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Keeping the canopy up!

K

kenneth83

New member
So I know this has been covered a little bit in some posts, but I see no post dedicated to keeping the canopy (at least on the hydraulic powered canopies) up.

I know some of the "nicer" pumps will do this on their own...but mine for one does not. If i`m working on the car, I have to either secure the top with a wooden dowel or park on an incline, nose forward, to keep the canopy from slowly closing on me.

I was thinking of using a couple of those hydraulic parking brakes like this:
EMPI_3155_vw_hydraluic_park_lock.jpg

Think this would work, or am I not properly understanding the inner workings of the hydraulic pump??*sigh*
 
letterman7

letterman7

Honorary Admin
I've got the same issue and just haven't thought enough about it for a solution. I think the check valve would work, as long as it was plumbed into the correct port. The line lock would do the same thing, you just have to remember to push the plunger back down or the line might blow the next time you try to raise the canopy.
 
K

kenneth83

New member
Exactly my thought, on blowing the seal... The check valve would be ideal, if it would work. I suppose you would only need them on the bottom lines.
 
Flyer615

Flyer615

New member
Won't the check valves prevent the rams from going down even when you want them to? I would think you would need something that you could switch on when you need to reverse the fluid flow. Just thinking out loud.
 
K

kenneth83

New member
Darn it, I think your right Flyer... I guess that would have just been too easy. Oh well, I think the parking brake would at least work, assuming it works by just blocking the flow of fluid.

There has to be some sort of external check valve system that would work. Davids system seems to have something like that:
hydrulicwithlocker.jpg
You can see what appears to be a check valve system in the middle there. (hope David doesn't mind me using the picture off his website!) I would buy the whole system from him, but the PO just recently replaced all of the hydraulics, just wished he would have sprung for the locking system!!*explitive rant*
 
letterman7

letterman7

Honorary Admin
:eek: Yeah... you couldn't use an inline valve. You/we would need the same setup as Dave's where the fluid manifold has it build in but still has ports to bypass when the flow is reversed. I'll have to stop at my local hydraulics shop to see what they got.
 
Flyer615

Flyer615

New member
Well, I have chicken embryo on my face. There is a check valve that, when reverse (down) pressure is applied, will activate a piston in the valve which pushes the check valve open in order to release the return on the cylinder. I suppose I should have googled it before posting. A simple check valve is truly a one-way operation, but there are check valves that are available where return pressure releases the check. Sorry for jumping in without doing the research.

Here is the link to a "pilot-op check valve."
 
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K

kenneth83

New member
I think your being a little hard on yourself there Flyer! For the clarity of future readers, the inline valve I uploaded a picture of earlier will NOT work.

These "pilot operated" valves may be the ticket.
pilotopvalve.jpg
It appears to me that you would install a t fitting into the upper hose (the hose that controls the lowering of the canopy) and send it to the smaller port on the valve.

Too bad they are $50...with new fittings and pilot port hose....your probably looking at somewhere around $150 in parts to install this. Not too bad actually, given what some of these project can cost.

I wonder if David will sell his check valves separately, and what they would cost...

Any of you PA guys in contact with him? Or is he on the forum?
 
letterman7

letterman7

Honorary Admin
I talk with him almost on a bi-weekly basis. He will sell his valve separate if memory serves. He'll be at Carlisle this year, so I'll ask him then! He's not a big forum guy - too much ADD for that!
 
N

Nic

Active member
Dead thread resurrection: Did we ever figure this out?

I'm using a Mustang convertible pump, and it doesn't seem to have the ability to hold the top up. I have access to a 2003 convertible Mustang and I noticed it doesn't keep the top locked in one spot either. I believe some of you are using external check valves and I'm hoping you can point me at some. It seems they need to be 2 way check valves, since fluid moved in both directions, but that doesn't make sense and appears to negate having a check valve.

Would gas struts help or are we going with line lock? Wouldn't 2 be needed then? One for each side?
 
ratrog64

ratrog64

Well-known member
I think the pilot port valve is the solution when you use a convertible top pump.
I think that's whats in the upper left hand corner of the photo from my #310 car.

Also why I decided to go with electric actuators. *laugh*

P9120020.JPG

The #114 car uses a marine trim pump. I think a much simpler solution. But I know they can be expensive.
 
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islandman

islandman

Member
way too complicated, no wonder you guys don't like hydraulics. The pumps we use in the UK these days have pilot check valves built into the pump so when the motor stops the rams are locked solid in position, up or down
 
ratrog64

ratrog64

Well-known member
I believe the only extra plumbing here would be the pilot valve compared to the use of the modern pump or trim pump.

I think whats required is a pump, 4 t's, a regulator of some type to fine tune for an even lift, a release valve and 2 rams.

The plumbing in my #310 car is from the 70's. It worked great and was pretty quick up and down (less then 8 seconds if memory serves).
 
ratrog64

ratrog64

Well-known member
This is the plumbing in the #114 car. Looks like a lot less but isn't a whole lot different. The regulator is in the side pod. Only thing missing is the pilot port valve.

10.jpg
 
islandman

islandman

Member
This is what most of ours in the UK looks like. Other than what you can see the only other thing is a T-Piece behind the bulkhead that splits the hose into two for the right and left rams. All the valves etc.. are incorporated into the pump except for a uni-directional flow control valve you can see on one of the lines in this shot.

 
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