Is replacing softop window zip viable?

[jleyton]

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Hi Andrew

I've found that when mine's got stuck,if you look carefully at all 4 possible material sticking points you can usually see what's causing it.

Then, with something like a compass needle or one of those very thin optician style screwdrivers, I can usually get under the offending bit of material and gently lever it out and backwards from the zip.

So far, that's never failed for me - but famous last words

Good luck - just imagine the zip's on a dress - I'm sure you'd get it open then


PS If this is the problem, it is imperative to pull the zip in the direction awayfrom the offending bit of material otherwise itwill just dig even further in and you'll never get it unstuck :X- I've just gone out to my car to check this and guess what happened ? Yep, mine's stuck now :shock:

[Guest]

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At the risk of causing it, mine have never stuck, the old hood or the new, cover the window carefully and soak the zip in silicone spray, a parrafin wax candle works almost as well and doesn't need the masking. Martin.

[Andrew S]

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KOY 23 wrote:

KOY 23 wrote:

The zip on mine went yesterday, the metal zipper had broken.

I have spoken to VMad who says it is a hood off frame job to fit a new zip. This incurs drilling out 60 pop rivets and ungluing frame.

I have ordered a repair kit from: http://www2.westfalia.net/search/ind...ng=zip+repairs

Let's hope it works.

John.

Update.

Finally got round to fitting the new zipper. Bit fiddly to engage the zip ends but it worked.

This supplier has a minimum order value of £20 but has lots of different parts to buy. Still a lot cheaper than the other options

John.

Hi John

I have never used my zip on the rear window and being that the zip is still shiny, it may never have been used. The puller tab was a sort of tassel thingy and yes, you guessed it it broke.I have now managed to move the zip and I know it will be OK to go round the window. My trouble is now, is that I think I need to replace the zipper and the kit you showed, looks ideal.

Did you have thetassel tabend on yours and if so,does this mean it is original? I ask this as I am not sure if zips are metric or imperial and whether my zip would be OK with the zipper selection in the kit?

Also, did you have to cut away any material to be able to feed the zipper on as my zip from the inside of the car , seems to go down a long way into the material.I presume, it has to be fed in at the start.

Any guidance John or advice would be greatly appreciated

Cheers

Andrew

[KOY 23]

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Hi Andrew.
I think my hood is original as it has a tag at rear centre with a date on it which ties in with my car manufacturing date. I no longer have the tassle.
I will look out the kit tomorrow, you are welcome to any bits I have left. Starting the zipper onto the zip was a pain. I cut a couple of teeth out ojf one side and aligned the other side into the zipper so that they meshed evenly. I do not intend to use the zip again.

Hope this helps.

John.

[jleyton]

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KOY 23 wrote:

I do not intend to use the zip again.

Hope this helps.

John.

Hi John,

Don't you unzip the window when you fold the roof down? If not, don't you find itleaves a crease mark on the window?

[Andrew S]

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Thanks John for the heads up. I spoke with South East Trimming yesterday and as mine is an original hood (as it has the washing instructions etc in the left top corner embossed) they have plenty of older zippers, they have put one in the post for free. I will do as you say and cut the zip sides, slide of the old zipper and replace and then sew the cut up. Would be great to get it done over the weekend.

Thanks for the advice

Andrew

[Andrew S]

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If I am successful in fixing a new zipper, what is best to put on the zip to make it operate best.

Oil, grease, silicone or wax?

Thanks

Andrew

[peter f]

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Hi Julian,
If you roll an old towel up lengthways and place it in the fold of the window as you lower it, this stops a crease forming. You can also use a 50mm diameter length of pipe insulation, but the best thing I used was as "sausage dog" draught excluder, as used at the bottom of doors. Mine was a pound from a curtain stall at the local car boot, and the lady appears to have made them from offcuts of material stuffed with old tights. Works a treat.
FWIW
Peter f

[jleyton]

imported post

peter f wrote:

Hi Julian,
If you roll an old towel up lengthways and place it in the fold of the window as you lower it, this stops a crease forming. You can also use a 50mm diameter length of pipe insulation, but the best thing I used was as "sausage dog" draught excluder, as used at the bottom of doors. Mine was a pound from a curtain stall at the local car boot, and the lady appears to have made them from offcuts of material stuffed with old tights. Works a treat.
FWIW
Peter f

Thanks Peter,

But 'sausage dogs' and old tights - is there no end to what you take in your car?LOL

But if it works, well what the heck, maybe I'll give it a try. I had heard of the towel trick before but didn't know if it worked.

Cheers

Julian

[KOY 23]

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Hi Julian.

Yes I do but can be minimised by putting a towel in the folded window.

My zip is dodgy, so my theory is that if it breaks I need a new hood, as complete removal of hood from frame to replace zip, so might as well repace hood. If the window breaks, I need a new hood. The zip is far more likely to break and window is good, so I leave the zip alone.

John.

[Andrew S]

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Well, after a bit of patience, I have fixed my rear zip and for the first time on this Stag in 14 years, it has been undone.

John, thank you very much indeed for sending over your spares. I had sourced a second hand original zipper etcbut usedone of the stoppers you sent, so it cant off. God what a pain to get a new zipper on, but worth it. Zip nicelyoiled and works a treat.

For anyone that hasn't done it before, I unpicked the zip end on the nearsideand slid the oldzipper off and new one on and then added a stopper and then stitch the material back together. All nicely hidden. Oiled the zip well and open and closed it a few times to make sure it was all moving OK. Found that the zip moved more freely without the soft top rear window being locked down.

I then looked at the side poppers that hold the window down if you want it open as you go along. Both broke off as they are plastic, so it was outwith new poppers and all fixed.

Veryvery pleased andworththe time and language

Thanks again John

Andrew