How to replace clothesline but keep posts?

bara3

I have an old line, the posts are 2156 apart inside, and 4cm wide.

Bolts are 17cm vertically apart.

About 12yo, it doesn't really open and close smoothly and even trying to oil it I can't get it to open and close well at all.

If we were to get something new in the same style, is it possible to keep the same posts and just change the top part? is there any type of standard?

this came with the house so I do not know what brand it is but it is a Mirvac project home.

When choosing a new one, how do I get one that lasts longer? I do remember old rotary ones lasting decades and moving smoothly.

Alternatively can they be installed directly into those aluminum posts you can see holding up the fence behind, save some space?

Is this a DIY or will I have to get someone in?

MitchellMc

Hi @bara3,

From your description and measurements, it sounds very similar to a Hills folding clothesline, although I couldn't say for certain that this is what you currently have.

Interestingly, the Hills installation guide specifies 2200mm between the mounting points at the centre of the posts. You've measured 2156mm between the inside faces of your 40mm posts. Adding 20mm for half the post width at each end gives us approximately 2196mm centre-to-centre, which is only around 4mm different from the Hills specification.

That's certainly close enough to suggest it could be compatible dimensionally, although I couldn't guarantee that the existing mounting holes and brackets would line up with a new Hills unit.

If you were purchasing a new Hills folding clothesline, I'd actually be inclined to replace the posts at the same time. They're already around 12 years old and showing rust. There's a good chance corrosion has also developed around the bolt holes and other concealed areas. It would be a shame to install a new clothesline only to find the existing posts deteriorating shortly afterwards.

The traditional Hills rotary clotheslines you're remembering used galvanised steel extensively, which certainly contributed to their reputation for longevity. Their current folding clotheslines and post kits use different construction and finishes, so they're not quite the same proposition as those older galvanised rotary units.

I wouldn't recommend attaching the clothesline directly to the fence posts without confirmation from the fence manufacturer that they're designed to carry those loads. A loaded clothesline can place considerable leverage on its mounting points, particularly in windy conditions.

Installing new clothesline posts is certainly achievable as a DIY project. It generally involves excavating the post holes, setting the posts accurately with concrete and then installing the clothesline once the concrete has adequately cured. If that sounds out of your comfort zone, then we do have a Clothesline Installation Service.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell