good morning, i am a new owner by the default of someone else. i have a 76 450sl, and am having trouble getting the hard top off. the pin will not release and i can not figure out how to get to it or even what to do if i do. could really use an owners manual, if there is a place to get a manual, could someone send me some info? looking forward to redoing the 450, if has been sitting for 4 years and is in need of some care. thanks

 

Hello...I just saw your post and I too am having the same problem with my 89 560sl. The center pin will not release. If you figure it out, let me know and I will do the same for you. As for the owner's manual, just go the mercedesbenzusa.com and you can order one for less than $30.00. I found mine there and was surprised at the price...people on ebay wanted over $300.00! Hope this helps.

 

My mother-in-law has an '84 560SL and has the same issue.

We basically end up "jiggling" it around and it eventually pops free.
She has had it into the dealer about it and it seems to simply be a minor flaw in the design of the catch hook.

I wish I had a better response than our low-tech solution...

 

i also have a mother-in-law but she ain't got no mercedes

 

Underneath the release handle is a small silver handle. Rotate that handle all the way clockwise after rotating the release handle anti-clockwide. The small handle controls the release pin's final release. It's spring loaded so you need to hold it at the same time as pulling up on the rear of the top otherwise it'll just re-engage.

The big handle pulls the catch up and down, the small one moves it in and out.