Mystery old self closing door hinge
#1
09-21-12, 08:18 PM
Mystery old self closing door hinge
I am trying to adjust a self-closing door hinge, but I have no idea how to do it for this particular type and unfortunately it was painted over previously which has covered all markings. I was able to get the cap off the end but it is just a bolt sticking out of the top rather than a typical screw or allen wrench hole to tighten the inner spring. The house and door are very old so I'm guessing this particular style is no longer sold and I cannot find anything that matches online. Does anyone recognize what it is and/or know how to adjust it? Thanks
#2
09-21-12, 08:24 PM
Group Moderator
See those holes in the top perimeter? And the pin that is sticking out to the right side? That pin is what keeps the spring tension set at that certain position. Get yourself a little drill bit... 3/32" or so. Clean the paint out of those empty holes (such as the 2nd hole to the left of the set pin) and stick the chuck end of the drill bit into one of the empty holes and rotate it to the left, which will take the tension off that pin on the right side. You can then remove the pin and reinsert it into a new hole if you would like it to be one hole left, or one hole right of its current position.
Oh, and since this is your first post, welcome!
Oh, and since this is your first post, welcome!
#3
09-21-12, 08:36 PM
That top part with the pin sticking out of it should be a complete cylinder. Clean out the other pin holes so that you can fit the chuck end of the drill bit into each one, as X suggested.
To increase tension and have the door close faster, stick the drill bit in the hole next to the one with the pin in it. Turn the adjuster cylinder clockwise toward the door jamb until the next hole appears next to the door, and move the pin to that hole. To relax tension and have the door close slower or easier, stick the drill bit in the hole that's closer to the wall. Turn the cylinder clockwise until you can pull the pin out, move it to the empty hole between where it was and the drill bit, and let the cylinder turn counterclockwise until the pin stops it.
It ofter takes two of these hinges to be really effective. Cleaning the paint off of it might help too.
To increase tension and have the door close faster, stick the drill bit in the hole next to the one with the pin in it. Turn the adjuster cylinder clockwise toward the door jamb until the next hole appears next to the door, and move the pin to that hole. To relax tension and have the door close slower or easier, stick the drill bit in the hole that's closer to the wall. Turn the cylinder clockwise until you can pull the pin out, move it to the empty hole between where it was and the drill bit, and let the cylinder turn counterclockwise until the pin stops it.
It ofter takes two of these hinges to be really effective. Cleaning the paint off of it might help too.
#4
09-21-12, 09:26 PM
Thanks to you both for the quick replies. I didn't want to force anything too hard initially without knowing exactly what to do but that did the trick once I broke the paint seal!
