citabria headliner

[cropduster]

The zipper on my citabria headliner is torn. Anyone have a suggestion for a repair short of replacing the headliner? Is there a glue that will hold some velcro strips to the headliner?

 

[cropduster]

I repaired it by buying some adhesive backed velcro which I stuck up on each side of the zipper opening and then sewed it in place with an awl using a lock stitch. The outside edges of the two strips are about 4 inches apart. I then cut a piece of manilla folder the shape of the outside of the velcro strips for a pattern and went to a local upholstery shop and had the other side of the velcro sewed onto a piece of fabric to make a cover that velcros onto the strips at the old zipper opening.
Looks a lot better than an opening with a hanging zipper.

 

[WWhunter]

As an additional bit of advice....I occasionally spray some silicone on the zipper to keep it lubricated. This seems to help in a big way since these zippers get oxidized over time. This might help extend the life of the headliner before the zipper gets ripped out by the heavy handed person.
WW