Need Soft-Top Help

[Beaching631]

Hi everyone, looking for some help. Have a 2018 JLUR. Soft-top stopped folding down last summer, so I tried to force it to fold down. Obviously this was stupid and ending up breaking the 5th arm. So I replaced the 5th arm myself, got the part from Quadratec, but the soft-top still won't collapse.
Has anyone else had this problem? I'm thinking maybe one of the pistons can get jammed in a certain position?
Wanted to see if anyone had a quick fix before I spend $500-$700 on Facebook marketplace for someone else's used top
I posted this in the Hardtop/Soft-top portion of the forum but got no response. Figured I try to get more eyeballs in the general forum.

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[The Fixer]

I'm sure you checked, but are both locks unlocked? That definitely would cause a problem.

I haven't looked to see how easy it is to pop the strut off, but maybe it will fold with them disconnected as you mentioned.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[6th Floor Mule]

Is the locking mechanism functioning properly?

 

[Beaching631]

Yes, both locks are in the "unlocked" position. I even locked/unlocked a few times. The side that is stuck is the side that I replaced the 5th arm. Stuck for both the old and new 5th arm which makes me think its something else like one of these small pistons on the metal housing.
Very frustrating because I took such good care of my stuff. My Jeep has been in the garage every night since I bought it in 2018 and the soft top is stored on my garage shelving each winter, with nothing else touching it

 

[lowmpg]

Any chance you can post a video of the issue?

 

[Beaching631]

Thank you all for your responses! So I found a lady 20 minutes from me selling her JL factory soft-top for $500 bucks. Apparently she got a new Jeep with the Sunrider top.
She had me put the top on my Jeep and test it at her house before I paid her. It was an extra hour to take hard-top off, put soft-top on, remove soft-top, and put Hard Top back on....all in this stranger's driveway It's in good shape and I'm happy with the price so I'm all set. Good to see there are still some normal, honest people operating on FB Marketplace!

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