Removing the glue is actually a breeze. You need to let the solvent some minutes to impregnate the glue, then it comes off easily in big sheets at a time. You do not need to use corrosive solvents, "Solvent F" is sufficient. the trick:
- remove the pad (rolling it under the thumb works well)
- put a cloth rag on top of the part you want to remove the glue
- wet the rag fully with Solvent F
- wrap a plastic sheet on top of it, sealing it at the edge with tape (no need for waterproof seals: just weighting the sheet edges will work)
- wait 10mn
- remove and peel the glue with a (used) credit card
Pictures:
I received a board but with too much pad forward (I like as little pad up front as possible) factory glued
I removed the front part of the pad, and put the rag, solvent F, and a plastic sheet on it, wait 10mn:
And I got a shiny mirror-like surface without a drop of sweat:
... too bad I had to put some Monster paint on this beauty :-)