How to fix shower door hinge?

[mariuskoen]

We have a shower which is in very good condition.  Had it regrouted recently too but the screen/door doesn't fully close.  It swivels freely/smoothly on 2 hinges (top & bottom) as per photo but only until it gets to about 1cm from being fully shut.  I have tightened all screws, sprayed it with silicone spray, checked the alignment (all spot on & hasn't sagged), etc. 

Do you perhaps know what would cause it to be reluctant to close?  You can pull it all the way closed but it just pops open to about 1cm again.

 

[EricL]

Hello @mariuskoen 

It appears that your door is riveted to the hinges so we can eliminate the possibility of a tilted door. The next item to look at are the door seals, are any of them pressing against the body of the shower door frame? Perhaps one of the seals is getting pinched and is preventing the door from closing properly. If it is not the seals the only other thing that comes to mind is that the shower frame is ever so slightly out of square. I propose checking the alignment of the frame using a spirit level. You'll then be able to see which piece is leaning out.

The next question is can you adjust it manually? Before attempting any repairs, please be aware that working with glass panels is dangerous, a sudden hit with a tool or when too much force is applied can make the glass shatter and cause injury. Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves and goggles when handling glass panels. If there appears to be no adjustment screws on your shower frame, I propose engaging the services of a shower installer. They will have the knowledge and experience to adjust your shower frame so that your door closes properly.     

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[mariuskoen]

Hi @EricL 

I'll double check on the weekend but as far as I can see no seals or anything else is coming in the way.  I've been phoning & emailing shower companies for the last week.  They all just say it's not 1 of their hinges & they're not interested in looking at it.

Do you perhaps know what this type of hinge is called exactly and/or who might support it?

[JacobZ]

Hi @mariuskoen,

They're called pivot hinges, but I couldn't tell you a specific model or manufacturer.

My thoughts, looking at the photo, are that the inner door frame is sitting too tightly against the outer frame. I would expect to see more of a gap between the two pieces where I've indicated below. 

It seems likely to me that this is causing friction, and the rounded shape of the upper part of the hinge is what is causing it to sit open.

There will often be adjustment screws on the bottom hinge of these shower doors. My suggestion would be to loosen them off and see if you can drop the door down slightly, say 2-3mm, so that a gap appears in the top hinge. Once adjusted, retighten these screws and test.

Give this a try and let me know how you go.

Jacob

[mariuskoen]

Great thanks Jacob

We have a 2nd shower which looks exactly the same but operates perfectly.  I will check there.  I have sprayed the hinge before & it didn't make any difference.

[JacobZ]

Hi @mariuskoen,

Could you maybe take a couple of photos of each shower, specifically the hinges and gaps around the shower door, so we can compare them?

This might help to shed some light on what is going on.

Another thought that might be worth checking is whether the screws are ever so slightly misaligned. In some situations, you can get screws to line up just enough for the thread to engage, but if they are not perfectly aligned, there will be tension in that connection that could cause the door to pull in a direction it isn't supposed to. Relieving this tension by removing and then reinstalling the adjustment screws could be a simple answer to your problem.

If you do this, please take all necessary precautions, as when working around glass, there is always the possibility of it shattering. Make sure you wear gloves, long protective clothing, eye protection and enclosed footwear.

Jacob