removing lid of air filter canister

[pauloe]

I have had a good look around this site and elsewhere but I can't find anything on this.  How do I get the lid off my air filter canister?  I can unclip the two snaps and the lid is loose at the back.  But I can't rotate the lid to disengage the catch at the front of canister.  The large rubber hose (about 90mm diameter  150mm length) that connects the top of the canister lid to the intake of the throttle body prevents the lid from moving.  This rubber hose is held by a hose clamp at each end which I can remove.  But the rubber hose is very hard, practically solid plastic at this point, so I cant get it off the nipples at either end.  Am I thinking correctly, this large rubber hose has to come off, right?  Any suggestions appreciated.
Paul

[rwmastel]

I can unclip the two snaps and the lid is loose at the back.

Aren't there 3 snaps (or clamps or whatever) that hold the lid down?

[pauloe]

If front of car is 12 o'clock, there are snaps/clips at 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock.  And at 12 o'clock there is a hook+prong that traps the lid.  I would have to rotate the lid about 10 degrees counter clockwise to get the prong on the lid out from under the hook on the canister body.  But the stiffness of the rubber hose prevents this motion.

[DavidAPease]

Interesting.  On my (and Rodd's) '66 230SLs, there are 3 identical clips and no hook/prong.  Did the later cars change to that system, or is yours a modification of some kind?

          -David

[pauloe]

Not aware of any modification.  Have had car 25 yrs.  Now thinking... the hook+prong... the hook is tapered such that as you rotate the lid clockwise it tightens the lid down onto the canister.  Where the clips are at 4 and 8 o'clock I can lift the lid slightly, but I cannot lift the lid at 12 o'clock because hook and prong is holding the lid tightly down.  So maybe I can't rotate the lid because at 12 o'clock the seal between the top of canister and the lid has deteriorated and fused the parts together.  This is an alternate thought rather than the stiffness of the large rubber hose being the reason I can't rotate.   Your 3 clip design seems far superior to this situation.   

[jKrashnburn]

Undertook this operation a couple days ago on my 280 which has the same configuration as yours.
I first released the clamps on the hose making sure it is free on both ends. Now, because of the flexibility of the hose and because it was able to move at both ends I was able to lift the canister top by lifting from the 6 o'clock position - at the same time pulling it back to free it from the prong - without turning.

Essentially it would seem that you are following this routine so perhaps the hose in not free at both ends so needs  the circumference to be pried up with a knife and doused with wd40? Of course, if the hose is indeed as solid as you suggest this procedure won't work.

I agree with your observation that the lid might be fussed.

John

[pauloe]

Thanks John.  I will try tomorrow.  I have not thought about getting the hose really free at both ends.  And I have not thought about pulling straight back.  Stay tuned.

[pauloe]

That worked.  Exactly what John said.  Thank you John, Rodd, David for helping me out here.
Paul

[rwmastel]

Glad it worked out.  That's interesting about the different connection techniques between the models.  I just assumed all Pagodas had the three clamp system.  We learn new things all the time.