1962 Ford Thunderbird Convertible Top hanging on retraction.
Asked by Daddyrod111 Dec 17, 2019 at 02:22 PM about the 1962 Ford Thunderbird
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
1962 Thunderbird Roadster The Top starts to retract after rear deck opens
and read deck lid opens . The top starts to raise 1 or 2 inches and struggles
to get the over center point where it will fully retract into the trunk. Pump
keeps running at a lower rpm. Like just weak. Would this be a weak Pump?
Or?? Cannot assist the top either by pushing on to raise it just freezes as if
pressure on both sides of pump are equalizing.
4 Answers
Have you checked the fluid level?
There is pressure on both sides of cooperation, but if pump is weak it will quit during operation. 1 check fluid. 2 disconnect pump hoses & try to put top down by hand, if goes down Easley it's the pump. Note it is a complicated system, but from your description it sounds like a weak pump.
Daddyrod111 answered 4 years ago
Thank you gentleman!!! I believe both of you are correct!!! Sorry been so long to respond. Family ops took came first. Pump reservoir was only 20% full when checked. Also It was full of Clumpy materials. Do not believe this was ever checked .....IN YEARS. So drained and refilled and filled 3 times over 2 hours so not to over heat pump.Fluid changed from Black to fairly clear. System went from loud to quiet and smooth operation. Later that afternoon last retraction of the day. Pump goes for 15 seconds then stops. wait 30 seconds then keeps going....slowly...Pump has been slow all the while. Starts stop ...starts stops.Fuse up front checks out. Thinking it is now just the PUMP. So is there a real difference if replacement is a standard pump or a high flow? Does it really matter? Thoughts? Thanks for all of your help so far. Relay sounds as if connecting well and correct.
Just get a high flow pump, get rid of the old pump, have you checked the type of fluid you put in the pump. I have 2 convertables and they both ushered ford type f. High Flo you need to bleed the lines get the air out, you injected air Into the lines running the pump low on fluid. Pull one line at a time put it inside a clear water bottle, running the pump until it runs clean and no air bubbles. All 4 lines going to pistons. New pump clean lines and no air bubbles and it will stop all the hesitation too. Look at each joint and see if there are rubbing bare model damage. It is rare but never know, this way you eliminate if this has any bearing on the operation, it is a rare problem, ,,the pump is common problem, look at it as a hydrolic system like brakes, closed system, no leaks, no air in system and good pump or master cylender. Good luck
