Crown Zipper Problems

Hey gang,
I've got an ELC B-6 which I've had 2 years now. The only gripe I have is with the main zipper.

The problem is when it's zipped up the very bottom 2 teeth keep popping appart so that when I unzip it the slider gets snagged and won't separate unless it futz around wiggling the teeth back in line. The teeth are all tight on the tape it seems the end that goes into the box stop just keeps riding up and eventually pops the teeth open...every...time!

Does anyone else have this problem? How can I fix it. Also the Crown has just never felt as smooth as a talon, it gets hung up while zipping all the time. Is any of this fixable? Thanks!

Xopher said:

Hey gang,
I've got an ELC B-6 which I've had 2 years now. The only gripe I have is with the main zipper.

The problem is when it's zipped up the very bottom 2 teeth keep popping appart so that when I unzip it the slider gets snagged and won't separate unless it futz around wiggling the teeth back in line. The teeth are all tight on the tape it seems the end that goes into the box stop just keeps riding up and eventually pops the teeth open...every...time!

Does anyone else have this problem? How can I fix it. Also the Crown has just never felt as smooth as a talon, it gets hung up while zipping all the time. Is any of this fixable? Thanks!

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I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure you're looking at replacing the zipper.

Xopher said:

Hey gang,
I've got an ELC B-6 which I've had 2 years now. The only gripe I have is with the main zipper.

The problem is when it's zipped up the very bottom 2 teeth keep popping appart so that when I unzip it the slider gets snagged and won't separate unless it futz around wiggling the teeth back in line. The teeth are all tight on the tape it seems the end that goes into the box stop just keeps riding up and eventually pops the teeth open...every...time!

Does anyone else have this problem? How can I fix it. Also the Crown has just never felt as smooth as a talon, it gets hung up while zipping all the time. Is any of this fixable? Thanks!

Click to expand...

Firstly, I'm sincerely sorry to hear of this issue afflicting your B-6.

At the risk of sounding crazy, and please do not think this is solely directed to you; it's directed at all who do this because it's something that is illogical to me: Why do you not immediately contact the merchant from whom you purchased the item vs. asking the forum for fixes?

Ok, so now to your issue, which I am the most qualified here to amplify on among TFL members because I sell the product and, thus, have handled more than any other member since the zipper style's introduction by ELC in 2007, though this applies to all zippers made of metal. Without examining the zip, the problem is almost certainly the gap setting between upper and lower halves of the slider. Gap setting is what keeps zippers operating; when the gap becomes too wide (the most common) or too narrow, the teeth fail to mesh correctly and can do what you've described, fail to engage the zip at all, or freeze the slider and leave it stuck with the teeth disengaged below it.

Gap setting is adjustable (in very tiny increments of about 1 mm) by either squeezing the slider gently with common pliers if too wide, or prying it open gently using a flathead screwdriver, knife, or other like object. Should adjustment fail, then you'll need a new slider, but a full zip replacement is just about unheard of for us unless there is damage to the teeth or tape, which is not an issue of gap setting.

If you aren't comfortable addressing the issue on your own, then you should contact the merchant from whom you made the purchase or the manufacturer. And if you purchased from us, we'll be happy to walk you through the procedure over the phone or take care of the fix at our office; this is part of the post-sale service we are always available to provide.

Gap setting becomes too wide simply from use, where the constant pulling up and outwardly forces the gap to open up. Gap becoming too narrow results from pressure against the zipper slider, which could be just from leaning against a table, desk, vehicle, etc.

Separately, the Crown zips on my own jackets are no more prone to problems than Talons or any other, forcing me to replace one Talon and one Crown slider among scads of jackets in the last 30 years; I've never replaced an entire assembly. But user mileage may vary and I certainly can say that I've seen slightly more Crown-related issues among customers. Whatever the case, and even if the issue isn't gap setting, your zipper is repairable or replaceable.

Good luck!

HPA Rep said:

At the risk of sounding crazy, and please do not think this is solely directed to you; it's directed at all who do this because it's something that is illogical to me: Why do you not immediately contact the merchant from whom you purchased the item vs. asking the forum for fixes?

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That is so true!

HPA Rep said:

And if you purchased from us, we'll be happy to walk you through the procedure over the phone or take care of the fix at our office; this is part of the post-sale service we are always available to provide.

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Well cool! I didn't know you guys did post sale service stuff, its such a rare thing these days that Im so used to buying something and if anything goes wrong with it its my issue to figure out. I'll give a call when I get a day off.

To me though it doesn't seem to be a slider gap problem because when I zip it, everything seats well. I was inspecting it really closely today and discovered the bottom tooth pops out when the zipper tape bends, for example when I sit down the tape folds and out comes the tooth, just tons of play between box stop an the pin that goes into it. Hard to see in the photo, but makes it a little easier to visualize.

Hmmm, cant get the photos to work. Guess Im just calling

Any recommendations for someone who does zipper repair or replacement? I found a nice cafe racer in a thrift shop, got it dirt cheap because the zipper needs to be replaced. I did see someone mentioned in another thread, I searched for it but can't find it now.

Xopher said:

Well cool! I didn't know you guys did post sale service stuff, its such a rare thing these days that Im so used to buying something and if anything goes wrong with it its my issue to figure out. I'll give a call when I get a day off.

To me though it doesn't seem to be a slider gap problem because when I zip it, everything seats well. I was inspecting it really closely today and discovered the bottom tooth pops out when the zipper tape bends, for example when I sit down the tape folds and out comes the tooth, just tons of play between box stop an the pin that goes into it. Hard to see in the photo, but makes it a little easier to visualize.

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Please contact us with any questions pertaining to anything we offer or have offered. Disposable items and those that leave customers on their own to fix are, as you noted, the standard fare, but we don't offer standard fare and that's part of what makes us and our products stand out.

How long was it before you started having this problem? I definitely need to see the zipper problem, but what you have described indeed doesn't sound to be gap and could prove to be one of a few other things.

Ready to help when your schedule allows. Thank you!

ChazfromCali said:

Any recommendations for someone who does zipper repair or replacement? I found a nice cafe racer in a thrift shop, got it dirt cheap because the zipper needs to be replaced. I did see someone mentioned in another thread, I searched for it but can't find it now.

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Yes, some good deals can be found if the zip is not functional. Please try posting as a separate thread to maximize attention to your need. Good luck!

ChazfromCali said:

Any recommendations for someone who does zipper repair or replacement? I found a nice cafe racer in a thrift shop, got it dirt cheap because the zipper needs to be replaced. I did see someone mentioned in another thread, I searched for it but can't find it now.

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Chaz, I would look for a good tailor in your area. I am fortunate to live less than a mile from a wonderful tailor who has worked on six leather jackets for me, including a zipper replacement on a heavy horsehide jacket. I provided the zipper, a #8 riri, and he did the rest...
Hopefully you can find someone like this near you. Good luck!

El Marro said:

Chaz, I would look for a good tailor in your area. I am fortunate to live less than a mile from a wonderful tailor who has worked on six leather jackets for me, including a zipper replacement on a heavy horsehide jacket. I provided the zipper, a #8 riri, and he did the rest...
Hopefully you can find someone like this near you. Good luck!

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That's the problem I can't find a good one.

ChazfromCali said:

That's the problem I can't find a good one.

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In that case you may want to try Great Leather in Avon, Illinois. Some of the top jacket makers, such as John Chapman of Good Wear, recommend Great Leather for repairs and alterations.

El Marro said:

In that case you may want to try Great Leather in Avon, Illinois. Some of the top jacket makers, such as John Chapman of Good Wear, recommend Great Leather for repairs and alterations.

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Thank you for that.

I knew there are people who are pro's at this, somewhere. Unfortunately I can't find them locally.

I'm kinda new to the jacket fetish ;-)

I had a simple sleeve shortening on a nice thrift store find that turned out badly. I didn't have the heart to complain, I just paid and took my badly altered jacket home. I almost want to buy a sewing machine and learn to do it myself. I probably never will though, I'd rather pay someone who will do a professional job on it.

I had a similar sounding problem with a Talon zip on an Aero Hercules. I thought a replacement was required but a new slider fixed it. Aero sent me one out and I installed myself with little difficulty.
The gap setting, mentioned above, must have been off.

Had the same problem ( with a Crown zipper) on an ELC B-3.
Send it back to Gary. Replaced the zipper perfectly.

Cooper A-2 said:

Had the same problem ( with a Crown zipper) on an ELC B-3.
Send it back to Gary. Replaced the zipper perfectly.

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What's it cost to do that roughly?

In my case only the shipping costs to ELC... repair and return was free.
Custmer service...

Cooper A-2 said:

In my case only the shipping costs to ELC... repair and return was free.
Custmer service...

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I am again and again blown away by how amazing ELC/HPA are in terms of customer service like that...I'm so used to getting one pulled over on me by other companies

Cooper A-2 said:

Had the same problem ( with a Crown zipper) on an ELC B-3.
Send it back to Gary. Replaced the zipper perfectly.

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Happy ending! Please let us know if the entire zip assembly replaced or just the slider? Also, please advise about how old your B-3 was at the time. Thank you.

HPA Rep said:

Happy ending! Please let us know if the entire zip assembly replaced or just the slider? Also, please advise about how old your B-3 was at the time. Thank you.

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The jacket is currently 2 years old, but the problem started showing up about 6 months ago. I suspect the zipper will need replaced, I can see a tiny tear between the bottom teeth which I suspect gives the extra flexibility to pop the teeth apart. I still have to give you a call, I've just been too busy putting together my album and booking gigs.