Roof sag - Clamp thingy?

[sidepod]

Anyone using these?

Locking mechanism for the electro-hydraulic pop-up roof of the California Ocean "Roof Lock"

Quick installation - done: And the roof stays up! We've been waiting a long time for this useful helper... The California Ocean drivers among you know this: after a certain time, the electro-hydraulic roof of the California Ocean sags slightly. Not only does this not look nice, but it can...

www.buessli-shop.ch

 

[Ryanrunsfar123]

I am. Not exactly these actually - something I got off Etsy from a German doing 3D printed versions…as recommended by a couple I bumped in to in Lauterbrunnen.

Having spent literally 1.5 years trying to sort my sagging roof out with VW I’ve just started using these and they’re a game changer for me! They take 90 seconds to put them both on and that’s it, the roof is going nowhere…. No thinking about how long until the next auto level, no looking at a wonky roof, no upstairs lights not working. Bliss haha

I’ve been in St Ives since Weds and it’s been super warm in the sun and chilly at night. Before the clamps, this would have been a nightmare.

I’m the kind of person where things like a sagging roof just occupies my brain if it’s not sorted. As in, I’m always conscious / aware of it. My wife thinks I’m mad but it’s the way I’m wired!! VW should have sorted it but tbh I’ve had enough of trying to get it sorted and now I have a solution.

One word of warning… don’t forget to take them off before you put the roof down if you get them!!

 

[Ryanrunsfar123]

 

[sidepod]

Ok interesting. I asked as I’ve for a CAD model knocked up and printed of some prototypes. Here’s one half.
I was going to get a pal to quote on machining up a batch in T6 ally . Economies of scale makes a difference so if anyone is interested let me know.

How much did you pay if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[sidepod]

Do you find after a week there is any tension on the bolt when removing?

 

[bvddobb]

CHF 269,- for a set?! They must be kidding!

 

[Ryanrunsfar123]

Mine were 100EUR. Should have been about 10 . Yes a small amount of tension on the bolts but really not much. The roof doesn’t drop when you take them off.

 

[John Herbert]

The thingy as described I saw yesterday at the Simply VW show in Beauliegh, Hampshire fitted to a Califoniia Ocean and are sold via Etsy as German product called TOP STOP. Not cheap at £150 plus £30 shipping but if solves the problem, money well spent. Owner was not there to question their experiance and would appreciate any feed back from owners using the TOP STOP device.

 

[Daveb999]

Etsy link: https://www.etsy.com/cart?ref=listing_page

If buying in EU free postage and it’s roughly £25 cheaper. It’s still about £125 for the plastic one which seems very overpriced.

 

[John Herbert]

When the roof is up there are two seperate Ocean roof electric / hydraulic mechanism problems.

1 - The hydraulics partially fail and the roof "droops" on on side.

2 - Either the electrics or hydraulics fail and the roof cannot be closed.

The TOP STOP thingy deals with the first of the above as it blocks the closing of the roof mechanism should the hydraulics fail. When trying to close the roof and the TOP STOP is to be removed, and the hydraulics failed, I suspect the TOP STOP will be jammed by the mechanism and be difficult to remove. Should that be the case suspect it would be a simple matter of trying to raise the roof, using the controller, so that the TOP STOP is no longer jammed and can then be readily removed.

When trying to close the roof and the TOP STOP can be easily removed it would indicate hydraulics have not failed. All good then!

Is that how it is supposed to work?

Does the TOP STOP help in regard to the second problem of roof refuses to close.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[SENNA94]

Would the TOP STOP cause damage to the roof mechanism especially if the roof is wanting to lower it self?

 

[sidepod]

All the top stop does is relieve the pressure on the hydraulics which in turn stops the non return valve from leaking.

There’s a much simpler/cheaper solution. I thought I’d posted a pic, perhaps not.

All that’s required is a tie down looped through roof mechanism.

I’ll post a pic tomorrow. Too many martinis on board to be messing around now!

 

[sidepod]

Basically you need a tie down passing between these two point. It need to go through the two gaps. Once tensioned it takes the load of the roof. Simple.

 

[sidepod]

 

[Daveb999]

Quite a bit cheaper

 

[Bryan2411]

Quite a bit cheaper

View attachment 148299

Love a cheaper solution. I’d have to find a way of not forgetting they are there

 

[Wish]

Love a cheaper solution. I’d have to find a way of not forgetting they are there

Perhaps a piece of ribbon tied to the steering wheel…. I used a similar approach when riding a motorbike (disc lock)

 

[Lambeth Cali]

All these really don’t seem like a good idea. It’s not fixing the problem. Definitely obvious possibility of damaging your roof.

 

[sidepod]

All these really don’t seem like a good idea. It’s not fixing the problem. Definitely obvious possibility of damaging your roof.

Always interesting when people make judgments based on their own limitations.

Of course it’s not fixing the problem. Unfortunately it seems the problem isn’t a simple fix.
We know what the issue is but sadly it’s not easy to repeat when left with a dealer who, let’s be honest, has zero interest in fixing it, preferring to fall back on the VW specifications.

As we are all aware, what VW consider acceptable is far from what actually is acceptable.

So what do you suggest?

This is a simple effective workaround, as long as you remember it’s there, not dissimilar to unplugging the hook up.

 

[mattnedgus]

Ok interesting. I asked as I’ve for a CAD model knocked up and printed of some prototypes. Here’s one half.
I was going to get a pal to quote on machining up a batch in T6 ally . Economies of scale makes a difference so if anyone is interested let me know.

How much did you pay if you don’t mind me asking?

View attachment 139050

Hi Sidepod, just seen your post. I was wondering about drawing up my own versions to see if I can make some from ply - how did you get the profiles of the arm curve and the bracket in the picture you posted for your drawings?

 

[sidepod]

I just eyeballed it/measured it then designed it in CAD. Printed off a tester, adjusted it, repeat.

I can send you the stl file if you want?

 

[Ian Chappell]

Does anyone know if there is UK firm that's sells these.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Perhaps a piece of ribbon tied to the steering wheel…. I used a similar approach when riding a motorbike (disc lock)

Or these again on the steering wheel:

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I use them labelled up for several different ‘do not drive until ….’

 

[mattnedgus]

I just eyeballed it/measured it then designed it in CAD. Printed off a tester, adjusted it, repeat.

I can send you the stl file if you want?

If you don't mind that'd be great thank you - if nothing else it'll give me a feel for it before I see if/what I can cobble together from wood.

How have your 3D printed ones held up? I tried it once years ago but never found the prints very strong but perhaps that was the PLA I was using.

 

[sidepod]

The plan was to have them machines in ally once I’d got the design right. I never got that far as I realised all it needed was the two simple straps.
Infinitely cheaper.