Hard Top Removal..."Pulleys From Hell" Photos

[Greg72]

For the entertainment of the list I will post a few photos of my "Pulleys From Hell v1.0". As I mentioned in my "SPRING FEVER.." thread, this needs some additional work. Here are some photos to show what I tried:

Photo1: The long shot of the whole assembly. The top is raised by three pulleys (one on windsheild side, two on hatch side) the pulleys get collected on a triple pulley in the center and then move to the side wall of the garage where they travel down to the racheting crank.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1598742&a=12182535&p=44272686


...and now the reason why it needs work. Look at how bent this pulley is!! The weight of the top is acting as a huge side load and bending this 3/8 lag bolt like spaghetti... This is unsafe, and explains why there are so many vertical pieces of wood propping up the top to reduce the load!

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1598742&a=12182535&p=44272682>http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1598742&a=12182535&p=44272682</A>


Hopefully these will help give you ideas of ways to build a similar lifting rack for your top. Mine obviously needs another revision of changes (Pulleys From Hell v1.1?) before I'm happy and convinced that it will SAFELY hold my top for the summer.

-Greg72

 

[Blaze]

Re: Hard Top Removal...\"Pulleys From Hell\" Photos

Couldn't you just put some more support blocks on the other side so that the pulleys are supported on both sides instead of just one? That would reduce the shear on the bolt and keep it from bendig - unless you want a little play in the pulleys.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www4.ncsu.edu/~brschoch>http://www4.ncsu.edu/~brschoch</A>
My truck beat up your SUV

 

[mudhog]

Re: Hard Top Removal...\"Pulleys From Hell\" Photos

looks like a great idea when you get the bugs worked out

77blazer see it at<A target="_blank" HREF=http://community.webshots.com/user/ssmith6333>http://community.webshots.com/user/ssmith6333</A>

 

[Greg72]

Re: Hard Top Removal...\"Pulleys From Hell\" Photos

Blaze,

Yes that would actually work for the one I photgraphed coming down the wall. I could easily build a support on the opposite side and replace the lag bolt with some other 3/8" rod.

The one on the ceiling is the real problem. Unless I built some kind of weird cage around it, I don't know how I'd support it from both sides. The ceiling pulley is in a horizontal position unlike the pulley coming down the side wall.....

There is a solution, I just need to scratch my head a little more!

-Greg72

 

[Blaze]

Re: Hard Top Removal...\"Pulleys From Hell\" Photos

I see how you have swivels or something on the outside pulleys so they can move around a little. Couldn't you do that with the ones in the middle? Just put 3 different swivel pulleys instead of the 3 stacked pulleys. That sould allow for a little play in the pulleys and keep the stress off of the mounting point. Just an idea...

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www4.ncsu.edu/~brschoch>http://www4.ncsu.edu/~brschoch</A>
My truck beat up your SUV

 

[Quetzal_SJ]

Re: Hard Top Removal...\"Pulleys From Hell\" Photos

Looks good greg, but where are the pics of the blazer without the top? I need some eye candy! Have you done anything to your blazer yet?

Quetzal

 

[Greg72]

Re: Hard Top Removal...\"Pulleys From Hell\" Photos

The photos are on this board....check for a seperate message from me with the subject of: "Pictures of my '72 - Top Removed" or something like that! It should provide all the entertainment you are looking for.

BTW -&gt; Have you posted any pictures of your ride yet? Did you get that new motor installed? I'd be curious to hear how things are going with your K5 also.

-Greg72