Bongo roof won't go fully up

[rob7w]

I hope the combined wisdom of the Bongoliers can help me. Having bought our Bongo a few months ago, we have enjoyed trouble-free camping until last week. When elevating the roof, the left side did not fully elevate & "lock out", causing the side of the roof to start to "bow" under the strain.

The roof went back down without any problems, and I have since cleaned & lubricated the runners with white grease. Even when trying with the engine running, the roof goes up most of the way without problem, until the final few centimetres, when the left side of the roof starts to "bend / bow" under the pressure.

I am not sure what the problem is - if it were the motors, then I don't understand why it is only the last few centimetres that it won't "lock out".

I was wondering if it might be a problem with the gas struts - is there any way to know if this is the problem?

Having browsed the fora, I ntoe that SGS-engineering can re-gas the struts - are they easy to take off?

Any thoughts & advice will be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Rob

[John the sparky]

mine sometimes sticks a bit at the last bit, if you use it a lot it goes away..... till the next dorment time....


I lower it a bit and try again, maybe a couple of times.... and if I watch whilst someone else presses the button, it looks quite horrible.... so maybe try this first, at least if the motors are stalling anyway you aren't going to overforce it.....


hope this helps a little

John

[mobilecat]

Mine doesnt lock out either but I haven't got round to sorting it. I have lost two of the corner bits two that hold the canvas on but I dont have the skill to sort that one either - poor old dydo.

[haydn callow]

unzipping the canvas...this will put less strain on the whole process

[samuel]

My Bongo needs to be perfectly level. If its angled slightly to either side it gets stuck. And again if i have my roof bars on. They are quite heavy though.

[M 80NGD]

Just give it a helping push with both hands,that normally does the trick

[karena]

looks like this is a common problem ours has just started doing it too we figured it was lack of use as we tend to not put the roof up in bad weather - and it will lock if given a helping push from inside.

[missfixit70]

The fact that the left hand side seems to bow is worrying, I would definitely try unzipping the canvas first, see if that makes a difference, then compare what is happening on either said with the mechanism, there may be something obstructing or causing friction on the one side on the last bit of lift?
I have to lubricate mine every few times it is used especially if it's used in heavy weather, or it doesn't lock out without help.

[rob7w]

Thanks everyone for the replies so far.

The bongo is parked on a level surface, and it doesn't seem to make any difference.

I have unzipped the sides - again, no difference!

I have tried helping the roof get up those last few centimetres, but when I let go, the left side sags down again.

Any further tips / comments / diagnoses gratefully accepted!


Rob

[mikeonb4c]

I wonder if Gerry at Discount Trucks (Newbury - not too far from you) would look at a job like that. Said to be excellent and deals in Bongos as well as service and repair

[Bob]

Good shout Mike.

[rob7w]

Thanks for the tip Mike. I had a chat to Fred from Discount Trucks - very friendly helpful guy.

It turns out that the gas strut is the problem - I removed both gas struts, and the left one had completely lost its pressure.

I've sent them off to SGS-engineering for regassing.

Thanks to everyone for their advice

Best wishes

Rob

[mikeonb4c]

Pleasure, and very useful info for other members that. I remember Discount Trucks from before I bought the Bongo. Spotted them on ebay offering engine change including labour for £1000 and phoned them for reasons I can't remember. I recall being struck with how friendly and helpful the guy was even though I was an outside prospect for business. He told me he was prepping a Bongo for a lady who wanted to fly kites in the Moroccan desert or somesuch, and talked about essential spares he was giving her (alternator, w/pump, starter motor). So I wasn't surprised when person after person started singing their praises. A sort of Wheelquick of the South. Highly recommended.

[samuel]

Thats a god tip Mike. Didn't realise those struts were that important.

Have already arranged with SGS Engineering to sort my tailgate struts out. Looks like i'll send the roof ones as well.

Good tip.

Cheers

Tim

[rob7w]

I took the gas struts in to SGS-engineering in Derby. Excellent service. Unfortunately the left gas strut was, as I suspected, too far gone to be regassed.

Thus bought a pair of new struts at around £65 per strut inc. vat., which they had ready within 10 minutes! No problem with specifications for the Mazda Bongo roof. Considerably more than the £17.50 per strut for regassing, but at least the problem is solved - attached the new struts to the roof & it is working perfectly.

Thanks everyone for their comments / advice.

Best wishes

Rob