry to be dull. I sprayed everything is sight just about, even the dog got a bit........
at least I can get it up to have a look

[redcastle]

had a search mike and think I can find the motors, at the back under a couple of black covers I'll have a look and see what I can see.

[Northern Bongolow]

the switch to lift the roof sounds to be the culprit, they are known to need a clean out.

[redcastle]

are you talking about the the rocker switch in the cockpit ? sounds like that may be worth a try ...............................

[g8dhe]

Might just be the gas struts are no longer taking the full weight, it wasn't going up to full height at the start.
Get some new gas struts fitted, and give the motors a clean up inside, they may have corrosion products internally, there is an good Factsheet on the disassembling them - mind the single ball bearing on the end!
gas struts from these people http://www.sgs-engineering.com/car-boot ... azda/bongo

[redcastle]

Had a good look at the motors and they show signs of corrosion, I'm certainly going to swop the gas struts because up she goes when I take the weight of the roof particularly from about halfway up so that makes sense to me.
saw that brilliant thread on cleaning and redoing the motors but will have to get one off first to have a look, truth is im not the best mechanic in the world and don't have a workshop just a kitchen so I'll just have to be prepared to replace them if I have to.
Thought I was on a nice simple fix with the switch cleaning but that didn't make much difference im afraid

The good news is I have nice clean rails etc with no obstructions and they are well greased and like all the bongo things once you get in there you learn a little more

you lot are brilliant

[mikeonb4c]

Glad you located the motors and yes if you're (like me) not a mechanical whizz then i'd get it to one of the Bongo specialists. It'll cost of course but i take the view that it is reasonable for an old and relatively expensive (and brilliantly useful) campervan to need some investment and overhaul. Motors and struts sound like they could both use it. Good luck and keep us posted.

P.S. Out of interest, how old is the Bongo. For reference my motors were replaced at around 14yrs old.

[Bob]

I've no doubt a lot of peeps would like to replace their 14 year olds.

[teenmal]

Glad you located the motors and yes if you're (like me) not a mechanical whizz then i'd get it to one of the Bongo specialists. It'll cost of course but i take the view that it is reasonable for an old and relatively expensive (and brilliantly useful) campervan to need some investment and overhaul. Motors and struts sound like they could both use it. Good luck and keep us posted.

P.S. Out of interest, how old is the Bongo. For reference my motors were replaced at around 14yrs old.

Its had the key of the door.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx1D2asFSig

[redcastle]

yep she's 1996 mike so got the key of the door.
to give you an idea of what a mechanical bell end I can be I went to get in her this morning and had left the ignition on all night

thinking of taking her for a bit of TLC to your man at bongo spares up north whose always been great with bits and very helpful on the phone, Im in Shropshire if any one has a good bloke closer

[Bob]

There's Ian Taylor in Stoke.

[mikeonb4c]

There's Ian Taylor in Stoke.

Absolutely. For a while he even worked out of Market Drayton, but he's been back in Stoke for a while. Ian is one of the 1st generation Bongo specialists and the obvious person to contact.

[redcastle]

Just thought an update might be good for others searching for slow roofs

After all the great advice I decided to wait until the spring to get the roof done, using mrs bongo but don't need the roof and a bit skint so patience.

All the greases and lubricants were out so I thought before putting it all away I may as well clean the fabric and give the rails and any other moving parts a final fettle. Really cleaned the aluminium runners paying special attention to the backs and anything that looked like it may move got a good dose of lithium, not forgetting the two big hinges at the back that the roof pivots on.
Took the covers off to uncover the motors and used contact cleaner on them, they're sort of b shaped and the only access is through the top so figuring nothing from nothing is nothing really gave them a good squirting. Dropped the roof and put the roof to bed. That was on tuesday

Yesterday took the dog into the woods and while she was doing what dogs do sat in the bongo and made a brew and thought I'll just pop the roof up....................oh my, went up very nicely indeed, right to the top, no shoving or toggling.

thoughts !
these greases and cleaners really work but you have to give them time to do their work, don't expect immediate results, the number of times I've used WD40 and expected immediate results when clearly they work much better if your patient and give them time.........................