The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: Dans on October 19, 2015, 06:57:02 pm
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Hi all,
Feeling like an utter newbie and having no idea what things are called.
My gate to the field is great but appears to be missing two vital pieces. One is I think the pin the stops it from coming off of the hinges when opened and closed. I've tried searching for gate pin and just get utterly confused by all the results so I'm guessing I'm using the wrong term... Anyone work out what I am talking about?
It also appears to be missing the bolt that keeps it closed. Again I've tried searching for a farm gate bolt and come up with nothing so again think I'm using the wrong term. ??? Help! I think the previous people just had the gate for show.
I might need to go take photos in the morning... :-\
Dans
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I'd try 'farm gate hinge', although I think pintle hinge might be the technical term
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Dans,
have look at the screwfix site under gate fixings and see if you can see what you need or try your local farm supplies store if you have one. If all that fails phone a local fencing firm and ask them. The ones near me sell supplies. Yours may too.
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I would google gate hangings and fasteners but farmers supplies should have everything you need.
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I think we need a pic of type of hinge :-)
Just wondering if you mean a tee hinge which has a pin going thru it
or what seems to be called hook and band hinges
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Ok been to have a closer look at the gate to the road. Looks like for a gate pin they have just used a bit of wire from the fence so will do that.
I've taken a picture of the bolt. Sorry it took so long. Everything is delayed with a tiny person.
None of the bits on the screw fix site looked right :-\
Hoping someone can help me with the bolt name. :fc:
Dans
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Not sure what you mean about the bolt on the gate - what's wrong with it?
It's called a "field gate spring loaded bolt".
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gate spring bolt like this ? http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/iae-galvanised-spring-loaded-sliding-bolt-assembly;jsessionid=CB2E852BBF0063967BF5332DDB6B6A (http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/iae-galvanised-spring-loaded-sliding-bolt-assembly;jsessionid=CB2E852BBF0063967BF5332DDB6B6A)
is the hinge bolt drilled for a retaining pin ?nail ?
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Yes thank you! :excited:
There was nothing wrong with that bolt. There just wasn't one on our other gate to the field and I was struggling to find it online without knowing what to call it.
And yes there is a hole in the hinge for something to go through. They seem to have a loop through one on the front gate and a piece of wire through the other . I've attached a picture of what is on the good gate.
Dans
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Search 'bailer twine' - does both ;)
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a nail through the hinge would work, then bend it a bit.
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Believe it or not we don't actually have any baler twine yet. That's how shiny and new we are!
Nail option sounds good.
Now I just need to get my fencing sorted and get a trailer and then I will finally have sheep (once I find some to buy!)
Thanks guys
Dans
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baler twine is precious here as we only buy big bales. can u not chain your gate shut?
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The thing through the gate hinge is called a 'split pin'
Easily available in packs, come in various sizes- so be careful ordering online you might end up with one far too big or small; but as said a bent nail is just as effective.
A gate will normally hang there quite happily without them (as gravity is amazing stuff)...there are two purposes for fitting..
1. To stop theft...but I think it would only stop an honest thief !
2. Animals (im thinking of cattle but maybe others) can sometimes stick their heads between the bars of a gate and then lift it off.
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If security is not an issue, providing the hole on the post pivot is big enough, a quick solution would be to use a 'quick release' lynch pin - the type thats used on tractor attachment arms, you just push the pin through the hole and snap over the spring to secure the lynch pin in place. They come in at least 2 sizes of pin diameter, they are useful things to have a few spares to hand! ;) .
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On the lifting-off business, I prefer to reverse the top hinge so the pin points downwards. They can't lift it off then. Folk around here weld washers to the tops of the pins too in order to disuade the two-legged animals "lifting" the gate, although if the hangers are bolt-through rather than hammer-in then there's nothing to stop them going that route unless you want to glue the bolt and not have any possibility of adjusting it in future.
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On the lifting-off business, I prefer to reverse the top hinge so the pin points downwards. They can't lift it off then. Folk around here weld washers to the tops of the pins too in order to disuade the two-legged animals "lifting" the gate, although if the hangers are bolt-through rather than hammer-in then there's nothing to stop them going that route unless you want to glue the bolt and not have any possibility of adjusting it in future.
Centre punch to the thread to distort it