Adjust a commercial door closer in an apartment complex

Posted by loninappleton on February 12, 2006, 7:07 pm

Not strictly a home repair question but I have nowhere else to go.
Where can I find an exploded diagram of how thse things work:
backswing,
speed of closure and so forth?
The closer here has one visible adjustment for speed in the end of the
cylinder.
Also at the end of the cylinder are 3 equal spaced indents which look
like
sockets for some custom tool.
I know how the screw works to adjust the speed.
1.) How is the back swing adjusted?
2.) Are there separate adjustments at each end of the cylinder? The
cylinder
has those 3 indents at both ends.
any leads to manuals pdfs on such devices would help.
I'm going to make a simple makeshift tool of a stick of wood and 3
screws from
a tracing of the end of the cylinder. But I still need to know what to
do with it.

Posted by DanG on February 12, 2006, 10:40 pm

First, you need to find out what brand and model closer you are
looking at.
One of the big names in closers is LCN. Their website is here:
http://www.lcnclosers.com/ I am not sure that the site has
instructions on setting the closer.
Another major player is Norton:
http://www.assaabloydss.com/library/installation_instructions/Norton/pdf/80%2D9323%2D0010%2D000%2Epdf
This .PDF file shows the adjusters. Swing and latch on one end,
back check on the other.
Almost all brands do something similar. The adjustments will be
Allen wrench recessed socket head screws. Not all closers have a
back check valve. They will all tend to have a swing speed and
latch speed adjustment. Some will have a power level adjustment,
which is what I suspect you are calling a speed adjustment.
All the closers I know of slow their motion by turning the
adjustment clockwise. One full turn is a huge adjustment, it will
usually be more like a 1/4 or 1/2 turn adjustment to fine tune a
feature, at least once it is in the ball park. Most are shipped
in the ball park.
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)
dgriff237@7cox.net
show/hide quoted text

Posted by Mark D on February 12, 2006, 11:30 pm

While I'm unsure of the brand you have, in many cases, those little
holes you note might contain recessed Allen Screws for adjustment.
Usually, one will adjust the ease of opening the door, another will
adjust the closing speed of the door for the large portion of it's
travel, and the other may be for adjusting the closing speed for the
last 12 inches of closure.
When adjusting, adjust one screw at a time, and make note of
approximately how much turning you do with each of these screws. Then
test the door by opening, noting its resistance upon opening, and noting
the speed of how the door now closes, If the door closure operation
becomes worse in any respect, return the recently adjusted screw back to
it's original state, and then try another.
With a little experimentation, you should be able to get it just the way
you want it to be.
Hope this helps, Mark

Posted by buffalobill on February 13, 2006, 6:39 am

use it to dial the apartment complex maintenance department. you may
get by with an adjustment or hours of monkeying with the thing after
it's due for replacement. i've been there. it probably has oil inside.
read on.
"Closers
Closers - hydraulic and pneumatic - control the closing of doors
and reduce shock to doors and hardware. Hydraulic closers, common in
commercial applications, contain an oil reservoir and cylinder with an
adjustable nut that controls flow of oil into the cylinder to adjust
the closing speed and the impact against the door frame when closing.
Pneumatic closers have an adjusting nut to control the air flow and
rate of closing.
Door closers are required on fire-rated doors so the door will close
after someone has passed through it. Most closers have a sweep and
latch adjustment. Sometimes, facilities need the door to close quickly
and then slow down right before closing to avoid slamming. Other
applications require the door to close slowly and then speed up at the
very end to ensure it actually latches.
Closers control a door throughout its opening and closing swing." so
says
http://www.facilitiesnet.com/ms/article.asp?id=1952
let a pro do it says:
http://www.homeenvy.com/db/4/544.html

Posted by Stormin Mormon on February 13, 2006, 9:11 am

I can't help you with an exploded diagram.
That said, I've adjusted a lot of door closers, and I can tell you how to do
it. But, you didn't ask.
--
Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
Not strictly a home repair question but I have nowhere else to go.
Where can I find an exploded diagram of how thse things work:
backswing,
speed of closure and so forth?
The closer here has one visible adjustment for speed in the end of the
cylinder.
Also at the end of the cylinder are 3 equal spaced indents which look
like
sockets for some custom tool.
I know how the screw works to adjust the speed.
1.) How is the back swing adjusted?
2.) Are there separate adjustments at each end of the cylinder? The
cylinder
has those 3 indents at both ends.
any leads to manuals pdfs on such devices would help.
I'm going to make a simple makeshift tool of a stick of wood and 3
screws from
a tracing of the end of the cylinder. But I still need to know what to
do with it.

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