The normal adjustments a

swing speed - how fast the door closes from full open toward the
jamb
latch speed - a position just before latching that slows the door
so it does not slam
back check if so equipped - a position at full open that increases
the resistance to opening so you don't rip the closer arm off the
door/jamb.

Some closers have a single strength, some have an adjustment to
increase the power of the closer. If you don't know closers, I
would not recommend this adjustment.

It sounds as if you might need to let the door swing faster and
reduce the latch slowing speed. With the appropriate Allen wrench
turn one of the Allens one full turn -it should be quite obvious
which adjustment you are modifying.

You may get some good information he
http://www.lcnclosers.com/pdfs/tech_consid.pdf
scroll about 1/2 way down to the section titled proper door
control.

I agree that there are times when replacement may be the best
solution, but would point out the original LCN closers installed
in the late 1800's are still working fine. If you are buying new
closers, I would recommend LCN. We had hundreds of Yale pot
closers that only lasted 50 years.

(top posted for your convenience)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




"Charles Bishop" wrote in message
...
For some reason, I have trouble with the hydraulic door closers.
These are
the heavy duty ones used commercially, usually in apartment
buildings and
condos. When they no longer close the door the way they are
supposed to:
1)a somewhat rapid first closing, 2) a slower closing as the
door gets
near the jamb, then 3) with enough power to pull the door into
the jamb
and set the latch, I try adjusting them, but with less than 100%
success.

Mostly the closer no longer pulls the door into the jamb. I know
there are
adjustment screws on them though usually they aren't labeled and
since the
closer is old, and I didn't install it, no one has the
instructions handy.
Are there rough guidelines for adjusting these so the closer
works as it
did when it was new? When closers age, do they break and or leak
so that
the adjustments no longer work, or can I adjust the close rate
screws and
get them working again? After making an adjustment, I've tried
putting the
closer through sereral cycles to make sure, then if I need to,
try to
adjust again.

I'm going to try to google for instructions for the ones I'm
working on
now, but I'd appreciate some general guidelines.

charles