Cleaning a window seal

[1970-dart]

I have come across a window seal for my rear window that is in very good sheet soft pliable and not I'll dried out. But it is got some of the old yucky sticky silicone type stuff on it

What if anything can be used as a solvent to help clean that stuff off the seal without harming it.


Thank you in advance

 

[RedFish]

I started with a plastic tent stake. It had a T shape or profile and a short arrow like point. I whittled the point to a long slow taper. This became a fluted tool to dig out the heavy stuff. A second smaller plastic tool was used to get even more stuff out of the square inside corners. Lots and lots of old rags. I tried mineral spirits and a couple other solvents I had on hand. Nothing worked better than charcoal starter fluid. I don't know why or what's different about it. Once the gasket would no longer leave black on a white tee shirt material household cleaner removed any oily residue that may have been left by the lighter fluid.
I have spent as much as 8 hours, spread over a few days, refurbishing one 68 notch rear window gasket.

 

[FJ5]

There is no known solvent on planet earth that will dissolve silicone. That is a fact.

 

[1970-dart]

Not really looking to dissolve it ( but that would be awesome right lol ) just looking for something that will aid in the removal and not hurt the seal itself. I know it's not going to be easy but to save 75$ or so on one I don't mind the time and work.

 

[GaryS]

I use lacquer thinner, a screwdriver blade the width of the groove, and lots of cotton rags.The black, flexible stuff used by glass installers is the product that's difficult to remove. I've never had a problem with silicone, as it doesn't adhere to the rubber and peels off easily.

 

[1970-dart]

Ya it's prob more the black sticky stuff than silicone.

 

[Woods74]

Clean as best you can and stuff it, your gonna be putting goop right back in. Sillycone is OK for glass to rubber, but not rubber to channel. PTI 707 liquid butyl for that.