Soft top hydro pump not working

imported_mega · 03-20-2017, 12:14 PM

The hydralic half of the soft top motor/pump serviceable?

My motor was bad, cleaned it up and fixed it. Now I'm looking at the pump and the bypass valve thing is stuck, permanently bypassed it does not push back against the bypass lever at all.

Any way to open these up and clean out the thing?

Spaceman Spiff · 03-20-2017, 03:05 PM

Before you open up, take a look at the ball bearing inside that blocks the hydraulic oil line. On my 2nd pump it was half corroded inside.

These pumps are pretty easy to pick up for a few hundreds (or lower if you pull at junkyard) - Depending on the current shape, it might make sense to just replace the pump at this point to make sure you won't have to revisit in the near future.

imported_mega · 03-20-2017, 03:15 PM

How do you get to it? It's definitely corroded the whole thing is

Spaceman Spiff · 03-20-2017, 07:07 PM

It's been a while since the last time I did mine, but IIRC the bypass mechanism is encased in a black plastic piece that's attached to the motor and can be easily removed (toward the top where the hydraulic lines are attached - Pretty large plastic piece). Remove that and you'll see the valve and the little brass stopper that moves when you pull the bypass cable. On my second pump the stopper part was half gone.

imported_mega · 03-20-2017, 07:21 PM

the brass part is stuck in the side of the housing

Spaceman Spiff · 03-20-2017, 07:54 PM

Yep that's the part. It's a brass ball should move inward 2-3mm when pressed on.

imported_mega · 03-20-2017, 07:55 PM

is it removable? mine is stuck in

Spaceman Spiff · 03-20-2017, 08:30 PM

It shouldn't come out of the housing, but should move a few mm in when you press on it (which is what happens when the trunk bypass cable is pulled). Again, I am remembering all of this from a couple of years ago so might be a bit foggy there.

03-20-2017, 12:14 PM	#1
imported_mega Colonel 122 Rep 2,199 Posts Drives: various bmw's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: neverland iTrader: (0)	Soft top hydro pump not working The hydralic half of the soft top motor/pump serviceable? My motor was bad, cleaned it up and fixed it. Now I'm looking at the pump and the bypass valve thing is stuck, permanently bypassed it does not push back against the bypass lever at all. Any way to open these up and clean out the thing? __________________ You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. Driving e82, e72, e85, R53 Gone but not forgotten.. 1974 2002, many various 3s.
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03-20-2017, 03:05 PM	#2
Spaceman Spiff Captain 86 Rep 847 Posts Drives: R8, 996 C2, Z4MR (sold) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (1)	Before you open up, take a look at the ball bearing inside that blocks the hydraulic oil line. On my 2nd pump it was half corroded inside. These pumps are pretty easy to pick up for a few hundreds (or lower if you pull at junkyard) - Depending on the current shape, it might make sense to just replace the pump at this point to make sure you won't have to revisit in the near future.
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03-20-2017, 03:15 PM	#3
imported_mega Colonel 122 Rep 2,199 Posts Drives: various bmw's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: neverland iTrader: (0)	How do you get to it? It's definitely corroded the whole thing is
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03-20-2017, 07:07 PM	#4
Spaceman Spiff Captain 86 Rep 847 Posts Drives: R8, 996 C2, Z4MR (sold) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (1)	It's been a while since the last time I did mine, but IIRC the bypass mechanism is encased in a black plastic piece that's attached to the motor and can be easily removed (toward the top where the hydraulic lines are attached - Pretty large plastic piece). Remove that and you'll see the valve and the little brass stopper that moves when you pull the bypass cable. On my second pump the stopper part was half gone.
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03-20-2017, 07:21 PM	#5
imported_mega Colonel 122 Rep 2,199 Posts Drives: various bmw's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: neverland iTrader: (0)	the brass part is stuck in the side of the housing __________________ You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. Driving e82, e72, e85, R53 Gone but not forgotten.. 1974 2002, many various 3s.
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03-20-2017, 07:54 PM	#6
Spaceman Spiff Captain 86 Rep 847 Posts Drives: R8, 996 C2, Z4MR (sold) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (1)	Yep that's the part. It's a brass ball should move inward 2-3mm when pressed on.
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03-20-2017, 07:55 PM	#7
imported_mega Colonel 122 Rep 2,199 Posts Drives: various bmw's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: neverland iTrader: (0)	is it removable? mine is stuck in __________________ You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. Driving e82, e72, e85, R53 Gone but not forgotten.. 1974 2002, many various 3s.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-20-2017, 08:30 PM	#8
Spaceman Spiff Captain 86 Rep 847 Posts Drives: R8, 996 C2, Z4MR (sold) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (1)	It shouldn't come out of the housing, but should move a few mm in when you press on it (which is what happens when the trunk bypass cable is pulled). Again, I am remembering all of this from a couple of years ago so might be a bit foggy there.
	Appreciate 0 Quote