Aaron,
I had the exact problem and replaced my windscreen. The procedure I used (which
worked very well) was to cut the windscreen just in front of the flange using
the cutoff wheel. From there, I used a heat gun to melt the weld-on and the
remaining plexi peeled off easily. A lite sanding and I was good to go. If you
go with this method, just be careful with the heat gun, you just want to heat
it enough to lossen the plexi, not deform the fiberglass. Took about 2 hrs total
if I remember correctly.
Good luck.
Tom Gesele N629RV
----- Original Message -----
From: Aaron Gleixner
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:16:19 AM PST
Subject: Tips on removal of front window and lessons learned
To: RV10-list@matronics.com
> I just got off the phone with Van's after paying $470 for a new
> front window. I had approximately 50 small cracks starting at
> the glue joint, and extending about 1/8 inch beyond the glue
> joint. After reading all the warnings about not clamping when
> glueing the windows, I added a clamp in one location to hold the
> plexi tight, and all the cracks started under the clamp. While
> clamping pressure may not be the only variable for crack
> formation, it is definitely a strong contributing factor. So
> for those about to complete this step, avoid the clamps, and use
> plenty of glue to bridge any small gaps that might result.
>
> Now for the question. Has anyone else had to remove a front
> window? At this point, I only need to remove the glue joint.
> How was it accomplished? Van's said someone routed out a
> window, but I was wondering if lots of heat from a heat gun, and
> a little prying might separate the glue from the fiberglass.
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Aaron
