Lubricating Roof mechanism

[serge]

Hi Chaps

Been having little sticking issues on my bongo recently, and thank everyone for the info with regard to contacts, handbrakes etc on previous posts

Basically, the roof rises and comes down fine, but recently I have been having problems getting the roof to fully rise and the alarm to stop. When I do get it to extend fully, I have a swine of a job getting it down, I can hear the motor trying to engage, the revs on the engine lower telling me that this is not an electrical problem( I think) and find a sharp pull gets it going

I am presumimg therefore that some lubrication may be needed, hopefully that is all....what do you chaps think? If you agree, any tips on doing this, ie grease on the spinle or a good squirt of my favourite cure all, WD40...any recommendations

Many thanks

Serge

[missfixit70]

Aerosol white grease, aerosol silicone grease, wd40 might be ok initially, but it won't last for too long, watch you don't get it on the tent, lubricate the runners, struts, etc - basically anything that moves. Take it up & down a few times, may be worth unzipping the roof tent so it's not working as hard.

[mikeonb4c]

Hi Chaps

Been having little sticking issues on my bongo recently, and thank everyone for the info with regard to contacts, handbrakes etc on previous posts

Basically, the roof rises and comes down fine, but recently I have been having problems getting the roof to fully rise and the alarm to stop. When I do get it to extend fully, I have a swine of a job getting it down, I can hear the motor trying to engage, the revs on the engine lower telling me that this is not an electrical problem( I think) and find a sharp pull gets it going

I am presumimg therefore that some lubrication may be needed, hopefully that is all....what do you chaps think? If you agree, any tips on doing this, ie grease on the spinle or a good squirt of my favourite cure all, WD40...any recommendations

Many thanks

Serge

I don't like the sound of this Serge. The going up stuff is commonly reported and is likely to respond to lubricants, unzipping and folding the (stiff) tenting to reduce resistance etc. But if it's struggling to come down (where gravity should make it easier), engine revs dropping due to load etc. there could be some serious strain goin on in the mecahnism. BF member Dreamwarrior (Mike) had a problem with his roof not coming down properly (and damaging his roof) some while back. Might be worth PMing him for his view if he doesn't read this and respond.

good luck - keep us posted.

Mike

[Veg_Ian]

Mike - if you read Serge's post carefully he says he is having trouble getting it up (it's an age thing, I hear viagra is good) not down . I used to have the same problem with my roof, wouldn't quite fully go up enough to stop the beeping. As Kirsty has already said - white lithium grease or silicon grease on moving parts but be careful not to spray it on the fabric.

[serge]

Good advice coming in here, many, many thanks

Would you recommend removing the tent before starting to grease up, I can be clumsy!!!

People in the room are getting to know, I haven't always had this raising problem, must be the age

Thanks again

Serge

[mikeonb4c]

Mike - if you read Serge's post carefully he says he is having trouble getting it up (it's an age thing, I hear viagra is good) not down . I used to have the same problem with my roof, wouldn't quite fully go up enough to stop the beeping. As Kirsty has already said - white lithium grease or silicon grease on moving parts but be careful not to spray it on the fabric.

Yup, I'd clocked that (and my advice is the same as Kirsty's and yours and remember its worth testing if tent fabric inflexibility in this cold weather may be contributing), but reading Serge's post very carefully, he goes on to say he has trouble getting it down. And that is the bit that caught my eye and set alarm bells ringing. It is unusual to hear a tale like that and hence the advice to check with Dreamwarrior.

[francophile1947]

I use a PTFE spray. Make sure you spray both sides of the bottom runners and give the damper rods a clean as well.

[mikeonb4c]

I use a PTFE spray. Make sure you spray both sides of the bottom runners and give the damper rods a clean as well.

Me too franco, on the gas struts...and that and chain wax on the runners sorted my roof raising problems to this day.

Serge - no need to remove tenting etc. though I have found that my tent fabric inevitably makes some contact with oil components when collapsed. Washes off with suitable household cleaner no probs

[Veg_Ian]

but reading Serge's post very carefully, he goes on to say he has trouble getting it down.

Absolutely right Mike, I should practice what I preach, my apologies.

If it's only a case of getting the down cycle started then more like a lubrication problem than anything catching. I have to confess that the roof material is pretty durable and cleans up well - the plastic coated bit anyway. You could try slipping a piece of cardboard or similar behind the component you are going to spray if you are really concerned about overspray.

[mikeonb4c]

but reading Serge's post very carefully, he goes on to say he has trouble getting it down.

Absolutely right Mike, I should practice what I preach, my apologies.

If it's only a case of getting the down cycle started then more like a lubrication problem than anything catching. I have to confess that the roof material is pretty durable and cleans up well - the plastic coated bit anyway. You could try slipping a piece of cardboard or similar behind the component you are going to spray if you are really concerned about overspray.

Ho ho - I do it all the time so no criticism from me. I do worry in case he's got something wrong with the mechanism though, as I think (but Mike could confirm) gravity came into the picture with Mike's roof when the mechanism came adrift and the weight of the collapsing roof cracked it and he needed a replacement roof. If Serge could speak with him, it might be worth it and could avoid something expensive. In the meantime Serge, try the lubrication remedies and let us know if you get any improvement. Something else you could try is this. The roof should come down easily on the battery alone, with engine off. Try lowering it with engine off and it should be much more obvious if it is straining, as the battery won't cope well with no alternator power backing it up. If that happens, you defo. need to investigate the mechanism. good luck

[bigdaddycain]

After reading serge's post, his mention of engine revs dropping under the strain of lowering the roof got me thinking too, as mike says, raised alarm bells ringing. We appreciate that the roof actually locks into place when raised, yes? I take it that is a mechanical catch? Could this be intermittent in it's operation?

I have a notoriously creaky and groany (is that a word?) freetop, but it has never jammed as serge's has.

I'd start the investigation of this problem via lubrication of the mechanism(s) first, though i do feel that there is a deeper problem lurking.

and Veg Ian? I use an old slip of cardboard to protect my rooftent from overspray when i use the white grease aerosol i have...

[mikeonb4c]

After reading serge's post, his mention of engine revs dropping under the strain of lowering the roof got me thinking too, as mike says, raised alarm bells ringing. We appreciate that the roof actually locks into place when raised, yes? I take it that is a mechanical catch? Could this be intermittent in it's operation?

I have a notoriously creaky and groany (is that a word?) freetop, but it has never jammed as serge's has.

I'd start the investigation of this problem via lubrication of the mechanism(s) first, though i do feel that there is a deeper problem lurking.

and Veg Ian? I use an old slip of cardboard to protect my rooftent from overspray when i use the white grease aerosol i have...

Good advice all round as ever BDC. You get the feeling that provided you diagnose and fix the problem in time, it need be neither complex or expensive. But leave it too late............ I wonder if Mike (Dreamwarrior) can advise on what exactly went wrong with his that time, as it happend out of the blue as I recall.

[serge]

Ho Ho Ho

Many thanks for all of the posts, hope Mike reads this seems he is a bit of an ace on this

Am just off for my tea now, all this talk of lubrication and my failure to get things to rise has made me check my birth certificate, and yes, it must be my age!!!

Will try the lubrication and report back, seemed the obvious thing to me,hence the posting, but I am going to look deeper in to this, sounds less expensive....but all of this advice has been great

Many, many thanks to you all

Serge

[bigdaddycain]

Enjoy your tea serge I'd definitely look into giving your erection some lubrication prior to fiddling about with other bits first.

[mikeonb4c]

Enjoy your tea serge I'd definitely look into giving your erection some lubrication prior to fiddling about with other bits first.