| Author |
Message |
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Junior Member
Username: Verell
Post Number: 183
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 9:21 am: | |
I just repaired my luggage cover zipper last nite. Took about 2 hours. Cost all of $4.00 & a couple of feet of black thread.
I'd tried the pliars trick last spring when one of the sliders started malfunctioning. Crimped it too tight & had to open the gap a bit w/ a screwdriver until it worked right.
BTW, the sliders are made of white metal & break very easily. The nylon coils also wear grooves in them which is why they stop working. Once they're grooved, they just don't crimp the coils tight enough together to cause them to mesh!!!
It got me thru a summer of frequent (almost every day) use.
However, last month the second slider started acting up, and the 1st one went really bad. In both cases, the slider would work fine until it came to the passenger side corner & side of the zipper when it would skip mating the coils.
The coils weren't obviously damaged, and I could even get them to go together by sliding a small screwdriver blade firmly along just behind the slider.
I went to a local fabric/sewing supplies store & asked if they had replacement sliders. Paid $10 for a kit, & then on a guess, bought two 12" Talon(tm) black coil zippers for $2.00 each.
When I got home, I pried up one end of the cover & used a small sharp knife to cut about 1" of the stitches holding one side of the end of the zipper to the cover. Just enough so that I could get the old sliders off.
The kit of replacement sliders was useless, I'm turning it in to get my $10 back. A coil type zipper requires a slider that is flat across the bottom of the closure groove's rear end. Standard sliders have slight sides to the bottom. If you try to use a std slider, it'll zip the coils together, but the join is at a V angle.
I disassembled the two 12" coil zippers to get the sliders. They worked perfectly.
Working the sliders on the zipper end is a PITA. The loose end of the zipper kept fraying on me. Also more stitches wanted to keep unraveling. I finally spread some DUCO cement on about 1/4" of fabric on the loose end of the zipper, and on the bottom of the last few stitches & let it dry. This stopped the unraveling & fraying, and also stiffened the loose end of the zipper so that it was a lot easier to work with.
Once the new sliders were on, I used button & carpet thread (nice & heavy) to stitch the zipper end back into the cover. Also I stitched thru the original stitching holes so the new stitches match the original ones.
Only discrepancy is that the pull tabs on the sliders are slightly different from the original ones. I'm going to try prying the original tabs off & putting them on the new sliders. (Wish I'd thought of doing this before I'd installed the new tabs.) |
Donny Bridges (Wildcatfans)
Junior Member
Username: Wildcatfans
Post Number: 52
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, June 08, 2002 - 7:25 am: | |
Thanks for all the advice. I was actually able to fix it, or at least postpone replacement. I noticed the teeth were not damaged but weren't being pushed together all the way by the zipper (whatever it's called?) and would pull apart. I worked the zipper all the way around to the unzipped position, then used some Channel Locks and slight squeezed the zipper until I felt it compress a little. I tried it and it worked perfectly. Caution: I tried this on the other zipper that has had this problem since I bought the car, but after my squeezing procedure, it wouldn't move at all. At least one of them work. |
david handa (Davehanda)
Junior Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 109
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 07, 2002 - 1:57 pm: | |
Donny,
Just did this a couple months ago. You CAN carefully remove the cover. After you take out the screws, you will need to slowly and carefully peel it off, yes it is glued. Take it to an upholstery shop and have them use a similar "coil type" zipper of the same or similar diameter. Careful here, as it need to be a coil type in order to not pucker on the curve it makes. Also, don't make the mistake I did and use a size or two larger, thinking it will be stronger (it is) but even being a coil type, the larger zipper puckered on the curves. Stay as close to the stock size zipper as you can. |
Sam NYCFERRARIS (Sam)
Member
Username: Sam
Post Number: 335
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 07, 2002 - 12:31 pm: | |
just take it to the local shoemaker or luggage repair place...somethime they can fix it in the car, if it is not too bad and they are in the mood. The OEM cover is cr.p and the zipper is heat sealed to the vinyl not sewn.,,if you tear the old one removing it ..any ulpholstry place can make up a new one very very very cheap..don't go pay 100's for anything other than OEM ferrari. |
Erik R. Jonsson (Gamester)
New member
Username: Gamester
Post Number: 9
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 05, 2002 - 10:48 am: | |
I have replacement covers for 125 shipped. They are very high quality. If you would like your zipper replaced, I can have that done for $35+shipping. Often the glue used to attach the covers rips the cover as you are removing it. Carefully pry the cover off from the outside edge with a dull blade with a rag resting on the painted surface.
Erik |
bruno bandaras (Originalsinner)
New member
Username: Originalsinner
Post Number: 29
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 05, 2002 - 10:00 am: | |
check out link
http://server.ferrarichat.com/~ferrari/ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/112/42239.html?1021759541 |
Donny Bridges (Wildcatfans)
Junior Member
Username: Wildcatfans
Post Number: 51
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 05, 2002 - 9:58 am: | |
I want it original looking and the original cover I have is in very good condition, just a messed up zipper. I don't want to screw it up getting it off. |
bruno bandaras (Originalsinner)
New member
Username: Originalsinner
Post Number: 28
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 05, 2002 - 9:53 am: | |
Are you looking for an original looking 1.st class job? Is rest of cover o.k? When I poulled mine out It was torn already and glued down. I ended up ordering a new one from Richard Ward. |
Donny Bridges (Wildcatfans)
New member
Username: Wildcatfans
Post Number: 50
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 05, 2002 - 7:25 am: | |
I need to replace the zipper on the luggage compartment cover. I removed the weatherstripping around it, but the cover is stuck all the way around the compartment. Is it glued or just stuck to it? I appreciate any advice on removing it since I don't want to tear it up? Also, any suggestions on a replacement zipper and reinstallation?
Thanks
PS I didn't realize I was addicted to FC....glad it's back. |