Thread: Removing a stuck canopy

dont believe you will need to cut anything - heat will be your friend - bout the only thing that will break down that silicone - wedges yes keep constant pressure on the gap opening up - heat a chizel big one or putty knife - I would suggest something sharp - real old knife may be good - dont be afraid to tap it

Depends on what sealers been used. If it's something like silaflex 291 or something like that, you're going to have the devils job cutting it off. Air knife and soapy water used to work ok for us. Wire with toggles if you can get a straight pull at it

Sikaflex. Damn corrective spelling

It will be a 291-equivalent bedding glue, elastomeric rather than a 'silicon' like a sealant. Once it starts to go and split/tear, it will keep going and it's just a case of getting it started and keeping it going in the way you want.

As noted, nothing much short of solvents or heat will clean it off but being that it's on a liner that will dissolve or melt at a similar temperature to the poo holding it - your solution is mechanical removal of some form or you'll have a massive cleanup afterwards. Wedging it, tapping the wedge forwards then using a knife or wire to slice the tensioned compound will cause it to just peel apart. It will go, once you get the knack of it it isn't too hard and you'll wonder what the drama was. It's one of these jobs that the hard bit is working out the methodology, once you've got it the actual job is fairly quick. Then once you've replaced the tub, refitting the lid is actually not hard either. A strip of poo on each side, place it down and lightly fit the retaining bolts to hold it in position and it will settle under it's own weight. When the poo has cured, tighten the bolts and good to go.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate all the tips and suggestions. I know what you mean, No.3, about the hard bit being figuring out the best way to do something. So many things you attempt for the first time are an absolute mission, but by the time you've almost finished the job, you've gotten so slick at it and it's gotten easy as. At the end of the job you think "if I ever have to do that again, it'll be a piece of cake". Installing a new kitchen and laminate flooring was one such job for me. Absolute nightmare at the time, but I reckon I'd smash it out no fuss if I had to do it again.

Gonna tackle the canopy/liner this weekend. Thanks again, legends!

Use this stuff. It's a pretty good citrus spray for unsticking stuff.
It may still need time to work and an edge opened on the silicon to do it's job

Originally Posted by Shearer

Big hammer.

I was thinking driving under something (at speed) which is just a fraction higher than the cab should do it.

ya dont think perhaps thats a little terminal overkill but it would get it off

Yep that's pretty good stuff but depending on the poo that the people that fitted the canopy used it might or might not work. If it's the Sikaflex 291 or another elastomeric bedding compound which is a chemically setting rubber product you might find that the Peel Off just peels off itself and doesn't do anything to the bedding compound. It will work if they have used a silicon based adhesive I would think though.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

I was thinking driving under something (at speed) which is just a fraction higher than the cab should do it.

Last one of those I saw on a plastic type canopy it just peeled a bit of paint of the top and made a hua of a bang. Funny as f**k when it wasn't your vehicle or fault haha.

Originally Posted by csmiffy

Use this stuff. It's a pretty good citrus spray for unsticking stuff.
It may still need time to work and an edge opened on the silicon to do it's job

Attachment 267869

its good but d-solv it is way better

Originally Posted by gonetropo

Attachment 267784
skull saw

Would be a bugger guessing what to set the depth at

Originally Posted by No.3

Last one of those I saw on a plastic type canopy it just peeled a bit of paint of the top and made a hua of a bang. Funny as f**k when it wasn't your vehicle or fault haha.

I can't see how it could be anything but funny if it wasn't my vehicle.

A wee progress update.

Thanks m101a1 for this awesome idea. Got the oscillating multitool and cut around the length of the liner, sliding a piece of wood between the liner and tray so I didn't go too deep. Then, worked my way around gently levering it and cracking the seal between tray and liner (thankfully, no glue/seal used there!!!). So, she's ready to lift off. Going to get a couple of extra pairs of hands and lift the whole shebang off on the weekend. Then it will be a case of flipping the canopy upside down on the lawn and dealing with the canopy/liner join using any combo of heat/braid/piano wire/wedges/orange cleaner/water blaster/whatever works! Cheers again!

Like I said, easy huh?

Now it is worth noting here that those tray liners are easily plastic welded up - if you can get the rest of it off a plastic welder can repair the old one and you might be away again without much cost. Having said that you might pick up a minter second hander for next to nix and save the hassle...