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355 Spider Top

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by delaney, Jun 5, 2005.

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  1. delaney

    delaney Formula Junior

    Nov 8, 2003
    721
    Montgomery TX
    Full Name:
    PETER DELANEY
    Morning ...

    Any ideas on how to bleed the hydraulics on a '96 355 Spider top?


    Regards,


    Pete
     
  2. chaa

    chaa F1 Veteran

    Mar 21, 2003
    5,058
    #2 chaa, Jun 5, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    When you remove the pump cover in between the seats you will see the pump/bottle(pic). At the front of the pump is a nut for refilling the hydrolic bottle its very simple to get to.
    Becourse i empted all the hydrolic fluid out and started again i used new fluid (the fluid was hydrolic jack fluid/oil which is the same as the ferrari fluid/oil which is a pain to find).
    Refill or top up the bottle to the max line and using the emergency switch found at the side of the pump cover,(this is used so that the seats dont have to go backwards and forwards draining the battery, and most importantly you will not be able to keep the hydrolic pump on for the few seconds after the cycle to bleed the system if you use the main consol switch),press the close button and keep on pressing for a few seconds after the roof has done a cycle(closing). As you do this you will hear the air bubbles bubbling in the bottle.
    Then press the other button onthe emergency switch so the roof does another cycle to (open) it, and again hold the switch for another few seconds after the cycle again you will hear the air bubbles. Do both cycles again. Then you will have alot of bubbles in the bottle, so now you will have to wait until the next day to do some more bleeding (and topping up)becourse the hydrolic fluid will need this time to loose all the bubbles. So in a nut shell the bleeding of a roof system may take a couple of days to bleed completly.
    Did mine in november last year and it still works perfectly, i first took of all four rams to check them while i was at it, this to is an easy job. Hope this helps.
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  3. delaney

    delaney Formula Junior

    Nov 8, 2003
    721
    Montgomery TX
    Full Name:
    PETER DELANEY
    Chaa .. excellent post .. thank you!


    Pete
     
  4. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,055
    USA
    I have heard that you can use Mercedes or Jaguar fluid, which may be easier to find.
     
  5. delaney

    delaney Formula Junior

    Nov 8, 2003
    721
    Montgomery TX
    Full Name:
    PETER DELANEY
    Correct ...

    I used the Mercedes fluid ... ~ $32 / quart.

    I heard that you're not meant to mix any other type of fluid with that which was already in the system.

    Top works fine now ..... a miracle!

    Regards,


    Pete


     
  6. chaa

    chaa F1 Veteran

    Mar 21, 2003
    5,058
    Did not know that, but it make sense. Some thing learnt today thank you.
     
  7. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,055
    USA
    Local FNA dealer mentioned it...I believe it is what they use.
     

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