Port frame stuck

[tominny]

I am in the process of rebedding my 34 year old portlights and exchanging the plexiglass with Lexan. I was able to remove the outer aluminum frame and the glass, but the inner aluminum frame is stuck and not moving. There are no mechanical fasteners (bolts, etc.), so it is probably the old sealant and the ooze of time that binds it to the cabin.

Does anyone have any suggestions what I can do here? Pour in some acetone perhaps or another chemical so the sealant dissolves...?

[poopdeckpappy]

Try Debond, it works really well

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by tominny

I am in the process of rebedding my 34 year old portlights and exchanging the plexiglass with Lexan. I was able to remove the outer aluminum frame and the glass, but the inner aluminum frame is stuck and not moving. There are no mechanical fasteners (bolts, etc.), so it is probably the old sealant and the ooze of time that binds it to the cabin.

Does anyone have any suggestions what I can do here? Pour in some acetone perhaps or another chemical so the sealant dissolves...?

Can you slide a razor knife (Olfa type - also called box cutters) between the frame and the mounting surface? If you can slice well into the sealant you might break enough of the bond to be able to lift it. At the very least it would help Pappy's method along.

I was able to completely remove the lens from an aluminium hatch this way - just had to clean up the bits of sealant that were left behind.