Question about the release lock on my targa top - ie. broken slot for the handle

[UrQuattro]

Hey again,

So, my targa top has some issues (surprise surprise)... On the left side, one half of the slotted circle pot-metal lock has broken off, giving me no way to insert my release key and get any leverage to open the top. I thought that the other part was lost, but I found it and have it in my glove box. It is the other half - and it is complete in that it is the full semi-circle, and has the slight notch where a clip must fit in to it.

I looked in the pelican parts, and it seems that the locking mechanism doesn't have a way to replace this small piece, and would cost me about 500 dollars in parts for a new locking mechanism...

Does ANYONE have any ideas on how i can get this working again? Right now, it is possible to open the targa top with a pair of pliers pinching the 1/2 that is left, and rotating it carefully without putting pressure on it in a direction that would cause it to flex inward or outward, but i only removed it so that i could bend down the leading edge of the top in order to quiet down the INSANE amount of wind noise as highway cruising speeds.

Any help would be incredibly welcome....

Thank you again, in advance!

Sincerely,
Michael

[86 911 Targa]

pm me.

I have a few ideas.

[rwest]

Michael,

This happened to me about 15 years ago, and the repair still holds! Get some epoxy and a real small hose clamp, take the broken off piece and epoxy it back and then at the same time put epoxy around the works and tighten the hose clamp around it. it won't show with the trim in place, and has proven to work for the long haul! Make sure not to get any epoxy in the area that is supposed to turn!!!!!! and of course you need to remove the trim to get to the latch area.

Rutager

[UrQuattro]

Rwest,

Ok, i THINK i get what you mean, but im a little bit confused. Do I have to remove the locking mechanism from the targa top in order to do this? or am i able to do this with the top mounted on the car...

There seems to be a little wire clip that goes across the area, i guess i need to spread that apart somehow so that i can get the part that is broken back in the right spot... (or do i?)...

As far as the hose clamp, am i supposed to pre-tighten it down to the basic circumference of the lock and let the epoxy do its thing?

Any suggestions on type of epoxy to use? I repair computers for a living, and i work in the tight quarters of laptops and such, but it has been a while since i've done any work on a car, so i prefer to be extra careful...

Thanks again, you've given me hope!!

Michael

[rwest]

Hi Michael,

It's been a real long time since I did this, which is good since it means it lasted, but bad since I can't remember exactly what I did! I think you should do a dry run and place the clip in too, I think it is what keeps the handle in place. The hose clamp should be able to tighten down pretty well, I think that this is what does most of the work holing things together. I did it with the latch in place, and padded trim removed. I would use regular 2 part epoxy from a hardware store, you don't want to "gob" it on, just enough to coat the area of the break, and then enough around the circumfrence, to bond the hose clamp to the piece, that way when it is dry you have one solid piece. I'm out of state right now, but will be home by Thursday, if my car makes the 2100 mile trip! Can you wait until then? If your in a bind I could take the pad off tomorrow and take a photo, but then I might not be able to get it back on since I don't have any supplies to do it. If you can wait, I'll do it when I'm home. Oh by the way don't have the handle in the slot when you glue it up or you will have a permanent handle and no padding!

Rutager

[UrQuattro]

Hey, there's no. Huge rush for this so you don't need to pull anything apart right now. So whenever you have the chance to do it I would be eternally grateful.

I haven't really done much/any of my own work on this car yet. Partially out of anxiety that it is a wholey different school of engineering than my urquattro but alsobecause I don't have the manual for it. Her. At some point I'll have to bite the bullet and get it but for now illtry just one thing at a time.

Anyway I look forward to seeing your pictures and getting a better idea of your macguyver'd solution.

Michael

[scottb]

Call Dan Pechtel at www.carsincnj.com. He's the Targa top guru, and will know what can be done.

Good luck!

Scott

[milspam]

A replacement part is available through Stoddard, thats where I purchased mine when they broke. It will require the removal of the latch from top to replace this item. Hope this helps.

[rwest]

Michael,

SIC-565-032-00 is the Stoddard part# I was curious about it, so I took a look, they have a picture of it and it's only $21, I think I would go that route rather than the epoxy method I told you about! If you still wan't pics let me know, But milspam has a better way! I don't think most of us knew that part is available.

Rutager

[UrQuattro]

Damn, I had no idea. I just finished ordering mine. I wonder how many people this part could help?!