Advice on sliding windows please

salar

salar

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 May 2009
Messages
990
Location
Hampshire, UK
harley25refit.blogspot.co.uk
I have side windows on my Harley 25 motor cruiser which are meant to slide, but the seals/sliders are badly weathered. Every month I tease them into sliding a few inches with doses of silicone spray, gentle encouragement and downright threats. The frames appear to be bonded into the GRP wheelhouse and are unlikely to come out without destroying the frames, wheelhouse or both. Is there a way of removing the glass or replacing the U section sliders without such drastic action? I can't see anything obvious, but I can't see how the glass got into the frames before fitting either so there must be a way surely? Anyone else have similar experiences with happier endings?

Window.jpg
 
These nasty things often seize up if left. The felt that many of them sit in goes hard and brittle and the slot gets full of crap. I have found the best way of loosening them up is to use a liberal squirt of fairy liquid and let it soak in for a while. Usually then the window can be gently teased into sliding again once the felt has softened. Silicone is good to keep them moving once they are loosened but won't soften the hard felt if they are seized.
 
boatmike said:
These nasty things often seize up if left. The felt that many of them sit in goes hard and brittle and the slot gets full of crap. I have found the best way of loosening them up is to use a liberal squirt of fairy liquid and let it soak in for a while. Usually then the window can be gently teased into sliding again once the felt has softened. Silicone is good to keep them moving once they are loosened but won't soften the hard felt if they are seized.
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BRILLIANT! Sorry for the delay in replying, this was one of the jobs on my list for the "Lift-out week". What a revelation! Fairy Liquid is so much better than silicon lube and within seconds the window was sliding like it never had before. If I had thought this through I would have taken a paintbrush or syringe with me because it wasn't easy to get Fairy Liquid to flow upwards into the upper channels but even with only the lower channels Fairyised it is an order of magnitude better. Thank you for the tip!
 
salar said:
BRILLIANT! Sorry for the delay in replying, this was one of the jobs on my list for the "Lift-out week". What a revelation! Fairy Liquid is so much better than silicon lube and within seconds the window was sliding like it never had before. If I had thought this through I would have taken a paintbrush or syringe with me because it wasn't easy to get Fairy Liquid to flow upwards into the upper channels but even with only the lower channels Fairyised it is an order of magnitude better. Thank you for the tip!
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Well done. Did you use it neat?

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Plum said:
Well done. Did you use it neat?

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
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Actually no, I diluted 50/50 to get more penetration but now it is moving I will re-apply neat and put more in the channels that support wider opening. Having thought through what I hadn't thought through, why didn't I use the washing up brush I had in the galley by the window all the time? My best ideas always come at 4am.
 
OK now you have it moving again wash it thoroughly and give it a good clean out with a stiff toothbrush (don't recommend one you want to clean teeth with afterwards) when you have cleaned out all the crap don't put any silicone or anything else on it or you will attract more crap
 
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