stuck plastic sliders

[simonfraser]

they gota come out, 10x as they are breaking off under the load of the tramp, i have replacement SS ones.

i have tried some 'encouragement' with a blunt screwdriver and hammer, not sliding much. and of course they then distort and get even more stuck.

hit the loop which sticks out and it breaks off, leaving the sliding part in place

they are in a groove at the bottom of one of my x beams, so the whole thing has to be done lying on my back in the dinghy !

i could get a sharp chisel and cut them up, trying not to wreck the groove, would they cut up with a dremmel ?
battery driven dremmels exist, i guess so

suggestions please

 

[lw395]

Yes battery dremel exists, good toy. LiIon, I've had one for a few years now.
Won't SS sliders in an ali groove cause corrosion?

 

[Rum Run]

As well as battery dremels, there are 12v rotary tools that normally run from a power supply but could run off the ships 12v.
Presumably the plastic slides are breaking due to ageing- UV degradation etc, in which case replacement with new plastic ones would be fine and definitely not cause any corrosion problems,

 

[simonfraser]

Yes battery dremel exists, good toy. LiIon, I've had one for a few years now.
Won't SS sliders in an ali groove cause corrosion?

they might, they are plastic coated, so should be ok .....

the plastic ones break and i def dont want to go for a long swim

 

[MoodySabre]

Why are they stuck? If it is because the track and the sliders are bunged up with salt crystals then you should find some means of washing them out. A 12v pressure washer perhaps. This is not an ideal job whilst in the water in winter. Trying to slice them with a Dremel whilst lying in a dinghy might inflict damage to the track (or you). Is the track removable?

 

[simonfraser]

Hm, fair point, not sure why they are stuck on one side, in several places, which is odd.

Guess it could be salt, which would wash out with warm water, but it's at the bottom of the x beam.

Probably screwed / bolted through. Access panels into the beam, but that's a whole new world of fun trying to get the track off I recon. Heads likely protruding into the track.

Perhaps the heads are more corroded one side than the other and this is compromising the track ?

Shall have to have another look.