Bongo Fury

With a lull in the rain today I've been out fiddling with the roof motors. I have an issue where they sound as if they're struggling, the roof gets so far then just stops - the beeps keep on going. I've tried giving some assistance from inside and it will go most of the way up but not completely as the beeps still go on to say it's not fully up (however the tent does feel pretty tight). I've gone through previous discussions on here and checked the obvious - I've greased the rails, taken the motors off and greased (and tried a spare motor), to no avail. The cause of this has to be the low voltage though, as when the motors are operating they are only showing between 7-8v. I've checked the handbrake switch, filed it clean and added copper slip but still around 8v. Any ideas what this might be? I've checked the connectors at the back of the roof itself and it all seems ok.
If I were to take both motors off, am I likely to do damage if I try opening and closing it manually? Could it be, that the motors have been incorrectly mounted at some time and the worm drives are at the end of their travel? And where is that sensor to shut off the beeping when it's fully up?!

Thanks one and all in advance!

The limit switch for fully raised is at the rear operated by the travel arm itself, they are known to go out of adjustment usually because they are operated by a little push rod and a strip of metal that can bend see the pictures here http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 46#p508046

You are lifting the roof with the engine on ?

Double check your multimeter is working correctly by sticking it across the main battery with the engine running and check you're getting somewhere in the region of 13 - 14 volts. Roof motors often struggle a bit at the very last bit and it's not usual to need to give it a helping hand with the last bit.

daveblueozzie wrote:You are lifting the roof with the engine on ?

Good question Dave

Also clean the fuse blades and fuseholders they can get corroded

Simon Jones wrote:Double check your multimeter is working correctly by sticking it across the main battery with the engine running and check you're getting somewhere in the region of 13 - 14 volts. Roof motors often struggle a bit at the very last bit and it's not usual to need to give it a helping hand with the last bit.

Yep, meter is reading 13.8v on the battery, so all good in that respect.

mikeonb4c wrote:

daveblueozzie wrote:You are lifting the roof with the engine on ?

Good question Dave

With the engine on, yes, and when I discovered the low voltage I've tried it with increased revs as well - no difference however.

The slowness you describe is not unusual in ageing Bongos. I ended up having two new motors fitted. But it sounds like you might have low voltage being supplied. I use Adrian at Japan Direct (0161-763-3003) in Bury, and he's done a lot of Bongo roofs. I'm sure he wouldn't mind you calling him to see if can advise.

check the output from the control unit,behind inside rear offside panel, small box held in place with 10mm nut, ive seen cars do this and just unplugging and replugging the unit solves it due to poor connector contacts, if not you'll have a better idea if the voltage problem isfurther back that the motors. unplug and check voltage on the box pins

Julian