Hookless Zipper Mishap!

[ericsanpablo31]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had experience with hookless zippers here, and might be able to help me? The other day I zipped up my jacket a bit too quickly, and I guess the teeth were not engaged properly. I basically couldn't pull the zipper down! Luckily, I was able to squirm out of the jacket somehow, but the only way I was able to unzip the jacket was forcibly. In hindsight, I probably should not have done that, but I acted in haste as I felt a little panicked!

I think I may have damaged the zipper though, because it will no longer zip up and down (it always gets stuck on the way down now). I was able to use some needle nose pliers to squeeze the zipper together a bit, and that actually worked for an evening. I left the jacket zipped ovenright, and this morning tried it on again, but lo and behold it got stuck again.

Is this something I can repair, or replace myself by any chance? I've attached some pics of the current state of the zipper pull. Thank you so much for any potential advice.

 

[seres]

As long as the teeth are not damaged or missing, you should be able to repair this at home, or at most with a few user-installed parts. But please clarify some of your comments…

…the only way I was able to unzip the jacket was forcibly… Describe this in more detail. Did you force the slider down to the box, or pull one tape out the side of the slider/

…it always gets stuck on the way down now… Always stuck at the same place? Or sticks intermittently at various places?

…I was able to use some needle nose pliers to squeeze the zipper together a bit, and that actually worked for an evening… Exactly where on the slider did you squeeze? The slots on the slider should be equal sized, open just enough to allow the fabric tape to pass, and the slots should be very smooth. On one pic, it looks like the slots are ragged.

 

[ericsanpablo31]

Thanks for your reply! In response to your queries:

- I forced the slider all the way down to the box
- Intermittently at various/random places
- I used the pliers on the bottom half of the slider (I feel like it may have expanded when I forced the slider down). As you mentioned, the slots on the slider look and feel ragged (as if the metal has been damaged when I forced the slider down). Tightening the slot of the slider did help temporarily, but I'm afraid it is not a permament solution, and it would really suck to zip up the jacket and not be able to take it off at an awkward time :/

 

[seres]

I used a very thin file (a jewelers file, or even a "points" file obtained from the auto parts store) to smooth the inner slots on a slicking slider on my jacket, and that helped. Just keep comparing both slots so that they remain the same width, and only wide enough to pass the fabric tape.

To get the best job, you may need to remove the slider from the tape... Just carefully remove the top stop from the box side of the tape and pull the slider off.

In the worst case, you may be able to buy a new slider from the manufacturer of your jacket

 

[ericsanpablo31]

Thank you!! The top stopper of my jacket looks like this - https://www.dropbox.com/s/rxvrpgnaqs3cfiu/IMG_5078.JPG?dl=0

Would I remove it the same way as they do here -

 

[seres]

Interesting video. ButI would NOT just jerk it off as in the video, because your top stop is metal and it may tear the fabric tape.

Instead, examine the top stop… it is a U with two legs. I would take 2 pliers, one on each side of one leg of the U, and pull gently apart. It does not take much pressure, and you only want to spread it enough to remove. Then open the other leg of the U.

To reinstall, you may need to further open each leg so you can slide it over the fabric. Then crimp gently.

But don’t reinstall it until you have tried the repaired slider several times. If you do damage that top stop, they are available at most fabric shops... even on Amazon.

 

[ericsanpablo31]

Nice, that's good to know I ought be gentler. Do you think this zipper replacement would work -https://www.ebay.ca/itm/253403811114?ViewItem=&item=253403811114

Thanks again for your help, it is really helpful

 

[seres]

I can’t tell from your photos the size of your zipper. There may be a number on the slider, but I can’t see it. If there is no number, you can measure across the zipper teeth, in mm.

The zip in that Ebay ad is a #5, and your zip looks to be larger. For reference, I have 2 A-2 jackets with hookless zips, both branded Waldes, and both #8.

If your jacket has a #5 zip of the same brand, you should be able to substitute the slider. Have you checked all you zip teeth, and are they all undamaged? if not you would have to replace the entire zipper, and the zip size shouldn't make much difference, but be sure to match the length.

 

[ericsanpablo31]

I think you are right, I measured mine and it is a #8 as well, and the design in the front looks very similar to Waldes. I've emailed them to see if they can offer a replacement, were you able to obtain some somewhere by any chance?

 

[seres]

I was able to straighten, file and polish my slider, so I haven't needed a replacement.

 

[ericsanpablo31]

So I was able to remove the slider, but it looks pretty busted! Here are some pics - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bjqyse1pj418m10/AAAbOL2JnpwPZzVLCL57YY7Xa?dl=0

Do you think this is salvageable? How do I check that none of the zipper teeth are damaged? Would any #8 slider work, or does it have to be a waldes one/hookless? Having trouble finding one, and freewheelers doesn't send parts