Q: 9ft 200 lb solid wood door. no brand on the closer. thing is swinging like it weighs 2 pounds. no idea who installed it. peters restaurant. trying to help, what advice. is it the closer itself needs replacing, or was it installed wrong. Photo is here :
View Image
A: The door closer you are showing has been installed and what is called a parallel arm fashion where the door closer body is mounted to the door and on the push side of the door.
It's called parallel arm installation because the main arm, the portion of the arm that is attached to the door closer body, is meant to be parallel to the face of the door when the doors in the closed position.
As you can see from the closed position the arm is not parallel to the door which would certainly account for the odd behavior that you are experiencing with the installation of the unit. Please navigate to page 11 here:
Download File
You will see how your main arm is not parallel as compared to the installation shown on page 11.
Please remedy the installation of the arm by making it so that it is parallel to the face of the door and then adjusting the balance of the installation to account for any other deviation.
Please report back to me and let me know if you have been able to mitigate this problem by correcting the positioning of the main arm itself.
Q: Attached is an ugly picture of a door closure which has been replaced a number of times. My intention if possible is to remove this closure, repair the trim work, and reinstall a heavy duty closure using perhaps a drop plate and parallel arm bracket. Thoughts
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In addition to what I mentioned, I would like the delayed action option. Finish can be sprayed aluminum
A: The truth of the matter is that is a heavy duty door closer but unfortunately it is installed incorrectly which would indeed shorten the units life expectancy. Having said that - the door closer in your image is certainly not the closer that I would personally use for a heavy-duty application. Without naming the manufacturer I have personally had bad luck but it comes to these closers operating robustly, predictably and reliably at a high use for high-volume application. As a result I do not choose to use that manufacturer's product.
My personal suggestion would be the following items:
1 - Door Closer 4041DEL x CUSH x 4040XP-18 x LHR x standard fasteners x Aluminum - LCN
The above line item would give you a heavy duty grade 1 door closer with an integrated delayed action, with a heavy duty parallel mount arm that will assist in stopping the door at the templated location and finally a drop plate that will permit you to mount the door closer body onto the door providing you have a minimum to in top rail dimension.
While the door closer is by no means inexpensive, it will solve the problem when it comes to the seeming treadmill that you are on when it comes to replacing door closers and in addition this door closer is also going to feature a 30-year warranty.
This door closer can be purchased at the link as seen here:
Click Here
The product data sheet for the door closer can be reviewed at the link as seen here:
Download File
This door closer will also allow you to remove that light-duty crash chain as well.
Q: Hi Rich, this is the detail of the door:
View .dwg File
all I know is that they make sure to have enough space for the Norton Closer to fit inside those Jambs.
You can send me the specs of the ones that you think it may fit or are close to it, I’ll make sure they work.
Thanks for your help again.
A: The Norton 7900 series overhead concealed door closer does indeed appear to be compatible and the manufacturers catalog can be reviewed here:
Download File
Except that Norton does specify a maximum door thickness of 2-1/4" but after speaking with technical services at Norton (assuming the degree of opening is 90°) the factory has no issue with your 2-3/4" thicker door. Be mindful the centerline of the track is the centerline of the door (in thickness) and that the door closer body is 1/4" offset towards push side per the machining template as seen here:
Download File
According to your cad file this appears to be of no concern.
Since you are using in concealed overhead door closer I might suggest that you consider swapping the hinges for pivots using the power transfer intermediate where required. Dorma has a full complement of offset pivots that would prove aesthetically pleasing over hinges.