Whats the best way to bleed power top lines without making a big mess? My top goes down fine, but I have to help it to get it back up.

I use clear tubing (aquarium shops sell it by the foot) long enough to reach from the pump motor to the floor. I wrap electrical tape about 1 1/2" from one end of the tubing to make a plug that seals off the pump when the tube is incerted into the fill hole. Then I stick the other end deep into a quart of transmission fluid. Run the top up and down several times. You'll know by the pump sound when it's at the proper level and run it up and down one more time... That's it, the pump will set it's proper level this way and running the top up and down extra times won't over fill it.

Oh, lable the left over fluid "for hyd top only" and don't us it to top off your transmission. It may have contanimants from the pump in it...

Hello,

Top on my 1965 Cadillac was also going up slow. Used the same overall process as Dennis and did not have to bleed the lines.

The trick is to get the additional fluid container "lower" than the pump motor so the fluid is drawn into the motor when you cycle the top up and down (had to take the back seat out of the Caddy to get the container below the pump position). Hold the switch for extra 5 seconds or so each time you cycle the top up and down. You will hear the motor working extra hard to suck in even more fluid when the top is fully up or down and you are holding the switch.

I was lucky to have a friend that had an extra original style pump motor plug nut that he drilled a hole in and soldered in a piece of tubing for priming the pump. Worked like a charm.

Dennis' method with the tape wrapped around the tubing will do the trick.

Good luck, Joe

Thanks guys!