Gate Latch problem - ideas?

aliasojo

Just put a new gate latch on (I'll get round to filling the old screw holes soon btw ).

Problem is, the latch seems 'roomier' than the last one and the metal bar has room to move back and forward. Needless to say, it's annoying at nightime if there's a wind as this makes it rattle.

I can put an infill strip of wood down the post to act as a tighter 'stop' but if I do that, then the gate wont close as easily and people (postie :rolleyes:) will just swing it shut as usual but it wont latch properly iyswim. It also will mean the gate wont be flush with the post anymore as it would be pushed back a bit.

I tried putting an elastic band around the bar to dampen the sound but the rubber has interferred with the closing action....and now it just won't. Close I mean. :rolleyes:

Any ideas to stop it rattling?

Rikki

Have you thought of putting padding round the bar that clicks in? Both for sound proofing and increasing the size of the circumference of the bar. Some kind of rubber?

aliasojo

Rikki wrote: »

Have you thought of putting padding round the bar that clicks in? Both for sound proofing and increasing the size of the circumference of the bar. Some kind of rubber?

:rotfl:

You just glanced it my post now Rikki....didn't you? :D


Quote.....'I tried putting an elastic band around the bar to dampen the sound but the rubber has interferred with the closing action.....'

lagi

I think thats the way to go though, maybe elastic band is too much. How about insulating tape just 1 layer. Then build it up one layer at a time.

Or looking at the picture you could take off the mechanism end, either tap the opening smaller or put it in vice and carefully squeeze it tighter. If you have play in it in your hand it will be the same on the gate.

Rikki

aliasojo wrote: »

:rotfl:

You just glanced it my post now Rikki....didn't you? :D


Quote.....'I tried putting an elastic band around the bar to dampen the sound but the rubber has interferred with the closing action.....'

:whistle: Maybe. I'm sure I was looking at the latch though and not the post.


Have you though about buy a slide through bolt instead............feelings have been hurt now. :sad:

Slide something through the hole near the latch. Is the bolt on the gate or the post?

aliasojo

Off to try the tape.........

aliasojo

Rikki wrote: »

Have you though about buy a slide through bolt instead............feelings have been hurt now. :sad:

Slide something through the hole near the latch. Is the bolt on the gate or the post?

Aw dont be hurt Rikki.....I was only having a laugh.

I did think about a bolt but I thought I'd have even less chance of the gate getting closed with that tbh. The postie will just kinda swing the gate shut behind him, there's no way he'll stop to actually slide a bolt.

I have asked him nicely a few times to close the gate but he still does his own thing. :rolleyes:

I need something that will work without having to remember to 'do something' iyswim.

The tape has taken away the annoying metallic tinny sound but it still rattles as I could only get one 'wrap' round it. The problem is that it's only the front of the bar that needs something....there's not really room to put something all round the bar, it's close to the top of the latch as it is.

I can see me having to buy a replacement soon.

diable

I had the same problem and in the end just swapped the latch for a bolt as it wasn't really used that often.

aliasojo

andrew-b wrote: »

I'd remove the part that attaches to the gate, get an offcut of a thin piece of wood or similar to pack it out so that it fits more tightly before reattaching it -either cut the packing down so it's smaller than the metal part attached or cut it nice and square so that it's visible and paint. I attempted a similar thing to our gate the other day when i thought the bolt was too tight (turned out i didn't need the packing at all in the end and then i got stung on the back of the neck by a wasp whilst removing it - it wasnt my day!!).

Of course you could model it in sketchup first..lol!

Andy

Doh! Why didn't I think of that. :rolleyes: Makes perfect sense, will do that tomorrow and will jam a bit of wood in at bedtime tonight just as a temporary measure.

Maybe the wasp was karma for being a flipping big sketchup show off? :whistle::D

As ever....thank you.

chaddythebear

Fit a gate closer, i had the same problem and i fitted one of these
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/24521/Ironmongery/Gate-Fittings/Gate-Fittings/3272-Surface-Mounted-Door-Closer-Black

Saves falling out with the postie also.

Its great, hope this helps

aliasojo

chaddythebear wrote: »

Fit a gate closer, i had the same problem and i fitted one of these
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/24521/Ironmongery/Gate-Fittings/Gate-Fittings/3272-Surface-Mounted-Door-Closer-Black

Saves falling out with the postie also.

Its great, hope this helps

That's quite a neat looking thing, much less obtrusive than some of those chunky spring closers you see.

Does it close the gate quietly or with a huge bang? When it says adjustable...is that with regard to the force used/needed to close?