11-26-2014, 10:54 PM
Leo I got lucky and was able to purchase enough of the window felt to redo all of windows. They ran out last year, but I know others have found suitable substitutes. The process is really straightforward once you have the replacement felt.
I used picks (they are small and look like little screw drivers) and needle nose pliers to cut and pull out the old track. It comes out in chunks because they are so old and caked in mud. Leave the windows in and do not remove them as I was told they break easily when out and are very difficult to replace. Once I had all of the old felt track out I scrubbed and scraped the channels until they were spotless. Then I lightly applied some silicone inside the channel and used any tool I thought would work to move the felt track into place. Now when you remove it you will notice it was one continuous piece. I could not figure out how to shove it under where the two windows meet and overlap. So I simply wedged it as far as I could on the top and bottom. Then I slid the window either all the way open or closed depending on which side I started on and simply did the other side so it abutted to the piece I had put into the channel on the other side. The windows all work perfectly now. The first window took me at least an hour. By the time I did the last couple they were taking me like ten minutes.
PM me anytime and I will get you my number and we can discuss this more as my directions may not be the best. If a can find a scrap of the new felt I will post a pic so you have something to go by. Someone out there has got yo have a close substitute for it. I think that Whatsnewell ( Clarke) used the latter substitute I mentioned. I gave him enough of the original stuff I had left over to only do I think 2 of his windows.
Clarke can you add any direction to this and your source for the felt?
I used picks (they are small and look like little screw drivers) and needle nose pliers to cut and pull out the old track. It comes out in chunks because they are so old and caked in mud. Leave the windows in and do not remove them as I was told they break easily when out and are very difficult to replace. Once I had all of the old felt track out I scrubbed and scraped the channels until they were spotless. Then I lightly applied some silicone inside the channel and used any tool I thought would work to move the felt track into place. Now when you remove it you will notice it was one continuous piece. I could not figure out how to shove it under where the two windows meet and overlap. So I simply wedged it as far as I could on the top and bottom. Then I slid the window either all the way open or closed depending on which side I started on and simply did the other side so it abutted to the piece I had put into the channel on the other side. The windows all work perfectly now. The first window took me at least an hour. By the time I did the last couple they were taking me like ten minutes.
PM me anytime and I will get you my number and we can discuss this more as my directions may not be the best. If a can find a scrap of the new felt I will post a pic so you have something to go by. Someone out there has got yo have a close substitute for it. I think that Whatsnewell ( Clarke) used the latter substitute I mentioned. I gave him enough of the original stuff I had left over to only do I think 2 of his windows.
Clarke can you add any direction to this and your source for the felt?
Todd & Dawn Flickema
Former owners of a Classic 1984 Newell
71 Karmann Ghia
Sioux Falls, South Dakota