Fixing a zipper that keeps getting stuck and won't close

I have a jacket that I like but recently it started having trouble with the zipper. It would get stuck and sometimes it would zip up half way and sections of the zipper would not close together so there would be openings where it is supposed to be zipped. This became very inconvenient because I could not rely on the zipper to work properly, so I started looking for solutions to fix it.

First I tried putting some oil on the zipper to make it go more smoothly. This worked a little bit but after a few days it would start getting stuck again and had the same issues with the teeth not closing like they should. I also tried to use a small pliers to see if I could adjust the slider piece in case it was stretched out. Unfortunately I was not able to do much with this.

Finally I decided to look for a replacement zipper slider. They come in different sizes and styles so you have to to try to find one that is the same size and for the same materials, for example metal or plastic. They usually have a number on the back. Mine had a 5 and a 6. Also you can measure the width of the zipper when it is closed to get the millimeter measurement.

I went to a hobby store and found some replacement zippers for a couple dollars in size 5 which looked to be about the same so I picked them up.

The next part was kind of tricky because you have to figure out how to remove the original zipper slide. They usually have pieces at each end of the garment that prevent the zipper from coming off the top or the bottom. I tried to pry one of these pieces off but it was really stuck on there. Finally I just decided to cut off the piece at the top which would allow the zipper to slide off the top of the jacket. I never zip the jacket all the way to the top so I figured it would be ok.

Once the old zipper slide was off, I put on one of the new zipper slide. I tried it out and sure enough, it worked! I was able to zip the jacket and it did not get stuck or have any sections that were not connected. So it looks like it was in fact an issue with the original zipper slide. It is possible it may have worn out or stretched out over time.

If you are having a similar issue with a zipper, I recommend try replacing the zipper slide like this as it is an affordable option and is pretty easy to do. Also it is much better than having to buy a new jacket!