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iiigoiii Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2008 Posts: 307 Location: Bay Area, CA
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:08 pm Post subject: Westy tent zipper repair? |
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the last time we went camping in our westy, when i went to zip up the flap on the window, the zipper did that thing where the teeth separated behind the zipper pull.
our tent is an original equipment single front window canvas one that was a replacement for the original original one a while back. it does stretch fairly taut when the top is up, and that stretch may be a bit too much for the worn zipper. i got it closed by carefully working the pull back and forth until the teeth held together.
i'm figuring i could either zip/unzip it when the top is lowered slightly (a pain), or replace the zipper (or tent...) when it's off the van, but has anyone had any good luck replacing the zipper itself while the tent is on the vehicle?
or better yet any good ideas as to how to fix a zipper pull that doesn't fully join the zipper halves? _________________ 1984 Westfalia Wolfsburg Ed. w/ Subaru EJ22 power |
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spitsnrovers Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2005 Posts: 924 Location: Calgary, Canada
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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While at Bus Fusion, I got the name of Jonce Fancher. He makes a replacement screen - I believe complete with zipper. You use fabric glue to put it in place, then cut out the old fly screen. Haven't researched for him yet, but it might help. _________________ '88 VW Westfalia
'75 Triumph Spitfire 1500 |
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kirsplat Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2008 Posts: 412 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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This often happens with old sleeping bags and jackets. 9 times out of 10 it's the slider (zipper pull) to blame. The gap where the zipper teeth go through becomes too wide and the slider doesn't fully lock the teeth of the zipper. Try pinching the slider on both sides with a pair of pliers to decrease the gap and try zipping it again, you just might find this to be a cheap fix.
Cheers,
Chris _________________ 86 Syncro|EJ253|Carat |
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carterzest Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008 Posts: 3842 Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:13 am Post subject: |
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My buddy brought his wetsuit and tanks up to a campout we had at Lost Lake, Oregon last summer.....I was bithching about my zipper sticking and he pulled out some sort of Wet Suit/Diving Wax....He ran it across the zipper a few times and its working again! Mine came from San Antonio TX so its zipper had a bit of sea crust like you see on a boat canvas in salt water. I thought he was brilliant in equating the two environments and fixin' my beloved zipper!
No more ZipperRippers! _________________ Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror! |
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iiigoiii Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2008 Posts: 307 Location: Bay Area, CA
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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i might try the wetsuit wax...i was thinking about lubing the zipper. just want to make sure whatever i use will not eventually deteriorate the zipper or the canvas. also saw that the PB blaster company has a dry-lube spray which is safe for plastics:
http://blasterchemical.com/display.cfm?p=50003&pid=6
it probably is the pull being worn. i'm planning on trying the plier squeeze on the back side of the pull...but worried about breaking it or squeezing too much.
as far as i can tell, the fancher screen replaces the whole window inside the zipper, but does not include it.
i suppose i COULD spring for a new tent but trying to avoid that for now.... _________________ 1984 Westfalia Wolfsburg Ed. w/ Subaru EJ22 power |
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Hair Vise Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2014 Posts: 22 Location: United States
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Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 6:15 pm Post subject: Re: westy tent ZIPPER repair? |
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Any suggestions for how we might repair the zipper on our Westy?
Seems like there must be an alternative rather than replacing the entire canvass.
Thanks for the help!
Steven |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32432 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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pioneer1 Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2008 Posts: 2068 Location: Ontario Canada
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Hair Vise Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2014 Posts: 22 Location: United States
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:44 am Post subject: Re: westy tent ZIPPER repair? |
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Thanks so much. This definitely gives me some options before I plunk down the big bucks for a new canvass tent!
Steven |
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Ahwahnee Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010 Posts: 9776 Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:57 am Post subject: Re: westy tent ZIPPER repair? |
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Once you get it working, you might put this on it to assure smooth operation:
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:19 am Post subject: |
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iiigoiii wrote: |
i might try the wetsuit wax...i was thinking about lubing the zipper. just want to make sure whatever i use will not eventually deteriorate the zipper or the canvas. also saw that the PB blaster company has a dry-lube spray which is safe for plastics:
http://blasterchemical.com/display.cfm?p=50003&pid=6
it probably is the pull being worn. i'm planning on trying the plier squeeze on the back side of the pull...but worried about breaking it or squeezing too much.
as far as i can tell, the fancher screen replaces the whole window inside the zipper, but does not include it.
i suppose i COULD spring for a new tent but trying to avoid that for now.... |
an old trick that a seamstress taught me is to rub a candle on the zipper, the wax will be rubbed onto the zipper teeth and make it operate better, less prone to derailment. white candle wax is best so as to leave no stains on the fabric. do not light the candle, just rub the candle over the length of zipper to give it a coat of wax. fixxed plenty of sticky zipper this way. makes the zipper glide very well so your not forcing it which can damage it and wear the components.. _________________ Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information
Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022 |
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vanis13 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 3081 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: westy tent ZIPPER repair? |
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this also seems like a good solution
https://www.fixnzip.com/
Link
_________________ 83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:30 pm Post subject: Re: westy tent ZIPPER repair? |
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The fix a zip gizmo is pretty slick, and looks like a mind free quick fix / solution.
Pretty neat. _________________ T.K. |
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vanis13 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 3081 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:48 am Post subject: Re: westy tent ZIPPER repair? |
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Terry Kay wrote: |
The fix a zip gizmo is pretty slick, and looks like a mind free quick fix / solution.
Pretty neat. |
It must be good. TK has nothing bad to say about it _________________ 83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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Vinzanto Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2012 Posts: 247 Location: Kansas City
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:02 pm Post subject: Re: westy tent ZIPPER repair? |
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I ended up taking mine to a tailor and had a new zipper installed. It was like 50 bucks but much cheaper than buying a new screen. _________________ 1984 Vanagon Westfalia Wolfsberg |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: westy tent ZIPPER repair? |
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Ahhhh--
You removed the entire canvas and took it to a tailor, not a canvas shop ?
Our you take it to Luigi Welinda?
He worked on the canvas from a tight rope? _________________ T.K. |
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