I have an 87 740 GLE and the manual sunroof does not work the handle does not turn at all it is completely locked up any ideas on how to fix it?

 

It might be out of time.You can try removing the crank handle and check and see if you can move the cables.
Then reinstall the handle and try again.

 

pulled off the crank and the plastic trim piece around it. it looks like the gear that the handle connects to is just constantly spinning. there are little spurts of resistance in it but for the most part it just spins. also how would i go about taking the headliner off to access the sunroof itself?

 

Under the handle should be the 2 cables.The gear hits and pushes the cables open and closed.

You will have to remove the trim and the interior light to get it to drop.
It has been a while since I had one out.Once you remove the trim peices and everything else screwed into the roof it should drop down.

 

This is the same thing that happened to us - we just replaced the headliner so we took the whole thing apart - it looks good but I think that the actual gear is stripped out - because once it catches, it will open and close - it just takes a lot of turns!

Where can I get a new gear to try to replace it?