How do I lubricate this spring loaded hinge?

Dear Neighbors I tried WD40 in all possible places, but the internal spring still makes a god-awful sound, like strangling a cat. I feel like I need to take this apart somehow… Anybody have experience with these things? Would appreciate any insight! Thanks

pacJ

in Doors 11 years and 6 months ago

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metalwork | 11 years and 3 months ago

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Those hinges sounds like its broken, have you try grease? if that don’t work it sounds like a job for core solutions.:)

Townie | 11 years and 6 months ago

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Greenmountain, can you recommend a brand for neo-angle 36″ shower base replacement? Current “plastic” one is severely stained by iron well water. Just changed the water treatment system and am looking for weekend DIY R and R base and glass shower stall enclosure. What do you think of no tile options out there like Swanstone?

Townie | 11 years and 6 months ago

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Everything greenmountain said is true. You can pick up a pair of new NYC fire code approved hinges for $40 or so at Greschler’s (sp?) . As for your hinges, it looks like the other circular screw on cap nut is missing from the bottom of the hinge. If this is so the threaded rod that runs the length of the hinges is floating around causing the noise. Try white lithium grease if you want to avoid any extra work, but if the hinge is defective it’s not going to work. HPD requires that the door self closes and latches completely…It’s a violation for the “landlord” if it doesn’t as well as a fire safety issue for everyone else in the building. If you are not familiar with those silver set pins be careful removing them as they can be under great spring pressure depending on how heavy your door is and how hard it closes. If you buy a new set of hinges the pin set tool is included.

greenmountain | 11 years and 6 months ago

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WD 40 is great for a lot of things, but will not last as a lubricant for hinges. It dissolves rust, and old grease, but it is a thin liquid and will drip before it evaporates. No matter. The sound bothering you may not be metal rubbing on metal, so it won’t go away with a more viscous lubricant, grease. Your noisy spring is inside a closed cylinder, so I don’t know how you would apply the grease anyway. If you can hear metal rubbing, not just the spring twisting and untwisting, your hinge might be broken or nearly so. There are two things you can do, but they are somewhat skillful and if not done carefully, you can injure yourself or damage something else, making matters far worse: You can adjust the tension in the spring by moving the pin in your picture to another hole. This requires a special tool (less malleable than a nail, but not too brittle) to hold the tension while you remove the pin and release the tension when you put the pin back. Or you can replace both hinges with new ones of the same design. Another thing to consider, has the thickness of many layers of paint altered the way the door closes? Have prior repairs to the hinges, lock, latch or strike pushed the door out of alignment? Removing some of the built-up paint, including lead, without causing further damage, is also tricky and potentially hazardous. If you rent, or are a shareholder in a coop, you may have a super who will help. Good luck.