Help with Aero Leather Jacket zippers !!

[Slimshady201]

Hello, I agree with you about the Aero zips. I received my jacket from Aero two weeks ago and have the same problem. I find it very difficult to get the zipper started and once it has started it is very difficult to pull the slider up, feels like the zipper is about to break. Maybe it will loosen up after a bit of wear I`ll have to wait and see. It does become a little easier the further I pull the slider up though.

 

[Turnip]

Take a little dry lube…PTFE or similar… carefully…

 

[moktabe]

Or even just give the teeth of the zip a good rub with a pencil. The graphite will lubricate the teeth.

What I've found with my Aero jackets is that the side of the zipper block can drag on the welt covering the zip, the more use the jacket gets the more the welt eases off a little.

 

[JM7]

Take a little dry lube…PTFE or similar… carefully…

Ok, ill give that a try, thank yoiu !!

 

[Slimshady201]

Ok, ill give that a try, thank yoiu !!

PTFE worked on my zip yesterday

 

[Peacoat]

I had the same problem with my ThunderBay. It was the standard #6, I believe, and was just too little zipper for so much leather. After 6 months it broke, and it cost me $200 to have a proper #10 installed. Worf determined the zip was incorrectly installed, which subtracted from its already short life. As long as Aero insists on period correct tiny zippers on their jackets, the problem will persist.

Hopefully, you will have better luck than I did.

 

[Markoman]

I had the same problem with my ThunderBay. It was the standard #6, I believe, and was just too little zipper for so much leather. After 6 months it broke, and it cost me $200 to have a proper #10 installed. Worf determined the zip was incorrectly installed, which subtracted from its already short life. As long as Aero insists on period correct tiny zippers on their jackets, the problem will persist.

Hopefully, you will have better luck than I did.

I sent my Aero highwayman (heavy steerhide) to Johnson leathers several weeks ago to have
the zipper replaced with a #10 after the original broke.

 

[Canuck Panda]

I am no fan of the number 5 bell shaped Talon zips either.
I've had much better luck with their boxy talons or rectangle conmars. Both are still number 5 size but performed better than the bell shaped talon in the same size.
Boxy talons are no cost upgrade options. I would suggest to all who custom orders.
My CXL Highwayman however came with the bell talons from the sale page. I use regular candle wax on it. It helps. I am also looking for conmar zips to slide replace the slider only. I think it will work. But in reality, thicker CXL jackets really need at least a size 8. I've seen later vintages come with those size 8 brass rectangle brass zips, so the door shouldn't be shut on that one.

 

[Aloysius]

My Indian Ranger came with a bell Talon main zip when it was supposed to come with deadstock boxy Talon. Seemed like a nitpicky thing to complain about, though, so I said nothing to Aero/Thurston but I'd definitely prefer the look of a boxy slider there aesthetically. My muscle memory has mostly adjusted for finding and setting the zipper though.

 

[earl]

I had the same problem with my ThunderBay. It was the standard #6, I believe, and was just too little zipper for so much leather. After 6 months it broke, and it cost me $200 to have a proper #10 installed. Worf determined the zip was incorrectly installed, which subtracted from its already short life. As long as Aero insists on period correct tiny zippers on their jackets, the problem will persist.

Hopefully, you will have better luck than I did.

OK, I recognize this may be comparing apples to oranges. But, $200? No Aero, but I bought a nice thrifted leather jacket this year needing only a new zipper, which cost me a whopping $27. Nor did that zipper behave like the ones described.

 

[photo2u]

I had the same problem with my ThunderBay. It was the standard #6, I believe, and was just too little zipper for so much leather. After 6 months it broke, and it cost me $200 to have a proper #10 installed. Worf determined the zip was incorrectly installed, which subtracted from its already short life. As long as Aero insists on period correct tiny zippers on their jackets, the problem will persist.

Hopefully, you will have better luck than I did.

Number #10 zippers are much stronger than #5 zippers, that is not a doubt. Period correct zippers are not as bad as some might think. The problem is the quality of the zipper currently being constructed. NOS 70-year-old Top quality #5 zippers work well in most jackets. Remember, some old #5 zippers that fail, have well passed their service time. Also, some fail due to OWNER's abuse. The simple bell-shaped #5 1940s-1980s talons used by buco and others are as tough as nails. 50/60's #5 and #10 military conmars are built like a tank and will take on the abuse of a stiff 4oz thick leather jackets. Personally, I have been avoiding Aereos due to their terrible zippers. Replacing a failed zipper is expensive if you want to have them done properly. I only trust two people to do this job. I have a custom build 4oz HH cross zip with a #5 bell-shaped zip. It has been properly functioning for more than 30 years of hard ownership. I tend to lubricate the zips every 4-5 years or whenever it needs it. When you lubricate zippers, is important to first clean the teeth with a small brush (toothbrush) in my case, to remove the smoke/dirt or other things zipper teeth get exposed to.

My next zipper job replacement will have a Talon #10 military 40s zipper. Much stronger than same size crowns. I have included an image, so you could make your own conclusions. The zips are #10 Three of the 4 zippers are military. The gold C&C is nice and has a stronger slider, but not as cool as the spring-loaded one. The finish on the C&C I believe is a much better product. I do like LW I just do not believe in all of Stu's zipper hype lol.

 

[photo2u]

My Indian Ranger came with a bell Talon main zip when it was supposed to come with deadstock boxy Talon. Seemed like a nitpicky thing to complain about, though, so I said nothing to Aero/Thurston but I'd definitely prefer the look of a boxy slider there aesthetically. My muscle memory has mostly adjusted for finding and setting the zipper though.

Hit me up. I will send you a 50's boxy brass nos talon slider for free.

 

[nattevagten]

The hookless zipper on my Aero Dustbowl broke down as well.

Do I have to send the jacket to Aero for repair or can anyone who works with leather fix it?

 

[Peacoat]

The hookless zipper on my Aero Dustbowl broke down as well.

Do I have to send the jacket to Aero for repair or can anyone who works with leather fix it?

Johnson Leather (San Fransisco) can do it as well as Dena in Illinois. She is a member here @iknowleather

 

[photo2u]

The hookless zipper on my Aero Dustbowl broke down as well.

Do I have to send the jacket to Aero for repair or can anyone who works with leather fix it?

Dena at Greatleather.com She is great!

 

[nattevagten]

Thanks! The only problem is that I'm located in the EU. I wouldn't mind sending it to Aero, but it's too much hassle with the UK out of the EU now.

 

[Slimshady201]

Thanks! The only problem is that I'm located in the EU. I wouldn't mind sending it to Aero, but it's too much hassle with the UK out of the EU now.

Is there a problem shipping your jacket to the UK for repair? I`ve never tried doing that since the UK left the EU.
I saw on the Aero homepage today that they had replaced a zip on a fairly new Highwayman. Things aren`t looking so rosy on the zip front

 

[nattevagten]

Is there a problem shipping your jacket to the UK for repair? I`ve never tried doing that since the UK left the EU.

It's a bit troublesome. I would have to declare the parcel when shipping it out and pay fees/VAT afterwards when it's returned to me.

 

[MrProper]

It's a bit troublesome. I would have to declare the parcel when shipping it out and pay fees/VAT afterwards when it's returned to me.

In consultation with the supplier, the goods can be declared as a repair order. If the identical goods are then returned, no VAT and no customs duty is due. What exactly has to happen, I do not know. Customs will certainly be able to provide information.

 

[nattevagten]

In consultation with the supplier, the goods can be declared as a repair order. If the identical goods are then returned, no VAT and no customs duty is due. What exactly has to happen, I do not know. Customs will certainly be able to provide information.

OK. Thanks.