Introduction: How to Fix a Bent Pneumatic Screen Door Closer

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During one of the last storms, the wind caught my screen door as I was stepping outside. It immediately flung it all the way open and bent the automatic door closer in the process. Now, it refuses to close by itself. But with just a little bit of work, I was able to repair it and get it back to working.

I did this at TechShop Detroit.

Step 1: What You'll Need

You'll need the following tools:

Bench vise
Hammer
Vise grips
Philips screw driver

Step 2: Extend the Rod Fully

Clamp the end of the rod in bench vise. Pull the other end until it is all visible.

Using a set of vise grips, clamp the end to prevent it from retracting back into the shaft.

Step 3: Hammer Time

Now comes the fun part.

Using a hammer and your bench vise, continue hitting the bend in the rod until it straightens out. It won't take much. Keep rotating it and examining it to make sure it's straight from every angle.

Step 4: Adjust the Tension

There is a screw on the end of the shaft that can be used to adjust the tension that the door closes with.

Loosen the screw to make the door close faster. Tighten it to make it close slower. Play with it until the desired tension is achieved.

Re-install back on to your door and enjoy!