I looked in the how to post but must have missed this. How do you remove the XK8 insert in the treadplate and keep it good for reinstall?

 

piece of thin wire like a cheese wire ,hold it at both ends and draw it under the insert to break the adhesion. dont forget to wear gloves while you are doing it

 

.................... and some warm air helps too.

A hairdryer or heat-gun will soften the double sided adhesive tape which is what is holding it on, and which is what you will need to replace it afterwards.

 

The insert is glued in position. To remove it, warm gently to soften the adhesive and carefully start to prise up one end with a wooden spatula or thin plastic blade.

Once the end is lifted, insert a length of nylon fishing line and free the remainder of the adhesive using a sawing action on the line.

Take great care because it's very easy to distort the Insert.

Once the Insert is removed, release the three Paint Clearing Screws beneath to free the Treadplate.

Graham

 

Just to illustrate the above descriptions.

 

I just want to add, if you use 90% rubbing alcohol, the adhesive will melt right off for easy cleanup. Be very slow and careful, the plates bend easily as G said.

 

I was not sure if you were referring to needing the double sided tape or the heat gun or both for replacement. In my case, it was suggested that I reuse my old tape by not cleaning it off and just using my heat gun to reheat it for reassembly. It worked great for me.
Along with others , I recommend being extremely careful not to distort that thin metal. Also, some heat guns can get hot enough to distort that metal (hot spot). Mine has been reattached for a few years now with no delammination or signs that it was ever removed.

 

Fair enough _ I guess you were lucky. Mine came off OK with a small amount of heat to soften the adhesive, but it only took an extra few minutes to remove all traces of the old double-sided tape with solvent, and use new to stick them back down again.