DIY door closer repair

In detail: do-it-yourself door closer repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Do-it-yourself door closer repair is a necessary measure to extend the service life of the mechanism and maintain its operational characteristics. Of course, not all defects can be eliminated on their own, but some of the breakdowns are quite within the power of every real owner.

With improper or rather long-term operation, sooner or later you have to face the task of repairing a door closer with your own hands.

If the damage is serious, you will have to completely replace the product, which is quite a costly affair, so it is not worth delaying the repair.

In order to eliminate the breakdown and prevent it in the future, it is necessary to find out in advance the cause of the defect. The most common causes of problems with a door closer are:

Unfavorable weather conditions. These include rains, constant dampness, sudden changes in temperature, especially plastic boxes and metal open parts.
Sharp movement of the canvas. If the door is opened or closed by one's own efforts faster than it is suggested by the closer settings, this will inevitably lead to its breakdown.
Blocking door movement. This situation is relevant for those systems that do not imply a door opening delay of 90 degrees or more. If you put a stone under such a door, it will not close, but this will negatively affect the mechanism.
Closer overload. We are talking about the selection of an insufficiently powerful door closer for heavy doors, and overload can also occur if you hang on the canvas or ride on it, which children love to do so much.

Video (click to play).

Schematic design of a door closer

In winter, temperature changes can lead to breakdown of the main part of the door closer, which is responsible for the smooth movement of a heavy door. This is a body filled with an oil composition. Without this fluid, the mechanism will lose some of its properties and turn into the most ordinary spring, as a result - the door will be attracted more sharply and with a huge noise. To prevent the complete failure of the closer, it is necessary to repair it as early as possible, otherwise you will have to completely change the part.

How to fix an oil door closer? First of all, determine the specific location of the leak. Such a defect occurs when the box is depressurized, for example, when it is damaged. You can fix the problem with a simple sealant. However, keep in mind that such measures will only help to eliminate a defect of an insignificant size, if the crack is too large or at the time of the repair, quite a lot of oil liquid had time to leak out, further measures will have no effect. Then, in any case, you will have to change the door closer.

There are times when the oil was not initially refilled at the plant. In this case, refueling is required. You can fill the closer with synthetic engine oil or a cheaper option - shock absorbing fluid. Filling with oil is done through the holes of the adjusting screws after unscrewing them.

Ordinary engine oil is suitable for refueling the closer.

It is much easier to notice changes in the lever assembly, we are talking primarily about the barbell. This part is in the most conspicuous place, so from time to time you should pay attention to it and check the condition of the mechanism. If the slightest damage occurs, the lever should be repaired as soon as possible.

How to repair a damaged bar on a door closer:

If the part is covered with rust, this indicates that ordinary steel was used for its manufacture. In this case, it is necessary to carry out a cleaning from corrosion formations and treat the parts of the mechanism with a special protective grease.
If a break occurs, the defect can be repaired by applying a welding method. The seams must be cleaned to a perfectly flat surface.
Curves and bends can also be corrected by yourself. To do this, the part is leveled with a hammer, but there is a risk that the bar will burst from the load on it.
If the damage is too obvious and it is rather difficult to fix it, it is best to purchase a new part and replace the broken fragment.

In some cases, a complete replacement of the boom may be required.

When buying, pay attention to such characteristics as the size of the part, the method of its fastening and the shape of the landing part, they must correspond to the used closer model.

To maximize the lifespan of the door closer, care must be taken to maintain the serviceability of this mechanism. For this purpose, the condition of the main parts of the system should be regularly checked. If there is a problem of corrosion, rework the metal fragments regularly and lubricate them for smooth running.

You should also take care of adjusting the settings according to the parameters of the door. This concerns the setting of the movement speed, effort and catch. It is advisable to change these indicators every six months, since the weather conditions and temperature conditions largely affect the closer. This is the only way you can save it for the maximum period.

The door closer is a unique mechanism that helps in the operation of the door. Thanks to this device, it has become much easier to open and close the door. Unfortunately, like any mechanism, the closer can fail. There may be a lot of reasons for this. However, in any case, it is necessary to solve this problem. In this article, we will explain in detail, how to repair a door closer depending on its damage.

According to experts, it is not recommended to repair the device yourself. Since its design has certain features, and the slightest mistake can put the final end to the door closer. In addition, in some cases, it is easier and cheaper to buy a new device than trying to restore the old one. We will consider those breakdowns that can be eliminated on our own, without inviting professionals.

There are several of the most common breakdowns that all door closers are subject to. First of all, this is damage to the rod or guides. This is caused by improper operation of the closer, hitting the door or fixing the door leaf in the open position with the help of a placed stone, a mop, etc. A broken barbell is relatively easy to repair. All damage to this part of the closer can be divided into three main groups:

bending of the lever or its slight kink;
sticking of the lever;
breakage of fasteners.

If this is a normal kink, cracking, then in this case, problems, how to repair a door closer will not be. It is sufficient to use conventional welding. When bending the product, the closer should be disassembled and try to carefully align the bar. Not the fact that she will be able to return to its original form. Therefore, you can buy a new product that is sold in the appropriate stores. The cost of the rod is low and will ultimately cost much less than purchasing and installing a new door closer. Worn out mounts are also fairly easy to replace. You just need to purchase the appropriate screws and replace the old ones. You may need to use washers, but it all depends on the degree of wear of the mounts.

The second common cause of door closers breakdowns is the leakage of oil used inside the device through the oil seals. Most often, a special water-gilcol oil is used in the device body, which ensures a smooth movement of the door when opening and closing. It is also possible to use a specialized oil specially developed for door closers.

This problem often occurs during the cold season, when the air temperature drops significantly. So the question is how to repair a door closer when the oil is leaking out, they are set precisely in winter or late autumn. It is relevant for those who have just recently installed a device on the door. Experienced users know that oil leakage can have negative consequences for the entire machine. The closer will simply stop performing its functions, and the hinges will quickly loosen due to constantly slamming doors.

To get rid of this problem is quite simple - you just need to replace the case with oil. However, the case itself is not so easy to find, therefore it is much easier and wiser to immediately purchase a new closer.

Another common breakdown is associated with the work of a traffic controller. An increase in the viscosity of the liquid inside the housing leads to a malfunction. This problem can arise only after many years of using the closer (at least five years) and with a sharp drop in air temperature. The following is a detailed instruction, how to repair a door closer in case of problems with the traffic controller. This type of repair can be attributed to preventive work, which is recommended to be carried out twice a year - in spring and autumn, and not wait until the device is completely worn out.

To do this, you should perform a certain sequence of actions:

In the case when the door closing speed significantly increases or decreases, you just need to adjust one of the closer screws. The second screw is responsible for the closing speed (usually, the screws on the door closer body are numbered accordingly, and the instructions for the mechanism describe in detail which screw is responsible for what).
If you want to increase or decrease the movement of the door leaf until it enters the closing radius, use the first screw for this. It must be turned counterclockwise or clockwise, depending on the effect you want to achieve. The main rule is never to tighten the screw all the way. Initially, it is designed for only two turns, that is, the slightest turning it to one side will significantly affect the speed of movement of the canvas.
If you want to increase the speed of opening the door, turn the adjusting nut, which is responsible for the work of the spring.
If you think that the door is closing too quickly, you can increase the delay time for the movement of the door leaf before slamming. Fix the door leaf at a ninety-five degree angle and adjust the corresponding screw.

These are the basic principles how to repair a door closer, however, in some cases, preventive measures are not recommended to be carried out on their own. It is better to turn to professionals who know all the subtleties and peculiarities of door closers for help.

Preventive measures were given above, and now we will tell you in detail about how to repair a door closerif maintenance is needed. First of all, prepare the necessary set of tools:

Every man has such a simple set, and more complex tools are not needed for routine repairs.

Before, how to repair a door closer, carefully inspect its case, check the reliability of the fastening screws. If the latter are loose, tighten them up. In principle, this happens relatively often, especially if the door is actively used every day.

Next, carefully examine the door leaf, especially at the point of attachment of the closer and contact with the box. There should not be any dents or cracks in these sections of the canvas, since they lead to a distortion of the door, which negatively affects the functioning of the closer, which not only ceases to effectively perform the functions assigned to it, but can also fail quite quickly.

Now proceed to inspect the closer adjuster. How effectively it will close the door and help in opening it directly depends on its serviceability. Check if you are satisfied with the speed of movement of the door leaf, make sure that all the adjusting screws are in place, that they are not tightened to the stop. The absence of even one screw will cause oil to leak from the product body, and this will immediately lead to damage to the device and provoke corrosion. If only the slightest traces of corrosion are visible, the door closer can still be saved. To do this, it is necessary to remove it, completely disassemble and clean out the corrosive places, lubricate them well with oil. After such preventive maintenance, the closer will serve you for several more years. But if the corrosion has spread too much along the mechanism, it is better to buy a new device right away.

So as not to wonder how to repair a door closer, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules for its operation. For example, if you plan to periodically leave the door open to ventilate the room, you should purchase a closer with a hold-open function, which allows you to fix the canvas in the open position. If you put stones, mops under the door, put chairs or other objects, this will quickly lead to damage to the closer, since the mechanism will be under load all the time, trying to fulfill its responsibilities, that is, to close the door leaf.

The main thing to remember before how to repair a door closer on their own - after they decided to eliminate the malfunctions themselves, the company that installed the device and carries out its warranty service may refuse to provide subsequent service. Therefore, before starting the repair, make sure that you can do it. Otherwise, later it will be too late to seek help from specialists.

Also observe the rules for operating the door leaf and the device itself. This will significantly extend its service life and avoid the following problems:

wear of oil seals;
oil leaks;
wear of the piston and lever.

All of the above problems lead to a disruption in the movement of oil inside the closer housing. Before, how to repair a door closer, make sure you can return it to functionality and ability to work efficiently. Perhaps it is much easier to acquire a new mechanism than to try to reanimate a completely obsolete, both morally and physically, a closer.

Repair of the door closer may be necessary in case of damage to the mechanism The door closer is an autonomous mechanism that controls the smoothness of the door leaf closing. Modern closers allow doors to be closed absolutely silently and smoothly. Due to this, the service life of the door is increased, and the set temperature always remains in the room. Therefore, the door closer must always be in working order. How to repair a failed mechanism with your own hands - read the article.

A door closer is a device that allows large and heavy doors to close smoothly and quietly. The closer is often installed on the door of premises with very high traffic.

Thanks to the closer, the entrance and interior doors close tightly immediately after the leaf is released, which allows you to save heat or coolness inside the room.

In addition, door closers significantly extend the lifespan of door locking devices.The principle of operation of the mechanism is quite simple. The main working element of the device is a spring. When the door is opened, it is she who, contracting, accumulates energy, which returns the door to its original position. The oil damper allows the door to close smoothly and quietly.

The door closer allows large and heavy doors to close smoothly and quietly

Some closers have more than one shock absorber, but several, but this does not change the principle of operation.

The closer type determines the mechanism that actuates the working spring. So, closers with a gear drive and devices with a sliding rod are distinguished.

To quickly and efficiently repair a door closer, you need to find out how the mechanism works and how it works.

Any door closer consists of a link arm and a retarding mechanism, which is responsible for the smooth closing of the leaf.

The mechanism consists of a piston that compresses a powerful spring in a reservoir filled with oil. After being compressed by means of hydraulic channels, it slowly returns to its original position, providing a smooth closing. Force adjustment is carried out by special screws located on the end of the body. When they are tightened, the diameter of the hydraulic channels decreases, which slows down the flow of oil, and, consequently, the speed of closing the door.

Unfortunately, not all door closer faults can be repaired by hand: in most cases, the most important elements of the mechanism, such as the piston and the spring, fail.

In order to repair a door closer, you need to know how the mechanism works and works.

Often, the prices for such parts do not differ much from the cost of the door closer itself. Therefore, the purchase of a new device will be, in this case, more expedient and will save time and effort.

In addition to the above breakdowns, the following malfunctions may occur in the door closer:

Leakage of working fluid (oil).
Unbalance of the closer mountings.
Deformation of the traction levers.

You can easily eliminate such defects yourself, without significant financial costs.

There are several typical breakdowns of a kitchen unit spring door closer. The main problems include deformation or damage to guides, rods. This can be caused by damage to the door or excessive opening of the leaf after the door closer passes the dead center. A broken barbell is relatively easy to repair.

Damage to the door closer can be associated with:

By bending the lever in the opposite direction;
Lever sticking;
Broken fasteners.

If the lever is bent in the opposite direction, then you can fix the problem on your own. To do this, it will be enough to remove the cabinet doors from the hinges, disassemble the closer, and gently bend it in the other direction with your hands. Dismantling and repairing the closer will not take much time. If the lever cannot be restored to its original shape, with such a repair, it will be possible to replace the damaged element with a new one.

You can fix a broken door closer on the kitchen unit door yourself

The seizure of the closer levers is due to the absence or complete production of lubricant.

The defect can be corrected by using ordinary machine oil. A couple of drops will be enough to lubricate the mechanism, and the doors of your kitchen set will open and close again with ease.

Replacing worn out mountings is easy enough. In order to make a replacement, you need to purchase the appropriate screws, unscrew the old ones and install new fasteners in their place.

Temperature fluctuations can cause breakage of the oil-filled door closer body. Without liquid, the structure will lose its key properties and turn into a conventional spring mechanism.As a result, the opposite effect will be achieved: the door, when closed, will accelerate instead of slowing down, which will cause additional noise.

To prevent the final breakdown of the closer, it must be repaired immediately after the first signs of a leak, otherwise the device will have to be completely replaced.

In order to repair the door closer body, first of all, it is necessary to localize the place of leakage. Leakage can be caused by depressurization of the housing, for example, as a result of its damage. An ordinary sealant will help to fix the problem. However, it should be borne in mind that this method can eliminate a small hole.

Temperature fluctuations can cause breakage of the oil-filled door closer body.

If the hole in the housing is large or a large amount of oil has leaked out at the time of repair work, then, before sealing, it is imperative to top up the liquid.

That is, oil filling must be carried out before any work related to sealing. This procedure can ensure that the oil level is correct. In addition, it often happens that initially the required amount of oil is not added at the plant. Therefore, the closer often creaks. You can get rid of the sound by pouring the missing oil into the hydraulic reservoir. What kind of oil can I use?

The closer can be filled with ordinary engine oil or, more readily available shock absorber fluid.

The missing oil should be poured through the holes of the screws to adjust the smoothness of the closing of the web, having previously unscrewed them.

A door closer is an important mechanism that prevents rapid wear of the leaf due to mechanical damage and ensures a high level of noise insulation. Repair of the closer may be necessary in the event of a breakdown of the main working elements of the mechanism, depressurization of the oil reservoir, and the production of lubricant. You can cope with these problems on your own, taking into account the above recommendations!A door closer is a special mechanism designed to automatically close operational, fire-prevention, entrance and structures equipped with an access control system. Often its parts and connections wear out, fail. At the same time, the doors do not close, and they can also move too slowly or, conversely, quickly, with a knock or bang. When the breakdowns are small, specialists adjust the parameters of the device; in case of complex defects, they repair the door closer.Depending on the type, type of model of the door mechanism, its defect and breakdowns, repairs are carried out either independently, but at the same time they find out the cause of the malfunction, or call the master who installed the mechanism.Correct, efficient, trouble-free operation, which is a guarantee of the comfort and safety of people, is a property that shows what a closer should be. Competent initial installation, adjustment of device parameters, compliance with all operational requirements affect the quality of its work.

a working cylinder in a body filled with oil contains: a spring, a needle bearing, a gear train and a device that allows you to adjust the closer with your own hands;
two link arms and a connecting screw, it is this design that allows the door to close smoothly.

There is a spring inside the metal body, which allows accumulating the force that is applied when the sash is opened. Thanks to the oil that is located inside the body, it gradually straightens out, and does not come into sharp movement.

Spring-loaded door closer design

It is due to this spring that the entrance leaf moves smoothly. The movement of the door closer is regulated by two connected levers, where one is attached to the door, and the other to the device itself. They are connected to each other with a special screw.

A very common reason when a door closer needs to be repaired. In this case, the oily liquid that fills the working mechanism completely or partially flows out, which leads to the sharp operation of the spring and the corresponding slamming of the door.

Such a malfunction can occur during prolonged operation of the device without proper adjustment according to the instructions.

Door closer adjustment diagram

The design of the door closer includes small recesses where the adjusting screws are present; if they are torn off or incorrectly adjusted, oil liquid can flow through these holes.

If the speed of movement of the structure is too sharp or too slow, then you should pay attention to these parts, when oil flows out, characteristic oil spots will be visible on them.

Is it possible to repair door closers when oily fluid leaks out? If a small part of the device has left, then this is possible in the absence of liquid from the part of the closer, which is responsible for the smooth running, then repair is not advisable.

In this case, it will be much easier to purchase the same model of the closer, but without mounting levers, it will cost significantly less. With a slight leakage of liquid, it must be topped up in the required amount. For this, the structure is completely dismantled. Oil is poured through a special hole.

The second malfunction, which can also overtake door closers, is a malfunction or mechanical damage to the lever. With this reason for the breakdown of the closer, it will not be difficult to deduce the malfunction, since it will be visible visually. Most often, a breakdown occurs under the following circumstances:Door closing speed adjustment process

deformation changes in levers;

rust and corrosion of the metal surface of the rods;

fracture or complete fracture of the lever;

partial seizure of the mechanism associated with the fastening screw.

These breakdowns of the closer can be visually identified during the initial inspection of the mechanism. As a rule, the part is in a conspicuous place, and it will not be difficult to identify the cause of the appearance.The device and design of the closer mechanismIn this case, you can use the following troubleshooting options:

If corrosion appears, remove the mechanism and thoroughly clean its surface from rust. After that, it should be covered with primer and paint, and then the structure should be returned to its original place. As a rule, after such actions, the closer will work like new.

A fracture or fracture of the levers is eliminated by welding or replacing these mechanisms with similar ones.

If the cause of the malfunction lies in the fastening screw, then it should be unscrewed and thoroughly lubricated with grease the entire working surface, after which the screw is placed in its original place.

If the levers are deformed or changed, they should be removed and carefully straightened to a level state. If this is not possible, then the parts will have to be replaced with analogues.

It is worth noting that negligent use of the mechanism leads to a breakdown or other malfunction of the levers. To avoid this in the future, you should be careful with the mechanism and the doorway as a whole.

As with any mechanism, the careful operation of the door closer and the spring, which ensures smooth movement, should be operated with some precautions, namely:

when closing the sash, you should not help the closer, carry out the vestibule;

The principle of the door closer

The video tells about the operation of the door closer in the winter.

Many modern openings are equipped with a mechanism such as a door closer. But, like any device, it can break down periodically.This can happen due to improper or long-term operation, possible defects in the manufacture of the mechanism. Therefore, it is better to find out in advance how to repair a door closer with your own hands of different designs, which is what the article suggests. Such equipment is designed to automatically close the door.In addition, this design increases the service life of door handles and hinges - they wear out less.When using a damper in the closer, which is endowed with the functions of damping and braking, it is more convenient for a person to freely pass and carry loads through doorways.

The door can be locked in the open position;

A sliding effect appears, when the door is closed, it slows down smoothly;

The door leaf "latching" is adjusted until it fits snugly against the doorway.

Advice: When purchasing a closer, you should pay attention to the likelihood of restoring and repairing the mechanism in the event of a malfunction with your own hands.To eliminate the breakdown for a long time, it is necessary to determine in advance the cause of the defect.The causes of malfunctions in door closers are most often:

Unfavorable weather conditions. These are rains, constant dampness, temperature drops, which most of all concerns plastic boxes and metal open elements;

Sharp movement of the door leaf... If the instructions for opening or closing it are not followed, this is done faster than setting the closer implies, the mechanism will inevitably break down.

Blocking door movement... This situation often occurs in those systems where the door leaf opening delay is not expected to be more than 90º. If a stone is placed under such a door, it will not close, and this will negatively affect the mechanism.

Closer overload. This can happen when choosing a device of insufficient power for heavy doors. Overloading can occur if you hang on or ride on a door, which children especially love to do.

Before you repair a door closer, you should get acquainted with its design features, on what principle it works (see Door closer: design options and requirements for them).Inside the device there can be a mechanism of the following design:

Spring loaded. It lacks control of door opening and closing;

Gear... Provides soft movement of the door leaf when closing;

Eccentric... A figured cam is used, which allows the mechanism to be set with any torque parameters.

The rotation of the door leaf can be transmitted in several ways:

With hinges or levers. Such a device is quite durable, and if it breaks down, you can repair it yourself.

Through the sliding channel. In this case, the voltage is transmitted by sliding - the lever moves with a free ring along the sliding channel. Opening a door with such a mechanism is more difficult, it takes a lot of effort. Cam technology eliminates this disadvantage.

Built-in mechanism in the floor.

After purchasing the mechanism, the question immediately arises, how to set up a door closer? The video will tell you the whole process with all the nuances. But it should be borne in mind that not all breakdowns can be repaired, material costs must also be taken into account, sometimes repairing a door closer will cost more than purchasing a new one.

If the door closer does not work due to the deformation of the rod, such a defect in the lever assembly is much easier to notice. The part is located in a conspicuous place.

Tip: In order to timely notice such a defect, it is necessary to periodically check the condition of the mechanism. If the slightest damage occurs, the lever must be repaired quickly.

Repair instructions for a damaged rod on a door closer and the reasons for the appearance of a defect are shown in the table:

Tip: If you find too much damage that is difficult to repair, you should purchase a new spare part, as shown in the photo, and completely replace the broken part.

When purchasing a new element, you need to pay attention to its dimensions, the method of attachment and the shape of the landing part, so that they correspond to the specific model of the closer. How to properly replace the barbell is shown in detail in the video in this article.

If during operation there are no special deviations requiring urgent repair, it is necessary to control the change in the characteristics of the mechanism, to carry out their adjustment.

These changes may be related to:

With a change in speed;
Deterioration in ride quality;
With the lack of tightness of the door leaf adhesion to the opening.

Such deviations occur due to the difference in temperature inside and outside the room. To eliminate them, you must:

When closing the doors slowly or quickly, you need to turn the control valve clockwise or counterclockwise, which depends on the need to accelerate or slow down the movement of the door leaf;
Adjustment of the speed of adhesion of the web to the opening must be carried out by turning the second valve of the mechanism;
To hold the door when closing it, you need to leave the door open in the 90º position and increase the lock tightening, but no more than 2 turns from the initial position.

To maximize the service life of your door closer, you need to keep it in good condition at all times.

To do this, you should regularly monitor the condition of the main parts of the system:

Carry out regular treatment of all metal parts with compounds that prevent the formation of corrosion, lubricate them for smooth running.
Adjust the settings according to the door parameters. It is recommended to change these indicators every six months.
Use the device correctly.

Video (click to play).

It is not worth buying a new mechanism because of the slightest malfunction in the operation of the mechanism. It is necessary to carefully inspect the equipment and decide how to fix the door closer. This may only require a screwdriver and your efforts.