Power Kite Forum

ARC zipper repair

BeamerBob - 16-1-2012 at 11:22 AM

Ok, I got that great deal on the Venom 13m on fleabay and figured a quick soak in some warm water would loosen them right up. The zipper I've been soaking for an hour still won't budge. I've also lightly scrubbed with a small medium bristle nylon brush but still no dice. I did a search and can't find any other tips and tricks to loosen one that is stuck closed. The zipper looks to be in perfect shape but just won't open.

I'm not handy with a sewing machine or I'd source new ones and just replace them. I'm still probably ok on investment even if I have to ship it for repair, but with zippers that look good I'm hoping to get them loosened up.

geokite - 16-1-2012 at 11:51 AM

Silicon spray? I don't think I would use anything stronger.

Could the pull be bent?

cheezycheese - 16-1-2012 at 12:02 PM

I have heard vinegar will do the trick. The zips on my GII were stuck and had some salt corrosion in them, but in the end it was just hot water and a little gentle/force...

martinipro - 16-1-2012 at 12:03 PM

I've been successful with hot water before.
I hear Vinegar is a good/stronger alternative. Never tried it myself.

PHREERIDER - 16-1-2012 at 12:26 PM

one in, one out, is easy working basics.

let it soak, vinegar will speed it up some, tweak it loose. or if the others work just leave. it.

thanson2001ok - 16-1-2012 at 12:48 PM

I have had luck with BOILING hot water. The vinegar sounds like a good idea. Gotta let 'em soak for a couple of hours. Replace the cooled off water w boiling hot again.

Let us know what works. I bid on that kite. Glad another PKF bro' got it. Great price! Hope you get the zips going.

Flyfish - 16-1-2012 at 01:57 PM

Hi,
I've been lurking on the forum, thought I'd introduce. I've been kitesurfing about 10 years, but I bought a couple of venoms about 6 months ago. The zippers were stuck also. I soaked them in vinegar for a couple hours and worked magic!
http://www.windsurfer.co.uk/zipcare.htm
Hope it works for you!
Ps, I liked the venoms enough to buy a couple of synergies!

AD72 - 16-1-2012 at 02:23 PM

I used a steam cleaner. Worked on Flysurfer bags as well.



It was one of those informercial things my wife loves to pick up. Did not work to good on tile grout but did the trick on the salt water deposits in the zipper. Different attachment than in the picture though.

PrairieWind - 16-1-2012 at 03:43 PM

http://www.mcnett.com/Zip-Care-Liquid-Zipper-Cleaner-Lubrica...

mdpminc - 16-1-2012 at 03:57 PM

Few drops of CLR (eyedropper works well) on zipper head, rinse right away after foaming stops

BeamerBob - 16-1-2012 at 06:16 PM

Thanks guys and welcome flyfish. I'm honored I drew you out of lurker status.

Hot water did nothing for me. Moving on to vinegar now. I'm thinking about how to immerse the zipper in vinegar without using a half gallon of the stuff.

Also not sure how to apply boiling water with enough volume. I envisioned a pot on the gas stove and cringed as I imagined bringing the kite to the pot just above the open flame. Maybe a teapot.............:duh::duh:

Flyfish - 18-1-2012 at 06:25 PM

Any Luck with the zippers?

BeamerBob - 18-1-2012 at 08:50 PM

I've been too busy to try anything beyond the hot water soak. The teapot of boiling water and white vinegar are my next attempts. I'll certainly post up what works and how I did it when I find success. :thumbup:

WolfWolfee - 19-1-2012 at 06:17 AM

I have always used 3M silicone spray on all my zippers and never had a problem. Can you see a residue on the zippers like a calcium build up vinegar would work, don't use CLR it is an acid base and will do harm to the fabric. In the cold North we use the same silicone spray on our truck door jams and window seals, stops ice from sticking. IMHO

BeamerBob - 19-1-2012 at 08:03 AM

Maybe the White Vinegar should be my next attempt. There is a film on the zipper.

krumly - 20-1-2012 at 10:38 AM

If you know how to run a sewing machine, for all the f'ing around to loosen it up you could have sewn in a new one.

If I can''t get a slider free with silicone spray in 5-10 minutes, I sew in a new zip. Maybe an hour to pick out the old zip and sew in a new one first time. 1/2 hour after practice.

krumly

BeamerBob - 20-1-2012 at 10:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by krumly
If you know how to run a sewing machine, for all the f'ing around to loosen it up you could have sewn in a new one.

If I can''t get a slider free with silicone spray in 5-10 minutes, I sew in a new zip. Maybe an hour to pick out the old zip and sew in a new one first time. 1/2 hour after practice.

krumly


So you can just walk in the sewing shop and buy a sealing zipper like comes on the arcs? We have a sewing machine.

indigo_wolf - 20-1-2012 at 11:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BeamerBob
So you can just walk in the sewing shop and buy a sealing zipper like comes on the arcs? We have a sewing machine.


Unless Krumly knows of a national chain, I doubt it. Aunt Bee rarely needs water-resistant/proof zippers for her sewing circle projects.

You might want to check with the folks at FixMyKite.com/Kiteboarding.com where they source their zippers for PL repairs and see if they have any on hand.

Worth reading:
The Golden Peter Lynn Zipper

I would assume local sources would be dive/board shops that do drysuit repairs, sail shops, technical gear (camping/hiking) stores that have a repair department. Other mail order options would be include: ATB,
Sam

krumly - 21-1-2012 at 09:49 AM

Quest Outfitters for uretek zips and sliders:

http://www.questoutfitters.com/zippers.htm#MAKE YOUR OWN ZIPPERS

Use the #5 - that should match the PL size. Definitely use the Zipper Wedges installation tip further down on the page. Makes installing any closed end zipper easier and neater siince you arent sewing across the zipper coils at the ends.

BTW, these guys have all the stuff you need to make replacement aluminum collapsible spars:

http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm#TENT POLES

Use the .433 diameter. I've made 6 sets for Arcs so far. Work great. They got all sorts of other useful stuff for kites - rings, buckles, d-rings.

BB - I'll check to see if I have any coil zip and sliders around. No promises.

krumly

BeamerBob - 21-1-2012 at 09:58 AM

Very nice. I could have new zippers in hand for under $10. This looks easier than soaking.

Soma - 21-1-2012 at 02:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by krumly
Quest Outfitters for uretek zips and sliders:

http://www.questoutfitters.com/zippers.htm#MAKE YOUR OWN ZIPPERS

Use the #5 - that should match the PL size. Definitely use the Zipper Wedges installation tip further down on the page. Makes installing any closed end zipper easier and neater siince you arent sewing across the zipper coils at the ends.

BTW, these guys have all the stuff you need to make replacement aluminum collapsible spars:

http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm#TENT POLES

Use the .433 diameter. I've made 6 sets for Arcs so far. Work great. They got all sorts of other useful stuff for kites - rings, buckles, d-rings.

BB - I'll check to see if I have any coil zip and sliders around. No promises.

krumly



Thanks a million!!! :thumbup:

They even send to Portugal, :wee:
All summed, it's way cheaper then buying new spars.

What a great site

krumly - 21-1-2012 at 06:05 PM

Beamer Bob -

Got plenty of uretek coil stock, sliders, and some 2" black dacron tape to make the 'zipper wedges.' PM me with an address, how many inches of coil stock, and how many sliders, and I'll drop 'em in the mail.

The sliders have two pull tabs - front and back. You'll cut the 'front' one off, because the uretek zippers get installed back side out.

Use a big needle (#16 or #18 sharps), heavy polyester thread, and about 8 stitches/inch. Taping stuff with 2-sided basting tape before sewing really helps, otherwise pin a lot.

krumly

krumly

BeamerBob - 21-1-2012 at 06:57 PM

This is awesome. I'm going to have a very nice 13 V for cheap. I"m going to study the manual on our sewing machine and see if I and it have what it takes.

Flyfish - 21-1-2012 at 11:28 PM

Krumly,
Would you suggest using the waterproof zippers that they sell or the regular ones? Also, which would be better, the coil vs the teeth? I know nothing about zippers! One more question... Can you explain the wedge, is that a sewing teqnique or a part or the zipper? I'm actually ok with a sewing machine, just never done zippers.

AD72 - 22-1-2012 at 12:03 AM

Bob before you perform surgery mail it to me and I will get those zips free. Has the zipper slider or track been damaged.
Krumly have you used those zippers before on an ARC? I recall the golden zipper story. That is why I persisted to get the zippers freed.

Flyfish - 22-1-2012 at 07:43 AM

Golden zipper story? This thread keeps getting better all the time!
Tell more!
BTW I still say soak them in vinegar. Work easy for me.

BeamerBob - 22-1-2012 at 09:09 AM

AD the inflate zippers are stuck closed and the deflate zipper is stuck open. The deflate zipper has a missing pull. I'm going to try the vinegar before I go any further. The deflate zipper should be easier since I can get to all sides of the zipper. I think if I can get the zippers working without removing and replacing them, I'm ahead and the kite remains original.

Many consider Krumly "the man" regarding arcs and what works and what doesn't with them. Never any BS. Just the facts, and accurate experience proven opinions.

Statistic - 22-1-2012 at 09:26 AM

Rub some hydrogen peroxide on those zippers

edit: I know nothing about the interaction of fabric and hydrogen peroxide, but seems to work wonders on zippers.

krumly - 22-1-2012 at 12:37 PM

Flyfish -

Go to the Quest Outfitters page in my earlier post and read through it. All is explained. Uretek coil zips are what are used in kites, and yes youwant those because they minimize air leakage. Rubber face stays out, so you have to buy double-sided slides and cut off the OUTSIDE slide to leave a exposed slider. Single tabs would leave your slider tab inside the kite.

krumly

Flyfish - 23-1-2012 at 08:48 AM

Thanks krumly! I'm going to buy some just to have onhand. Seems like there will be a day when I'll need them!

BeamerBob - 23-1-2012 at 09:57 AM

Vinegar fixed my open deflate zipper and one of my inflate zippers in less than 5 minutes each. The other inflate zipper is really stuck with no luck. I also tried boiling water on it with no luck. Not perfect but I can fill and launch the kite now.:thumbup:

BeamerBob - 23-1-2012 at 12:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by thanson2001ok
I have had luck with BOILING hot water. The vinegar sounds like a good idea. Gotta let 'em soak for a couple of hours. Replace the cooled off water w boiling hot again.

Hope you get the zips going.


I'm reading back now and need to let the still stuck zipper soak in the boiling water. I just poured a teapot full so that it ran down the zipper but now realize that might not soak in and loosen what's sticking it. I can fall back to a longer soak in vinegar too.

Phree is right though. Now I'm in the position of being able to seal the kite up and can fly it. I just need to deflate through the inflate zipper. With supplies on the way, I can replace the broken pull deflate zipper and the other stuck inflate if the job goes well. Now to keep them loose.........