Outdoor gate - how to remove/lift off?
Discussion
Hi all Ive got double metal gates in the drive.
These gates dont just lift off the hinge, the upper hinge pin points downward and the lower hinge pin points up. Upper hinge looks like this:
Lower hinge is just an upside down version of that.
so how would I get the gate off? "Just" undo the bolts fixing the hinge to the wall? Is that likely to end well?
Gate shown is the right hand one. The one on the left I think someone has climbed over in the past and the horizontal bit that connects to the hinge pin is now bent so it slopes upwards. This means I have to manually lift the gate in order to get the gate up far enough when opening it on the latch in the middle of the gates.
If I manage to get the gate off, could I hammer the bent bit connecting to the hinge pin, straight, to try and get the gate to open without having to manually lift it?
It would probably be easier to paint the gates with them off as well, could flip upside down to do the undersides of the whorly bits etc.
Thanks all.
These gates dont just lift off the hinge, the upper hinge pin points downward and the lower hinge pin points up. Upper hinge looks like this:
Lower hinge is just an upside down version of that.
so how would I get the gate off? "Just" undo the bolts fixing the hinge to the wall? Is that likely to end well?
Gate shown is the right hand one. The one on the left I think someone has climbed over in the past and the horizontal bit that connects to the hinge pin is now bent so it slopes upwards. This means I have to manually lift the gate in order to get the gate up far enough when opening it on the latch in the middle of the gates.
If I manage to get the gate off, could I hammer the bent bit connecting to the hinge pin, straight, to try and get the gate to open without having to manually lift it?
It would probably be easier to paint the gates with them off as well, could flip upside down to do the undersides of the whorly bits etc.
Thanks all.
CopperBolt said:
so how would I get the gate off? "Just" undo the bolts fixing the hinge to the wall? Is that likely to end well?
Take one of the hinges off and hope the bolts don't snap. If they get tight spray plusgas or similar on the exposed threads then screw back in.If they don't move at all it's a choice of grind the head off and drill it out / move the fixing point to the side, or leave it.
Pretty sure you could bend gate without removing with the right leverage.
This is a normal security measure to stop the gate simply being lifted off for access.
Looking at the fixings they are going through rough render and so unless deeply seated with good plugs it may result in damage to the render or if corroded they may well snap off.
If you've got a welder you could cut the horizontal piece from the backplate and then either lower and re-weld facing up or replace as is, if you leave facing up the norm is to run a bit of weld around the top of the pin to prevent removal but can be ground back off for maintenance.
Best of luck
Looking at the fixings they are going through rough render and so unless deeply seated with good plugs it may result in damage to the render or if corroded they may well snap off.
If you've got a welder you could cut the horizontal piece from the backplate and then either lower and re-weld facing up or replace as is, if you leave facing up the norm is to run a bit of weld around the top of the pin to prevent removal but can be ground back off for maintenance.
Best of luck
Can you not hammer the bent bit with the gate in situ?
I don't think for a minute those bolts will come out. They will most likely snap which will be a pain.
I would do everything possible to leave the hinges where they are!!
If you really insist on trying it, wire brush them clean and lather them in PlusGas or Ferrosol or similar the day before you have a go. Make sure you have a very good fitting spanner or socket. They may well be Imperial sized. Then tighten slightly before undoing. Alternatively grind the heads off, move them slightly and re-drill.
I don't think for a minute those bolts will come out. They will most likely snap which will be a pain.
I would do everything possible to leave the hinges where they are!!
If you really insist on trying it, wire brush them clean and lather them in PlusGas or Ferrosol or similar the day before you have a go. Make sure you have a very good fitting spanner or socket. They may well be Imperial sized. Then tighten slightly before undoing. Alternatively grind the heads off, move them slightly and re-drill.
Thanks all
Very tempted to leave them as is then.
Any suggestions on how to lever the bent one straight? I have rubber mallet could try whacking it with that but head probably to big to get at it.
Ill probably warn the neighbours first as its their house the "bent" gate is fitted to (and I suspect its them who climbed over in the first place bending it in the process)
Very tempted to leave them as is then.
Any suggestions on how to lever the bent one straight? I have rubber mallet could try whacking it with that but head probably to big to get at it.
Ill probably warn the neighbours first as its their house the "bent" gate is fitted to (and I suspect its them who climbed over in the first place bending it in the process)
InitialDave said:
Yes, they've been put together like that to stop someone just lifting them off the hinges, undoing the bolts is about the only nondestructive option.
It is possible the bolts are rusty and may snap when trying to remove them, which would be a pain.
Yes, standard fitting.It is possible the bolts are rusty and may snap when trying to remove them, which would be a pain.
Assuming they won't come out without snapping (they won't
), grind the heads off the bolts then you can remove the gate and hinge. You may then have enough bolt sticking out to get some mole grips on and unscrew. Unlikely but if you can, then drill out and fit new wall anchors. If you can't get the old bolts out, grind them flat and then I'd be looking at a couple of new hinges which have the holes wider apart so you make make new fixings. Likely to be a pain and you'll be there for ages if you faff about. Dominate the hinge.
Angle grinder to get the pins off, then new hinge pin for under a tenner> How tight are you?
https://www.diydirect.com/heavy-duty-gate-hinge-br...
or
https://www.screwfix.com/p/hardware-solutions-hook...
https://www.diydirect.com/heavy-duty-gate-hinge-br...
or
https://www.screwfix.com/p/hardware-solutions-hook...
shtu said:
I think I'd try to use a trolley or bottle jack to bend the gate back up, without undoing anything.
This I like. Edited by shtu on Thursday 23 March 10:40
I have no metal bars I can think that could be used as levers. Only issue with the jack method is I think its the top hinge of the two thats bent so jacking up the whole gete probably bend the bottom hinge wrongly or something. Need something to jam between jack and top hinge. I have an old fence post 3x3 somewhere, sawn to length may work...
ColinM50 said:
Angle grinder to get the pins off, then new hinge pin for under a tenner> How tight are you?
https://www.diydirect.com/heavy-duty-gate-hinge-br...
or
https://www.screwfix.com/p/hardware-solutions-hook...
Thing is the hinge bit isnt bent, its the bit from the metal gate to the hinge thats bent.https://www.diydirect.com/heavy-duty-gate-hinge-br...
or
https://www.screwfix.com/p/hardware-solutions-hook...
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