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Help! C3 Seat Runner Disassembly

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Old Jul 27, 2010 | 09:56 PM
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Default Help! C3 Seat Runner Disassembly

G'day, Has anyone disassembled the seat runners from an early C3? If so can you let me know how it's done. I want to disassemble mine so I can have them zinc plated to stop them from rusting.

Thanks

Mark
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Old Jul 28, 2010 | 02:09 PM
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Hi Mark,
I've not really heard of anyone successfully taking them apart.
The base was parkerized (phosphated) and the slide was natural. I re-plated the base and cleaned the slide. I sprayed the outside of the slide with a little clear and lubed the inside of the slide completely to keep it from rusting.
Regards,
Alan

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Old Jul 28, 2010 | 06:37 PM
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G'day Allen,
Thanks for the reply. Were you able to seperate the two halves of the slide or did you do all the treatments whilst they were assembled?

Mark
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 01:35 AM
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OK, so after drilling off the bolt heads to remove these crusty pieces....I am at my wits end.
Option 1-restoring these with a wire wheel and taking them apart
Option 2-buying other better used pieces
Option 3-buying a new set from Summit/Jegs for $40

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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 02:05 AM
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I dropped mine into a local plateworks to have them zinc plated today. They said that they would be able to plate them fully assembled without any problem and when I pick them up just make sure I fully lubricate them before re-installing them. Mine were not in as bad a condition as yours though snoopy.

Mark

Last edited by M A Fry; Jul 29, 2010 at 02:08 AM.
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 09:33 AM
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don't sand blast them-you'll never get the abrasive particles out of the tracks. wire wheel the surface, phosphate (rust converter) the surface , paint, and lube the inside. they'll last another 40 years. but then again, i'm not a fanatic like alan!
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 11:16 PM
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Clean them in a parts washer to remove any oil, grease, etc. Glass bead. Then plate, primer, or paint. Then apply lube. Should last a long time. I've seen complete window regulators that were cadmium or zinc plated, no problems, just be sure to lube.
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 11:39 PM
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I soaked mine in Naval Jelly. Cleaned up like new.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...LAID=344292292
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Old Jul 30, 2010 | 11:42 AM
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As badly rusted as those are, I don't know that you will have much left if you get rid of the rust...or if the ball bearings will even roll. It doesn't cost much (just your time and effort) to try it, but I'm thinking a used set in better condition would be easier to work with.

Heck, you can always drill out the rivets and do a complete disassembly to de-rust and check out all the parts. Then you can clean and refinish all the different parts properly before you reassemble it. Keep us informed on what you did and how it went.
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Old Jul 30, 2010 | 12:09 PM
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Mine weren't nearly that bad but I degreased and chemically stripped the paint and got as much of the rust out as I could with a wire wheel. I blew all the moisture out and then repainted with a rust neutralizing primer and then black paint. Then I lubed the tracks with grease they work like brand new. I could not find a way to disassemble them without drilling/hammering or messing them up worse than they were
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