How To Repair Door Closers

Blogging often involves many labor intense hours of writing and researching, especially if you are composing your own original works.

I try to acknowledge the source of my reference in most if not all articles written here.

This next post is actually by well respected Author and Locksmith Tom Rubenoff and the source of this article is from Hubpages.

Door Closers

This article is primarily about surface mounted door closers, but the ideas herein can be applied to other kinds of door closers as well.

Door closer adjustment is an art that requires knowledge, patience, and an ability to climb up and down a ladder several times, but with these attributes and the appropriate wrench, hex key or screwdriver, you can do it yourself.

Most of the adjustments are implemented through the opening or closing of hydraulic valves. When it comes to turning the screws that operate these valves, a little goes a long way. A turn of 5 degrees can significantly increase or decrease closing speed.

CAUTION: DO NOT COMPLETELY UNSCREW DOOR CLOSER HYDRAULIC ADJUSTMENT SCREWS OR YOU WILL RUIN THE CLOSER AND VOID THE WARRANTEE.

Also, hydraulic fluid will leak out of the closer and make a mess. This will make you unpopular.

A door closer is a mechanical device designed to close a door slowly, but firmly enough to latch. It accomplishes this by using spring tension modulated by hydraulic fluid. As the user opens the door, hydraulic fluid passes from one reservoir to another, and as the spring pushes the door closed again, the hydraulic fluid passes back to the previous reservoir through a series of valves that control the speed.

The illustration at right shows the effects of the common hydraulic adjustment controls available on most commercial grade door closers. Controls for swing speed and latching speed control how fast the door closes, and many closers also feature a hydraulic control for back check that controls the last few inches of the opening the door so as to prevent the door from being slammed into an adjacent wall.

• Swing speed adjustment controls how fast the door closes from fully open to within about 5 degrees of closed
• Latching speed adjustment controls how fast the door closes for those last few inches
• Back check adjustment controls the amount of resistance to opening the door past a selectable point

The illustration below shows the various hydraulic control valves. These might be located in many configurations, but you will usually see the back check control located somewhat away from the latch speed and swing speed controls.

There are also door closers equipped with an additonal valve for Delayed Action. Delayed action closers hold the door open for a longer period of time to allow persons with disabilities more time to get through the door.

Also notice the Spring Tension Adjustment in the illustration above. Spring tension controls the "size" of a closer. The term is misleading, because it does not actually have anything to do with the physical dimensions of the closer. Size is determined by the width of a door. "Sized" closers, that is, closers that have a factory pre-determined spring tension for a particular door width, have no spring tension adjustment. Many door closers today are "non-sized", indicating that spring tension can be field adjusted to fit the size of the door.

It is tempting to use the spring tension adjustment to solve problems, for example, in positive pressure situations where air flow is preventing the door from closing properly. However, the tighter you make the spring, the harder it will be to open the door. It is possible to tighten the spring tension to the point that some people will not be able to open the door.

Adjusting the Door Closer

To adjust the door closer, bring a step ladder tall enough so that you can easily reach the door closer from the second or third highest step. Climb the ladder and examine the closer. If you can't see adjustment screws, chances are the closer has a cover. Usually the cover is plastic, but it could also be metal. If you see no fasteners holding the cover on, that means the cover is held on by tension. Pull it off. If you do see fasteners, usually you can loosen, but not remove, the fasteners and the cover will slide off.

If you find that there is oil in the cover or oil on or leaking from the closer body, you can stop right now. You need a new door closer. If, however, it is not leaking, you can proceed.

Now that you have the cover off, you should be able to see the adjustment screws. If you are lucky, they will be marked on the closer body as to what they are or there will be a diagram inside the cover. If not, you may have to experiment a little to see which is which. Remember, when it comes to turning door closer adjustment screws, a little goes a long way. Start with no more than 1/8 of a turn. Turn the adjustment screw clockwise to slow the door closer down, counter-clockwise to speed it up. then get down off the ladder and observe the effect.

Open the door and watch it close. If it closes right the first time, check it 10 more times. If it closes correctly every time, you're done. If not, go back up the ladder and make another adjustment, etc., until the closer is doing what you want it to do. When it closes the way you want it to 10 times in a row, it will probably continue to do so.

Ideally a non-delayed action door closer will close and latch the door in 7 to 8 seconds.

Problems

If you expect a door closer to consistantly close the door, as a prerequisite the door must close properly. If there is a hinge problem, a warped door, or the door must swing uphill to close, a door closer will only go so far in solving the problem. Sometimes a door must be repaired before it will close and lock automatically with a door closer.

In vestibule conditions, where you have an exterior door, a small space, and then an interior door, the trapped air between the inside and outside door can be a factor. You may have to adjust both closers to get both to work correctly. Wherever air pressure is a factor, including negative or positive pressure situations, I have have gotten door closers to close and latch the door consistantly by adjusting them to a slow swing speed and a somewhat fast latch speed. The slow swing speed seems to give the air a chance to get out of the way and the fast latch speed gives it a very slight slam at the end to make sure it latches.

Trouble Shooting

• If oil is leaking from your door closer, throw it away and buy a new one.
• If your door closer is slamming the door and cannot be adjusted to do otherwise, either the fluid has leaked out or the valve seals are worn out. Either way, your best option is to replace it.
• If the closer stops closing the door before it's closed all the way, or actually spings back when you try to manually shut the door, the arm is probably installed on the shaft incorrectly. Download the instructions from the door closer manufacturer's web site and see if it is installed correctly.
• If the arm makes noise and bounces up and down while the door is in motion, tighten the fasteners that hold the arm to the closer, to the header, and at the knuckle that holds the two parts of the arm together.
• If the door closer has no spring tension and the spring tension adustment turns round and round with no effect, the spring is broken the door closer must be replaced.

More about Tom Rubenoff

Strikemaster II - Copycat Test

Came across a test of a copycat of the Strikemaster II product as videoed by an independent dealer. They set up their own conditions and proved the effectiveness of their duplicated version of this clearly superior product.

The product displayed here is NOT Strikemaster II but quite possibly an infringe of the patent. Nonetheless, it still reinforces the reason why products of this kind greatly enhance the physical protection characteristics of door jambs and frames.

I have personally installed numerous Strikemaster II units, many of them to door jambs that looked almost identical to the one destroyed here.

One of the great things about Strikemaster II, is that installation on your home after a similar break in, can effectively reduce your repair/replace bill by multiple hundreds of dollars. To accurately compare the difference in costs, call a local builder/contractor and inquire as to the cost to install a completely new door and frame.

The benefit that Strikemaster II provides, that this copycat product does not, is the 5 feet of laminated protection, making it substsantially harder to penetrate.

A new door and frame will not withstand a kick-in attack like the Strikemaster II will, so take that into consideration when you look to purchase your new door.
video removedCost for New door and frame =~$600.00 installed
Cost for Strikemaster II =~$165.00 installed

Cavity Sliders

Here is another product designed and manufactured by a brilliant New Zealand company called Cavity Sliders.

This lock has pure form and function. It uses a 3 pin tumbler cylinder, effectively allowing pocket doors or cavity sliding doors to be key lockable as well as having the hardware slide effectively into the cavity.

(source...)  Thanks to Cliff Forrester, general manager of J. Larsen & Co in Queensland Australia established 1917. Cliff Forrester is a veteran career locksmith who is considered an industry stalwart. His knowledge and expertise spans multiple generations and product lines. 

Pocket Door Locks With A Key - UPDATE

Many inquiries I receive are from people requesting hardware to effectively secure their sliding pocket doors. There are very few products in the USA that achieve this without considerable expense.

Luckily for us, a forward thinking company from Australia have already produced a competitively priced key locked pocket door lock that is simple to install and looks good too.

The Cowdroy P697 Cavity/Pocket Door Lock, is secured using a 5 wafer (disc) tumbler mechanism, providing a 100% bump proof lock.

Securing your pocket doors has never been so easy.

(source...) Thanks to Garry Aumann of Keyman Services, Gold Coast, Australia.

$105.00

Keyring Scale

Finally! Someone has done it. They created the perfect office accessory.

How often is it, that you are required to weigh a parcel or letter to determine the cost for postage/cartage (delivery)?

As a supplier of product across the country, I find it a constant challenge to accurately determine shipping costs.

Now with the Keyring Scale, the task of correctly determining weight just got so much easier and convenient.

Easy-to-use clip makes it simple to weigh small objects like letters, jewelry and coins. Backlit LCD displays weight in grams (g), ounces (oz) penny weights (dwt), or grains (gn). Capacity: 8oz x 0.005oz; 225 x 0.1g.

(source...)

2009 St Louis Award Winner

I am humbled again by my customers who nominated me to receive the 2009 St Louis Award.

"For the second consecutive year, I am pleased to announce that Master Key Systems America, LLC has been selected for the 2009 St. Louis Award in the Locksmiths & Keys category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

Nationwide, only 1 in 70 (1.4%) 2008 Award recipients qualified as 2009 Award Winners. I'm sure that your selection as a 2009 Award Winner is a reflection of the hard work of not only yourself, but of many people that have supported your business and contributed to the subsequent success of your organization. Congratulations on your selection to such an elite group of small businesses."

"The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community. 

Also, a copy of the press release publicizing the two-time selection of Master Key Systems America, LLC is posted on the USLBA website. USLBA hereby grants Master Key Systems America, LLC a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, distribute, and display this press release in any media formats and through any media channels."

Yelpie - Portable Safe

A novel new approach to securing your valuables remotely. You may be at the beach or on a picnic or simply out for a walk and require to store your keys or wallet or sunglasses or mp3 player from prying hands.

Enter the Yelpie - Portable Safe.

Manufacturers Description

Yelpie's advanced motion sensor alarm works to keep your valuables exactly where you left them, while being smart enough to know what's an accidental bump and what's an attempt to steal your belongings. 

If a thief attempts to move your Yelpie, a loud 90dB alarm goes off! 

The Yelpie is large enough to comfortably fit car and house keys, wallets, MP3 players, mobile phones, sunglasses or other small valuables - but even items too large to be placed inside the Yelpie can be left in public more securely by tying them to the Yelpie: if somebody tries to walk off with your surfboard, the Yelpie alarm will activate! 

Perfect for use at the beach, picnics, sporting events, training grounds, swimming pools, gym, school or work lockers, golf course, camping, motor homes, caravans, or when taking the kids for a play in the local park.

How It Works
 

1.	Put your belongings into Yelpie.
2.	Close and set the alarm.
3.	Alarm activates if disturbed for more than 2 seconds. Alarm will automatically cease if Yelpie is put down and left alone again.
4.	To deactivate the alarm and open the Yelpie portable safe, enter your personal code using the Yelpie's strong and weatherproof keypad. No keys to be lost!. (source...)

What Locks Cannot Be Bumped

Many searches lately seems to be from people who are concerned about Lock Bumping.

In the USA, there are many advertisers who try to portray their products as bump proof or bump resistant.

The truth be told, there are only two (2) 100% guaranteed bump proof locks available today in the USA. Bilock and Abloy.

The new Kwikset Smart Key system is considered almost completely bump proof too, however there are many published bypasses for these locks so be aware before relying on them to secure your homes.

Other locks that cannot be bumped include, all wafer/disc tumbler locks including automobile locks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, boat ignitions etc.

The bumping principle works on all pin tumbler locks that use pin stacks. A pin stack is found in standard pin tumbler mechanisms, like Yale, Schlage, Kwikset, Corbin Russwin, Titan, Defiant, Baldwin, Lockwood, Byrd, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock etc.