Vent window track reline

[George Rohrbach]

Has anyone used the Velcro replacement trick on their vent window track, where the door window slides?

How did it work?

How did it last?

Tips?

Thanks, as I am doing both door window rehab.

 

 

[Kodjo]

Did it, works great!

[George Rohrbach]

Kodjo,

 Thanks for your help!

[IndyJimW]

I tried years ago and didn't have much success. I ended up buying the runners. How did you do it?

Good luck,

Jim Wood

[Desert Driver]

Worked perfectly. A lot of elbow grease (and nasty chemicals) needed to remove the old material from the track. After installing the new velcro, I had a little too much material on the sides. Single edged razorblade took care of the excess. No problems since replacing. 

Edited March 15 by Desert Driver

[Kodjo]

3 hours ago, Desert Driver said:

Worked perfectly. A lot of elbow grease (and nasty chemicals) needed to remove the old material from the track. After installing the new velcro, I had a little too much material on the sides. Single edged razorblade took care of the excess. No problems since replacing. 

Same with me. 

[George Rohrbach]

 Although I already had regular Velcro for the upcoming job, yesterday instead, I ordered the heavy-duty outdoor version! That tip was on the SDC Forum, in response to the same question I asked there. 

 As a side note, on the rest of the mechanism.  I am just finishing up white lithium grease to all the wear spots, 3 new rollers, and using a hypodermic needle to get grease in all the pivots. Also, new motor gear. I can't believe all the pieces that the old one was in (plastic shards). 

  This is all being done on an '85, yours may have a different motor, depending on the year of the Avanti. But the rest of the mechanism seems to have remained the same over the years.

[George Rohrbach]

The passenger side is done. It came out very nice, and window slides easily.

 

The old adhesive was terrible to remove. Combination of scraping, sanding, abrasive pad, (all the while being careful not to wreck the stainless-steel beads). Also, every chemical that I own.

 

By the way, none of the chemicals did much at all. 2 different adhesive removers didn't touch it.  

[Desert Driver]

On 3/27/2024 at 12:10 PM, George Rohrbach said:

The old adhesive was terrible to remove. Combination of scraping, sanding, abrasive pad, (all the while being careful not to wreck the stainless-steel beads). Also, every chemical that I own.

By the way, none of the chemicals did much at all. 2 different adhesive removers didn't touch it.  

Same here. I'm convinced they used Loctite to minimize warranty claims. 

[Footer]

Did you try brake cleaner?

[George Rohrbach]

Yes.

Chemicals I tried:

 Brake Cleaner, Carb/Choke Cleaner, Eastwood Pre, Por15 Solvent, Acetone, Toluene, Xylol (Xylene), 70% Isopropyl Alcohol, Awesome, Por15 Marine Clean, 3M Specialty Adhesive Remover, 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner, StepUp, and anything else I have in my garage. 

Nothing really touches this left over adhesive very much. It is just very tenacious!

[Nelson]

I got my drivers side wing out this afternoon. I made a simple wooden fixture to set it in. I ran a razor knife down the inside edges and just pushed a screw driver under the old felt and I came right out. I scraped it with the screw driver edge then used lacquer thinner and steel wool to clean it up. I used the adhesive backed Velcro. To aid the install I brushed lacquer thinner on the adhesive side and down in the channel to get the interface slick not sticky. I pushed the felt into the track with two wooden paint stir sticks side by side and left them inserted and continued with two more until it was all assembled. After it dries I’ll use a razor knife to go down the edge cutting off the excess with the wood still in place.

I bought 2 inch wide black Velcro with an adhesive back at JoannFabrics at $12.99 yard but you get 40% off with a coupon. The 2 inches is about what you want just cut off the over hang excess. The length is right about 3 ft. Naturally you want to use the fuzzy part of the Velcro and throw the other half away.

Photos attached. Pardon the work area, this was a spur of the moment undertaking.

Edited August 11 by Nelson