Hinges - Upside Down??

[TheScullster]

Hi all

Bit of a numpty Q here :(. Is there a right way up for hinges? I ask because this morning as I closed the dining room door I heard a sound like a small key dropping on the floor. I had no reason to think that a key had fallen from anywhere so re-opened the door to investigate. As the door swivelled on the top hinge it became clear that the pin had dropped out of the bottom hinge :(. This got me thinking that maybe there is a right-way-up for hinges to prevent this. Having used reasonable quality brass butt hinges I was not right chuffed to be fitting a replacement after only ~3 years (doors are mega-light panel type so no real load).

So, is there a correct orientation for these, or was I just unlucky with this one?

TIA

Phil

[Andy Burns]

The pins on my hinges all have a domed head at the top, there's no way they'd fall out by themselves though, it's enough of a job knocking them out when I want ot decorate the doors (but very handy all the same).

[Tim S]

Andy Burns coughed up some electrons that declared:

Mine walk out over time (walking upwards).

I can see this might have happened to the OP until finally the pin dropped out.

Cheers

Tim

[Andrew Gabriel]

Some hinges have pins which are intended to easily lift out. I bought some in Wickes not that long ago. Obviously, if you fit one upside down, it's going to fall out eventually.

[TheScullster]

"Andrew Gabriel" wrote

No these pins do not have a domed head or other feature at one end only. The pin is the length of the pivoting interlocking hinge body only IYSWIM. The pin that fell (or worked its way) out without warning was plain except for a flat notch close to one end. As the outside diameter of the pin did not appear to be any different at the notch, it is difficult to see how this notch should have retained it in place.

Just thought I might have missed something obvious wrt fitting these things.

Phil

[Slider]

No pins in my hinges,all ball bearings.

[Cash]

Phil,

These are probably loose-pin hinges that have been fitted upside down - simply turn them the correct way.

This type of hinge is very useful when you have restricted spaces and openings that cause problems with furniture removal etc and simply by tapping them out, the door can be easily removed and replaced when needed.

All my internal doors are fitted with these.

Cash

[Jules]

Ours are domed (domes maybe 3/4" dia, shafts 1/4") and all ancient enough that they've worn and would easily fall out if put on upside down.

As someone mentioned, even if your (non-domed) ones are the right way up, one of the pins may be prone to slowly walking itself out the top of the hinge over time, perhaps due to some form of slight hinge misalignment. Maybe try a little oil / grease as an easy test and see if that stops it from happening again.

I wonder if that notch is intended to help guide the pin into the hinge plates when it's first put in, rather than any kind of retaining device?

cheers

Jules

[Harry Bloomfield]

TheScullster submitted this idea :

We have several of this type. On the lighter doors it is obvious which way up the hinge has to be fitted, because the two ends are different and all of these were the right way round. On the heavier duty hinges there is no obvious top to the pin, they are the same at each end with the pin in place. Several of these have had the pin fall out and have needed to be turned up side down to make them stay put.