How to make gate bat hinges adjustable?

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AnyOl'Joe

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:57 am

Guest

Here's the problem. I made a metal fence with a gate out of square tubing 2
years ago. During that time I've had to reposition the gate latch 3-4 times
from some sort of fence/earth movement, possibly tree roots. I'm not sure if
I should try to remove tree roots near the posts or attempt to make the
hinges adjustable or attempt to make the latch adjustable?

The hinges are of a simple weld-on design, (bat wing hinge) a stamped U
shape with hole, the other side has short rod that fits into mating hole. I
can't see a good way to make it adjustable without it twisting under side
pressure and the gate falling off. I thought about using the similar chain
link fence hinge (J Bolt) that is threaded but it seems that would twist
enough to let the gate loose in this application. (similar hinge:
http://www.hooverfence.com/catalog/cpage42.htm)

Thanks for any ideas.

Max

Guy Morin

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 3:23 am

Guest

One possibility is to use spherical bearing rod ends that thread into
the gate.
For the post, you build a support that allows the ball of the rod end to
be affixed via a bolt.

To vary the height of the latch mechanism at the other end of the gate,
you simply adjust the top, or bottom rod end. This is done by removing
the top or bottom screw, giving the rod end as many half-turns as
needed.

If you do the math, taking into account the gate length, rod end spread,
screw lead, and the various angles, you will find what range you can
get. Usually, it's a couple of inches either way.

Use jam nuts to keep the rod ends from rotating.

Guy

AnyOl'Joe wrote:

Quote:

R. Zimmerman

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:21 am

Guest

I have used a home made "J" bolt arrangement as you suggest only I select
3/4 inch diameter ready rod ( all thread) or larger then weld a pin at 90
degrees to the end and select a short piece of pipe to suit for a loose fit.
Hopefully you have enough room to drill the post through with a large bit.
If you don't then you will have to drill some heavy tabs and weld the tabs
to the post.
The hinge pins cannot twist to release the gate if the short hinge pipes
are welded to the gate.
Randy

"AnyOl'Joe" <noemail@com.net> wrote in message
news:Qaish.12232$pQ3.10738@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...
Here's the problem. I made a metal fence with a gate out of square tubing 2
years ago. During that time I've had to reposition the gate latch 3-4 times
from some sort of fence/earth movement, possibly tree roots. I'm not sure if
I should try to remove tree roots near the posts or attempt to make the
hinges adjustable or attempt to make the latch adjustable?

Quote:

snip
Thanks for any ideas.

Max

Steve B

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:28 pm

Guest

"AnyOl'Joe" <noemail@com.net> wrote in message
news:Qaish.12232$pQ3.10738@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...

Quote:

Here's the problem. I made a metal fence with a gate out of square tubing
2 years ago. During that time I've had to reposition the gate latch 3-4
times from some sort of fence/earth movement, possibly tree roots. I'm not
sure if I should try to remove tree roots near the posts or attempt to
make the hinges adjustable or attempt to make the latch adjustable?

The hinges are of a simple weld-on design, (bat wing hinge) a stamped U
shape with hole, the other side has short rod that fits into mating hole.
I can't see a good way to make it adjustable without it twisting under
side pressure and the gate falling off. I thought about using the similar
chain link fence hinge (J Bolt) that is threaded but it seems that would
twist enough to let the gate loose in this application. (similar hinge:
http://www.hooverfence.com/catalog/cpage42.htm)

Thanks for any ideas.

Max

A few choices:

Cut off the hinges each time and weld on new ones, using different sized
spacers.

Get some of the adjustable bolts. I didn't like them when I saw them, but
they work okay, and you can add a second nut as a jam nut that helps them
stay put, or add a star washer. In some situations, they are the easiest
and best solution.

Make something yourself with your drill presses and lathe that will do the
job. Over the years, I have seen many interesting latches and hinges made
from hand.

Steve

Battleax

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:31 pm

Guest

"AnyOl'Joe" <noemail@com.net> wrote in message
news:Qaish.12232$pQ3.10738@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...

Quote:

Here's the problem. I made a metal fence with a gate out of square tubing
2 years ago. During that time I've had to reposition the gate latch 3-4
times from some sort of fence/earth movement, possibly tree roots. I'm not
sure if I should try to remove tree roots near the posts or attempt to
make the hinges adjustable or attempt to make the latch adjustable?

The hinges are of a simple weld-on design, (bat wing hinge) a stamped U
shape with hole, the other side has short rod that fits into mating hole.
I can't see a good way to make it adjustable without it twisting under
side pressure and the gate falling off. I thought about using the similar
chain link fence hinge (J Bolt) that is threaded but it seems that would
twist enough to let the gate loose in this application. (similar hinge:
http://www.hooverfence.com/catalog/cpage42.htm)

Thanks for any ideas.

Max

Ignore the hinges, design a latch that will accommodate the gate movement,

Guy Morin

Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:33 pm

Guest

Battleax wrote:

Quote:

"AnyOl'Joe" <noemail@com.net> wrote in message
news:Qaish.12232$pQ3.10738@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...
Here's the problem. I made a metal fence with a gate out of square tubing
2 years ago. During that time I've had to reposition the gate latch 3-4
times from some sort of fence/earth movement, possibly tree roots. I'm not
sure if I should try to remove tree roots near the posts or attempt to
make the hinges adjustable or attempt to make the latch adjustable?

The hinges are of a simple weld-on design, (bat wing hinge) a stamped U
shape with hole, the other side has short rod that fits into mating hole.
I can't see a good way to make it adjustable without it twisting under
side pressure and the gate falling off. I thought about using the similar
chain link fence hinge (J Bolt) that is threaded but it seems that would
twist enough to let the gate loose in this application. (similar hinge:
http://www.hooverfence.com/catalog/cpage42.htm)

Thanks for any ideas.

Max

Ignore the hinges, design a latch that will accommodate the gate movement,

This is an option, however, it is often less stressful on the posts to
not have this degree of freedom.

By having a latch that supports the weight of the gate when closed, post
creep is minimized.

It is also a good idea to have a (locking) support when the gate is open
to minimize post loading in this configuration. It also prevents kids,
and adults, from putting their weight on the gate and swinging on it.

Unless there is substantial mass attached to the posts to support them,
e.g. wrough iron fence, large concrete foundation, counterweights,
boulders, or other heavy and large structures, post creep is inevitable.
Rain, thaw, thermal cycling will have negative impact on lightly
supported gates.

AnyOl'Joe

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:39 pm

Guest

Thanks for all the replies guys. I shouldn't have sweated this so much but
wanted to fix it once and for all. Finally finished it this week.

Although all of the ideas were doable, I ended up working on the latch
instead of the hinges. The hinges are on there so well that I didn't want to
mess with that design.

To adapt the latch to adjustable I made a U-bolt clamping design. I bent two
pieces of chain link tensioner flat bar into a U shape, drilled holes for
the bolt clamps. They are arranged horizontally onto the post spaced about
2-3 inches apart. In between the two clamping bars is a small piece of 1/16
inch plate to weld the latch to. It works very well thanks to you guys'
help. I still intend to remove the offending tree roots, mañana. Wink

Guest

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:53 am

On Feb 8, 10:39 am, "AnyOl'Joe" <noem...@com.net> wrote:

Quote:

Thanks for all the replies guys. I shouldn't have sweated this so much but
wanted to fix it once and for all. Finally finished it this week.

Although all of the ideas were doable, I ended up working on the latch
instead of thehinges. Thehingesare on there so well that I didn't want to
mess with that design.

To adapt the latch toadjustableI made a U-bolt clamping design. I bent two
pieces of chain link tensioner flat bar into a U shape, drilled holes for
the bolt clamps. They are arranged horizontally onto the post spaced about
2-3 inches apart. In between the two clamping bars is a small piece of 1/16
inch plate to weld the latch to. It works very well thanks to you guys'
help. I still intend to remove the offending tree roots, mañana. Wink

Northern Tool Industrial 1-Way Lockable Livestock Gate Latch

I did buy one of these, mounted on a chain link gate and it works
great. It's hard to see how it works from the photos. I'm
considering making my own version but the bar will be inside a tube.
I'll weld a nut to the tube so that I can adjust the length of the
bar. Both sides will be welded to angle iron for mounting on any gate
type.

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