Full instructions at TheCraftsmanBlog.com.

Step 1 Remove the Stop

1. Gently score the paint between the stop and, the jamb and the stool and the sash with a razor knife being careful not to gouge the wood. Don’t cut too deeply, just enough to cut through the paint bond.
2. Using a trim pry bar or firm putty knife gently pry the stop away from the jamb. Some stops will be installed using screws and washers instead of finish nails. These must be unscrewed.
3. Remove any remaining nails from the stop with a nail puller by pulling them through the back side of the stop.
4. Scrape the backside of the stop that runs against the sash with a carbide scraper to clean away any built up paint or caulk.
5. Number the back of the stop to go with the corresponding window and set aside for reinstallation later.
6. Pull any remaining nails that may be left in the jamb.

Step 2 Remove Bottom Sash

1. Cut the paint seal between the bottom sash and the remaining stop and possibly between the bottom sash and stool if necessary.
2. Insert a firm putty knife in between the meeting rails and gently pry the sash loose to break the paint seal. Lift the sash above the stool to remove it.
3. Swing the side of the lower sash where the interior stop was removed inward to access the rope mortise on the side of the sash.
4. Remove the knotted rope from the rope mortise being careful not to let the sash drop or the rope (which is attached to the hidden weights) fly out of your grasp. Sometimes the rope may be nailed into the side of the sash. This nail will require removal in order to get the knot out.
5. Gently allow the rope knot to rest against the pulley. If the knot isn’t big enough to keep the rope from falling back into the pocket tie a larger knot.
6. Repeat the process on the other side of the bottom sash.
7. If you are doing multiple windows, number the sash on the side so that it can be reinstalled into the proper window later.
8. Scrape, slice or sand away unnecessary paint buildup on sash that may prevent movement.

Step 3 Remove Parting Bead

1. Cut parting bead free of paint or caulk at top sash using a razor knife or window zipper.
2. Work the sash up and down until you can lower it all the way down to the sill.
3. Starting at the top and working your way down, use duck billed vise grips to grasp the parting bead and wiggle it back and forth to work it loose.
4. Cut and fit new parting beads if necessary.
5. Scrape excess paint from parting beads.
6. Prep parting beads for paint and reinstallation.

Step 4 Remove Top Sash

1. Cut all paint seals around top sash with a razor knife or window zipper. The window zipper is good because it has little files that sand away the paint buildup in the paint joint once the paint seal is broken.
2. Move the top sash all the way down to the window sill. If the sash will not move due to paint build up you can continue, but the parting bead will be more difficult to remove and will likely come out in pieces.
3. After the parting bead is out of one side swing that side of the sash inward and remove the ropes as with the bottom sash.
4. Be sure to number the sash.
5. Scrape, slice or sand away unnecessary paint buildup on blind stop and jamb that may prevent smooth movement of the sash.