Zipper Blues

[Botch]

Well, the zip attachment between my outer shell and inner liner of my Tourmaster "Intake" jacket started unzipping... from the bottom.

I don't suppose there's any way to zip it back together, is there? I'm sure I'll be able to get the two apart, but at the expense of the zipper (could continue to use the mesh shell in the summer). Although not a highly expensive jacket, I'd sure like to get more than two seasons out of it.

Any suggestions?

 

[600ccdevil]

I lost zipper function on the left hand pocket on my Tourmaster. I know it doesn't help your situation but at least you know your not alone

 

[OZXJR]

I thought this was going to be about something completely different when I read the title

 

[dean2287]

Take it to a seamstress. That kind of thing happens with my kids clothes all the time, doesn't mean its wrecked. Might be a faulty zipper but that's a cheap fix.

 

[keira]

My favorite textile jacket had this happen to the main zipper after 3 years of almost daily wear. I successfully ruined it by trying to force it shut.....take it to a seasmstress before that happens.

 

[grommit]

http://www.600riders.com/forum/fz6-technical/9497-how-repair-broken-zips.html


Mr Sheen or a similar household polish is good for lubing zips as a preventive to forcing them.

 

[Botch]

I actually lost the main zipper on my favorite LL Bean jacket last winter, the seamstress I took it to (well, actually a Korean guy outside the base) said it couldn't be fixed. And I now suspect that all the Tall Men's shops (LL Bean, JCPenney, etc) have shortened the sleeves of all their offerings 2" to increase their stockholder payouts, muthr*&#$%ers! :Flip:
And I didn't force this one, it was a zipper I wasn't even using, it just started pulling apart on its own from the bottom (perhaps too much pasta over the winter?)

 

[jrevans]

Odd. I would never pry/bend the zipper pull assembly like they show. That's just asking it to not fit right in the future.

I do agree with lubricating the zipper, but melting the wax isn't really necessary. Bar soap is supposed to work too.

I've repaired many a zipper that were "stuck up" by putting the zipper up more, then manually aligning the teeth down below and giving a quick, hard pull down. I did replace a zipper once in my old CB ski jacket from the 80's. Wasn't too hard to do if you have access to a sewing machine with a zipper foot.

 

[david223]

I know this is a few days old, but in case this might help...

Usually when the zipper opens on its own like that, there is nothing wrong with the zipper itself. It's the little thing that you pull (whatever it's called) that's not working properly and not "squishing" the two sides of the zipper together all the way.

It's a simple two minute fix for a seamstress. Take off the bad one and slide on a new one. I've had this done a few times for five bucks a pop. The first time I took in a coat like this, I thought I would have to pay to replace the zipper and I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. Since then, I've brought it many coats that I thought were toast, or at least not worth replacing the zipper. But for five bucks, why not?

 

[Kilbane83]

That's a neat idea on the video there. Could have used that a few times heh. Anyone know of a place to get a heavy duty replacement zipper tongue? Mine on my joe rocket jacket broke awhile back. Been using a paper clip as a tongue for awhile but it kinda sucks heh.

 

[Ghost Weim]

Take it to a seamstress. That kind of thing happens with my kids clothes all the time, doesn't mean its wrecked. Might be a faulty zipper but that's a cheap fix.

+1 on that. If you can't find a seamstress, maybe some carefully sewn in pieces of good velcro would work in key spots.