? removing slideing window rails(guides)

[ziggy]

evening folks. on my aristocraft 19 i'm wanting to replace my center windshield panel. it's plexiglass with two metal rails on ea. short end. the window slides verticaly a track guided by the upper rail. i have some new plexiglass but don't think it's cut quite proper so i'd prefer to keep the old piece intact for removal. my problem is. the rails seem to be epoxied on... sure held the rails on tight, but man, i'm having very minimal success on trying to seperate the bond.. anyone have any ideas on how to remove these rails?

the panel

close up of the upper guideing rail

the bottom rail is just a piece of U channel, epoxied in place also.

 

[Bondo]

Re: ? removing slideing window rails(guides)

Ayuh,......

Use a plumber's torch,+ heat the aluminum,....

The Epoxy will melt,+ let go.....

 

[ziggy]

Re: ? removing slideing window rails(guides)

Use a plumber's torch,+ heat the aluminum,...

thanks bondo, appreciate yer input. i don't have a plumbers torch. i don't know how hot that is either.
i have a propane torch and a heat gun for paint striping. the paint gun gets hot enough to start a fire. either of these hot enough? or too hot? melting the epoxy would be a real winner. i'm just not having success chipping away at it and my minimal success is bumming me out. i'm ready for a die grinder. and i don't want to do that for reasons mentioned.
will the heat discolor the probably chrome plated aluminim? the bottom rail don't make any difference as it's never seen, the top rail is seen all the time.

 

[ziggy]

Re: ? removing slideing window rails(guides)

well the heat worked good on the bottom rail, the top rail nope. just to much glue.... ended up chipping it out a 1/4'' piece at a time....
so now the next question is................

what do i use to glue the new panel back in with?

i suspect it wasn't epoxy that held it in place.... maybe resin? i don't know, it was amber in color and shattered when attacked with a hammer and screwdriver tip.... whatever it was, it filled the voids in the rail very well......