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How do I get our self closing pool gate to close 1st time?

The self closing gate on our pool fence is 42 years old and I have now fitted a new bespoke torsion spring spring as the original ine broke.. The problem I have is that when it closes it bounces open a couple of times before it closes securely. It is fitted with a 'D' latch which I understand to comply with council regs should not allow the gate to bounce open at all.

The 'D' latch is branded ARC, of sturdy construction and is secured by 2 bolts to a vertical gal pipe which forms part of the pool fence. I imagine that this is probably a common problem for which hopefully there is a solution. The mounting holes in the latch are elongated to allow for adjustment. The mounting section of the 'D' latch is curved so that it can be bolted to the vertical (pipe) fence post. I am wondering if the problem is adjustment or wear. Can you help me sort this out?

Chris Parker,

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Comments

JacobZ

Hi @CP2,

Thank you for your question about getting your pool gate to close correctly the first time.

It sounds like the issue could be related to either the tension of the spring, the alignment of the latch or a combination of both.

If the spring is pulling the gate in too fast, causing it to bounce off the D latch before it can latch, it sounds like you may need to use a spring with less tension. This may be possible by reducing the length of the legs on the torsion spring to reduce the force it is exerting on the gate. Alternatively, making the gate heavier so the spring has to work harder could slow down the closing of the gate, but this may cause the spring to degrade prematurely. Otherwise, a weaker spring might be required.

The alignment of the latch may also be a factor. If the gate doesn't hit perfectly where it should, it can hinder the ability of the latch to fall into place. The pace of the gate closing is likely a factor in this, but shifting the alignment slightly could give results before taking further steps.

If you have some photos of the latch's alignment, I may be able to offer some direction.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

CP2

Jacob, thank you for the tips, they make sense. I will try and reduce the tension on the spring and if that doesn’t work try adjust the elevation slightly of the “D”. I think part of the problem is that the spring is not identical to the original one although it is very close in appearance but the strength of the spring might be different. I’ll let you know how I get on. Thanks Chris.

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