Has anyone made experience with repairing the soft top zip?

[Klaus Schlueter]

Hi all,
my soft top zip does'nt really close behind the slider. Checking some internet classic car forums I found two repair sliders (see picture) which are said to work properly. Has anyone used these slider in the soft top?

Klaus

[singapore stag]

See if you can get this, Mazda MX 5, and whether it fits, Mazda genuine zipper head about 3.99, part number NA01 R1 250B ...........YKK brand



How to Replace your broken zip. - Use a pair of needle nose pliers to remove the staples from the end of the zipper where the slide will be when the window is unzipped. Put the top down enough, so that you can work and see from both sides. Remove the old Zip- slide carefully as not to damage the two halves of the zipper. Once removed, align the zipper ends and slide the new one into place. It should start zipping the two side of the zipper together as you go. Re-fix the staples to stop the zip coming off the end of the zipper.

[Phil S]

My hood has in the past had zip problems ( now sorted and fully working) but as a repair measure the po had fitted press studs around the window. Holds it closed and keeps it dry.
a possible fix for you and others to consider.

[Klaus Schlueter]

Many thanks Sukhi and Phil. Yes the YKK Mazda zipper slider is available. Very useful tipp. I found this in the net:

https://www.miata.net/garage/zipper.html

I'll try to find it at ebay.

Phil, what do you mean with "press studs"? A kind of pop rivets?

The two sliders in my picture can be opened, either by a spring loaded screw (left) or with a screw driver (right). The instruction says to open the defekct zipper totally and remove the slider by braking it with a sharp pair of pliers. The new slider can now be installed w/o removing the staples.

Klaus

[dasadrew]

.........
Phil, what do you mean with "press studs"? A kind of pop rivets?.........
Klaus

Druckknopfverschluss

[Klaus Schlueter]

Thank you Drew

[Klaus Schlueter]

Update: I have tried to install the repair zip sliders which I mentioned in post #1. No way.
In another forum I found a discription of the wear inside the slider and the tipp to press the sides of the slider together with a pair of pliers. I tried that and it worked perfectly. In addition I lubricated the complete softtop zip carefully with petoleum jelly in order to reduce wear. I took a demonstration picture at my anorak as it was difficult to do it at the soft top zipper.

Klaus

1 IMG_7771.JPG
3 IMG_7845.JPG

[022Dave]

Hello Klaus,

I'm glad that you've solved the zip problem. You may find that, although the petroleum jelly has improved the zip operation, it may attract dust and dirt, which could exasperate the wear, and the problem returns. A better solution is to use a 'dry' lubricant, such as a silicone spray.

Dave

[AJLC]

Hi, there was a similar thread on zips recently and I recommended this them. If you want a really good lubricant for the zip plus any rubber seals try gammi pflege. Originally developed for VW when they had problems with squeaky seals on convertible roofs. Doesn't rot rubber as some silicon sprays do.

[Klaus Schlueter]

Sorry for my late reply Dave and AJLC.
I have tried silicone spray many times on the zip and yes it worked but just for a short time.
I think the term is Gummi (rubber) Pflege. There are many brands on the market, not a special one for VW. But I think it is worth trying one.
Many thanks to both.
Klaus

[AJLC]

Hi, apologies that was a typo when I posted. I believe Gummi Pledge is not silicon based and similar formulae to Krytox, the VW official lubricant introduced for use on their Eos convertible. its lot cheaper though the official VW product is £36 for 30ml.

[dasadrew]

With "Gummi Pflege" I'm almost 10% certain that Klaus might be referring to the sticks in Germany which are/were used to smear the rubber door seals before the winter came to stop them sticking to the door frame after an icy night. They used to be available basically everywhere (almost even at the Aldi checkout, so to speak). The actual content is Hirschtalg, which translates as....wait for it .....stag tallow.

The tallow is solid, and the applicator stick is like lipstick. Easy to simply rub along the zip with and cheap as chips.

Screenshot 2022-06-28 072743.jpg

[AJLC]

Ah, the one I mentioned is a creamy liquid dispensed by a foam pad. Same purpose though to condition and soften rubber seals etc.

[Goldstar]

Ah, the one I mentioned is a creamy liquid dispensed by a foam pad. Same purpose though to condition and soften rubber seals etc.

That's the one I have for the window strips on wife's 987 Boxster. Should serve the same purpose here I would think