Gate hinge rant

[robbyr]

No matter how many times I reset and retighten this bottom hinge it twirls right back around again. Not a newbie to hanging a gate but dadgum this one will not cooperate. If I was a welder I would be inclined to weld the bottom piece. Out of ideas at this point.

 

[TnAndy]

Run a self drilling screw in on each side. Problem solved.

 

[MikeInEburg]

Get it right, then drive a screw into it.

 

[robbyr]

Run a self drilling screw in on each side. Problem solved.

I like it.

 

[Redbug]

I welded the gate hinge pieces to the gate itself. Top and bottom hinges. I had problems with people lifting the gate off the hinges.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Self tapping screws work but then the issue will be the gate frame material will wallow out and you will lose the screw if you’re lucky and or the frame will collapse if you’re not.

I would drill through the hinge bracket and gate frame and install a bolt and nut. Make sure everything is tight, original bolt and clamp, and the new bolt because if you don’t you will have a wallowing out issue.

The best answer is to have a welder change out the 16 gauge gate frame upright for one made with schedule forty pipe.

 

[drssg]

Is the gate supported on both ends when it’s closed? I’ve found that a block of wood or something underneath the non-hinge side when it’s closed helps relieve the twisting pressure on that bottom hinge over time.

 

[Zippo1]

No matter how many times I reset and retighten this bottom hinge it twirls right back around again. Not a newbie to hanging a gate but dadgum this one will not cooperate. If I was a welder I would be inclined to weld the bottom piece. Out of ideas at this point.

You could place some inner tube type rubber between the gate hinge and the gate pipe and tighten the hinge again onto the rubber.

 

[randy41]

do you mount the gate with the top hinge pointing down?

 

[oosik]

WoW!! That looks EXACTLY like my gate. Open pipe gate hanging on a greasy old railroad tie. Forget the self tapping screws. Pull that gate out and straighten out the hinge. Drill a hole completely thru the hinge and gate. Install and tighten a bolt and nylock nut or secure the nut with a second nut and Locktite.

Self tapping screws don't have the power to hold. They will loosen, drop out and you will be right back where you are now.

More than obvious - it was a weak weld to start with and over time it simply broke. My gate was a tad easier to instal. I could move the hinge up/down on the gate and didn't have to be so exact with the hinge bolt location.

View attachment 595486View attachment 595485

 

[oosik]

randy41 - I mounted mine with both hinges pointing up. No need to "lock" the gate into the gate post. The weight of the gate keeps it there. Mine has been there for over 38 years and the neighbors cows haven't been able to lift it off the hinges yet.

Lord knows - they have sure tried. My 80 acres is the only "non-grazed" property within twenty miles and in the late summer the knee-high green grass really attracts them. They will stand at the gate and "beller" like they are in real pain.


ROBBYR - when my gate is closed - it rests on a cinder block at the gate post on the other side. It does not "free hang". This takes all the hanging force off the gate hinges. No pics of that situation - too much snow on that side of the gate.

 

[TnAndy]

Self tapping screws don't have the power to hold. They will loosen, drop out and you will be right back where you are now.

Yeah....only had one that way 15 years now....I suppose another 15 or so, it will loosen and fall out.......

 

[turnkey4099]

I welded the gate hinge pieces to the gate itself. Top and bottom hinges. I had problems with people lifting the gate off the hinges.

I had a dog that got loose by doing that!. Fixed it by installing a lag screw jusst above the top hinge.

 

[turnkey4099]

randy41 - I mounted mine with both hinges pointing up. No need to "lock" the gate into the gate post. The weight of the gate keeps it there. Mine has been there for over 38 years and the neighbors cows haven't been able to lift it off the hinges yet.

Lord knows - they have sure tried. My 80 acres is the only "non-grazed" property within twenty miles and in the late summer the knee-high green grass really attracts them. They will stand at the gate and "beller" like they are in real pain.


ROBBYR - when my gate is closed - it rests on a cinder block at the gate post on the other side. It does not "free hang". This takes all the hanging force off the gate hinges. No pics of that situation - too much snow on that side of the gate.

I helped a neighbor get his herd back in. The cows did manage to lift the gate high enough

 

[TheMan419]

Horses will lift the gate off easily. All of ours have the top one pointing down.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Have quite a few gate makers in my neck of the woods. Some use a lower hinge without the flanges where the bolt goes through and weld it to the vertical pipe then rely on the adjustable top hinge for hanging the gate. Having horses, I too point the upper pin down.

 

[robbyr]

My yard gates I hung with both hinges facing up but I learned with the bull in the pasture the top hinge better face down. He did pick one up one time so I made sure to solve that problem. On a couple of gates I bolted a lawn mower wheel on unhinged end. Works great. Except when setting the last corner post I did not leave room for a wheel. Like the ideas about screw or bolt through bottom hinge.

 

[cqaigy2]

Have quite a few gate makers in my neck of the woods. Some use a lower hinge without the flanges where the bolt goes through and weld it to the vertical pipe then rely on the adjustable top hinge for hanging the gate. Having horses, I too point the upper pin down.

I've always hung bottom pin up and top one pointing down too. That's the way i learned it from my father. Also, on my gates, the socket side of the hing is a clamp arrangement around the gate pipe so it can be loosened or tightened so that it doesn't rotate around the pipe.

 

[oosik]

Soooo....... if it's going to be a big concern - - just turn the top pin down. I guess my neighbor's cows just aren't into lifting gates.

 

[robbyr]

Soooo....... if it's going to be a big concern - - just turn the top pin down. I guess my neighbor's cows just aren't into lifting gates.

The top pin is turned down. The issue is with the bottom swiveling no matter how much I tightened it.