I have a small 3ft high picket style gate, the intended use for which is
to keep a small dog from escaping the garden. The problem is that people
(shared garden) keep leaving the gate open. I bought a standard gate
spring like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...17251&ts=21786

BUT... the thing is so strong that the gate catapults close if you let
the gate go while it is in the open position which will make the
fittings last about 25 minutes if I am lucky!

I have bought a 'door closer' from ebay to see if the spring in that is
any less grizzly but it seems to be just as bad (have not yet fitted it
as i would need to drill a BIG hole in the gate to accommodate it) The
closer is like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...12108&ts=22000

Short of modifying the door closer so that the spring is shorter, does
anyone here have any ideas other than 'shoot the dog' that would solve
the problem?

TIA

Gerry

"Cuprager" wrote in message
...
I have a small 3ft high picket style gate, the intended use for which is to
keep a small dog from escaping the garden. The problem is that people
(shared garden) keep leaving the gate open. I bought a standard gate spring
like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...17251&ts=21786

BUT... the thing is so strong that the gate catapults close if you let the
gate go while it is in the open position which will make the fittings last
about 25 minutes if I am lucky!

I have bought a 'door closer' from ebay to see if the spring in that is
any less grizzly but it seems to be just as bad (have not yet fitted it as
i would need to drill a BIG hole in the gate to accommodate it) The closer
is like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...12108&ts=22000

Short of modifying the door closer so that the spring is shorter, does
anyone here have any ideas other than 'shoot the dog' that would solve the
problem?

TIA

Gerry

Adding an Offset bottom hinge pin will create a great gravity hinge
But you'd need a welder to make you one to my design, and I am mostly
retired
See if you can work out the below:

PLAN
[ ] -----------Gate Post
l l
0 0 --------- 2 pins on a plate to gate post
U--U ---------- plate with 2 u shaped pin sized cut outs to gate
--------------frame of gate is aligned with this pin when in the gate
closed position
MBS

Cuprager wrote:
I have a small 3ft high picket style gate, the intended use for which
is to keep a small dog from escaping the garden. The problem is that
people (shared garden) keep leaving the gate open. I bought a
standard gate spring like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...17251&ts=21786

BUT... the thing is so strong that the gate catapults close if you let
the gate go while it is in the open position which will make the
fittings last about 25 minutes if I am lucky!

I have bought a 'door closer' from ebay to see if the spring in that
is any less grizzly but it seems to be just as bad (have not yet
fitted it as i would need to drill a BIG hole in the gate to
accommodate it) The closer is like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...12108&ts=22000

Short of modifying the door closer so that the spring is shorter, does
anyone here have any ideas other than 'shoot the dog' that would solve
the problem?

Can you modify the gate post so that the gate operates more like a
swing-door?

"Cuprager" wrote:
I have a small 3ft high picket style gate, the intended use for which is to
keep a small dog from escaping the garden. The problem is that people
(shared garden) keep leaving the gate open. I bought a standard gate spring
like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...17251&ts=21786

BUT... the thing is so strong that the gate catapults close if you let the
gate go while it is in the open position which will make the fittings last
about 25 minutes if I am lucky!

I have bought a 'door closer' from ebay to see if the spring in that is
any less grizzly but it seems to be just as bad (have not yet fitted it as
i would need to drill a BIG hole in the gate to accommodate it) The closer
is like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...12108&ts=22000

Short of modifying the door closer so that the spring is shorter, does
anyone here have any ideas other than 'shoot the dog' that would solve the
problem?

TIA

Gerry

The problem with
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...17251&ts=21786 is that the
tension is not adjustable.

Whereas http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Main/P...roductID=29359 can
be adjusted to suit the weight of the gate or door.

You need to specify an adjustable self-closing gate spring/closer.

The message
from "Phil Anthropist" contains these words:

The problem with
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...17251&ts=21786 is that the
tension is not adjustable.

Must be unlike all the gate springs I've ever fitted them. Usually one
end has a sort of capstan which you can work round with a pair of
screwdrivers until it's at the tension you want, then you push in the
supplied rivet.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Guy King wrote:
The message
from "Phil Anthropist" contains these words:

The problem with
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...17251&ts=21786 is that the
tension is not adjustable.

Must be unlike all the gate springs I've ever fitted them. Usually one
end has a sort of capstan which you can work round with a pair of
screwdrivers until it's at the tension you want, then you push in the
supplied rivet.

This is exactly how it worked... No tension setting seemed to be
correct. I even double checked on t'internet to make sure i was fitting
the thing correctly.

Cuprager wrote:
I have a small 3ft high picket style gate, the intended use for which is
to keep a small dog from escaping the garden. The problem is that people
(shared garden) keep leaving the gate open. I bought a standard gate
spring like:-

snippage
Gerry

Rising hinges?

Phil wrote:
Cuprager wrote:
I have a small 3ft high picket style gate, the intended use for which is
to keep a small dog from escaping the garden. The problem is that people
(shared garden) keep leaving the gate open. I bought a standard gate
spring like:-

snippage
Gerry

Rising hinges?

Good idea, if i had thought of that before purchasing gate hinges then
that would have been great!

Cuprager wrote:
I have a small 3ft high picket style gate, the intended use for which is
to keep a small dog from escaping the garden. The problem is that people
(shared garden) keep leaving the gate open. I bought a standard gate
spring like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...17251&ts=21786

BUT... the thing is so strong that the gate catapults close if you let
the gate go while it is in the open position which will make the
fittings last about 25 minutes if I am lucky!

I have bought a 'door closer' from ebay to see if the spring in that is
any less grizzly but it seems to be just as bad (have not yet fitted it
as i would need to drill a BIG hole in the gate to accommodate it) The
closer is like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...12108&ts=22000

Short of modifying the door closer so that the spring is shorter, does
anyone here have any ideas other than 'shoot the dog' that would solve
the problem?

TIA

Gerry

Piece of string, threaded through a weight, attached to the gate and
the gate post. Opening the gate increases the distance between the
fixings and lifts the weight, the weight pulls the gate close. Choose
the weight which gives the right effect.

A

The message om
from contains these words:

Piece of string, threaded through a weight, attached to the gate and
the gate post. Opening the gate increases the distance between the
fixings and lifts the weight, the weight pulls the gate close. Choose
the weight which gives the right effect.

Similar to how my back gate is done except it lifts a block of wood via
a pulley.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

wrote:
Cuprager wrote:
I have a small 3ft high picket style gate, the intended use for which is
to keep a small dog from escaping the garden. The problem is that people
(shared garden) keep leaving the gate open. I bought a standard gate
spring like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...17251&ts=21786

BUT... the thing is so strong that the gate catapults close if you let
the gate go while it is in the open position which will make the
fittings last about 25 minutes if I am lucky!

I have bought a 'door closer' from ebay to see if the spring in that is
any less grizzly but it seems to be just as bad (have not yet fitted it
as i would need to drill a BIG hole in the gate to accommodate it) The
closer is like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...12108&ts=22000

Short of modifying the door closer so that the spring is shorter, does
anyone here have any ideas other than 'shoot the dog' that would solve
the problem?

TIA

Gerry

Piece of string, threaded through a weight, attached to the gate and
the gate post. Opening the gate increases the distance between the
fixings and lifts the weight, the weight pulls the gate close. Choose
the weight which gives the right effect.

A

NICE !!! This weekends project then!

The message
from Cuprager contains these words:

BUT... the thing is so strong that the gate catapults close if you let
the gate go while it is in the open position which will make the
fittings last about 25 minutes if I am lucky!

Even when adjusted to its least twangy twanginess?

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Guy King wrote:
The message
from Cuprager contains these words:

BUT... the thing is so strong that the gate catapults close if you let
the gate go while it is in the open position which will make the
fittings last about 25 minutes if I am lucky!

Even when adjusted to its least twangy twanginess?

Yes, the gate comes round like a bloody thunderbolt when let go at its
most open point!

The message
from Cuprager contains these words:

Even when adjusted to its least twangy twanginess?

Yes, the gate comes round like a bloody thunderbolt when let go at its
most open point!

Yeah, I had that trouble. That's why mine's done wtih pulleys now.

http://www.skipweasel.pwp.blueyonder...mages/gate.jpg

The friction in the rope keeps the closing speed low while the weight
ensures there's enough oomph to close the latch.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Guy King wrote:
The message
from Cuprager contains these words:

Even when adjusted to its least twangy twanginess?

Yes, the gate comes round like a bloody thunderbolt when let go at its
most open point!

Yeah, I had that trouble. That's why mine's done wtih pulleys now.

http://www.skipweasel.pwp.blueyonder...mages/gate.jpg

The friction in the rope keeps the closing speed low while the weight
ensures there's enough oomph to close the latch.

I like it, will have a go at the weekend!

In message , Guy King
writes
The message
from Cuprager contains these words:

Even when adjusted to its least twangy twanginess?

Yes, the gate comes round like a bloody thunderbolt when let go at its
most open point!

Yeah, I had that trouble. That's why mine's done wtih pulleys now.

http://www.skipweasel.pwp.blueyonder...mages/gate.jpg

The friction in the rope keeps the closing speed low while the weight
ensures there's enough oomph to close the latch.

Read with interest!

I have a problem with fitting *self closers* to 4'6" bridle way gates.
These are hung using agricultural swivels which are central to the
upright posts and leave a gap of 5" or so.

I tried using the springs supplied by Highways and found they bent and
got trapped. I then made up some weighted chains and discovered that,
having to attach both the fairlead and the chain end to the uprights
meant the gate would not self close beyond about 45 degrees as there was
no leverage once the chain moved beyond the hinge centre line.

An outrigger would help but annoy access users as it would project into
the opening.

Has anyone come across a commercial door closer which might withstand an
exposed site and be affordable? I need something which would allow the
gate to open a bit beyond 90 degrees and provide enough push to close
and re-latch.

regards


--
Tim Lamb

The message
from Tim Lamb contains these words:

Has anyone come across a commercial door closer which might withstand an
exposed site and be affordable? I need something which would allow the
gate to open a bit beyond 90 degrees and provide enough push to close
and re-latch.

The best I've seen are the double-jaw bottom pintle sort of closer. The
gate and post are made as usual, as is the top hinge. The lower hinge
however is a sort of double-jawed thing with a double pintle on the
lower gate spot. As you open it the gate swings out at the bottom more
than at the top so it's now leaning slightly. When you let go they swing
shut well and have enough oomph to operate the latch. Dead common round
here.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Cuprager wrote:
I have a small 3ft high picket style gate, the intended use for which is
to keep a small dog from escaping the garden. The problem is that people
(shared garden) keep leaving the gate open. I bought a standard gate
spring like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...17251&ts=21786

BUT... the thing is so strong that the gate catapults close if you let
the gate go while it is in the open position which will make the
fittings last about 25 minutes if I am lucky!

I have bought a 'door closer' from ebay to see if the spring in that is
any less grizzly but it seems to be just as bad (have not yet fitted it
as i would need to drill a BIG hole in the gate to accommodate it) The
closer is like:-

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...12108&ts=22000

Short of modifying the door closer so that the spring is shorter, does
anyone here have any ideas other than 'shoot the dog' that would solve
the problem?

TIA

Gerry
In the end I modified the door closer by taking about 6x coils off the
spring. The gate now closes nice and gently!

Cheers

Gerry