CARGO FLY CARE & MAINTENANCE
7
For additional information, see the Cargo Fly Video available at www.alpackaraft.com
You must clean, dry, and
lubricate your Cargo Fly Zipper
after every trip and often while
in the field!
MAINTENANCE KIT:
You will need a small
(about 3×3″) clean rag, zipper lubricant, and a
small brush. You can use old t‐shirts to make
new rags. Old toothbrushes make great cargo
fly brushes. Keep your kit with you in the field
and maintain often.
CLEANING:
If you are having trouble getting
your zipper to close, it is most likely due to an
obstruction in the chain (i.e. the teeth).
Therefore, you need to keep your zipper
chain clean and free of sand, dirt, and debris.
Because lubricant attracts sand, we do not
recommend applying lubricant direct to the
chain. If your zipper needs cleaning, start
with a small brush and use warm soap and
water for more difficult cleaning.
LUBRICATION STEPS:
Your zipper should
always run smooth and easy. If your zipper is
difficult to move or feels sticky, it needs
lubrication. Always make sure the zipper
chain is clean before lubricating.
1.
With the zipper CLOSED apply a lube to
the rag and use the rag to work the lube
into the urethane laminated exterior of
the zipper. Do not apply lubricant directly
to the zipper teeth!
2.
Continue to use the rag to until all
exterior surfaces of the closed zipper are
coated.
3.
Wipe down the zipper until all excess
lubricant is removed. Excess lubricant
will attract dirt and sand.
4.
Open the zipper and use the rag to
lightly lube the chain and sealing edges.
5.
Apply a small amount of lube to the
docking end.
6.
Open and close the zipper several times,
it should slide smoothly and close easily.
Repeat the above steps if necessary.
The goal is to regularly maintain a very thin
coat of lube along the length of the zipper
allowing the head to slide freely and dock
easily.
STORAGE:
After each use, leave the zipper open and
allow to dry thoroughly. Failure to dry will cause the
zipper to rot and crack, which is not covered by
warranty! If you need to travel home with a wet
packraft, leave the zipper on the outside where it can
breathe.
TROUBLESHOOTING:
•
Separating Behind Zipper Head:
If the zipper
separates behind the head, it will self heal by pulling
the zipper head behind the separation and reclosing.
You may need to follow the cleaning and lubrication
steps to make it reseal. If necessary, close the zipper
by hand through the problem area.
•
Separating at Zipper Base:
If the zipper separates at
the base, you will need to clean the area and
manually close the first 3cm of the zipper by hand
and then back the head over the closed area to reset.
•
Leak at Zipper Base:
Sometimes the zipper will close,
but leave a small gap at the zipper base due to an
obstruction in the teeth. You will need to separate
the zipper by hand at the base, clean the area, and
then reclose following the steps above.
WARRANTY & REPLACEMENT:
Only the installation, not
the Ti‐Zip zipper, of the Cargo Fly is covered by our
Warranty Policy. We offer a reduced cost replacement
fee of $100 for all Cargo Fly zippers through our Repair
& Retrofit Services.
