Hinge Question

[RNajarian]

Does anyone know of a specialty hinge that from 90 degrees will not fold back completely and fold back to allow a 1/2 gap.

I’ve got a golf cart with a tailgate. I would like it to fold it in but create a 1/2 inch gap between the tailgate and the bed of the golf cart.

If you look at the photo, I want the tailgate to fold in so the two diamond plates are parallel to each other with 1/2 inch separation. The cushion you see gets removed placed on top of the tailgate and creates more passenger seating.

Is there such a hinge that will create that gap?

[Zeke]

IDT that would be the function of the hinge as much as the mounting. I don't completely see the needed geometry there, so kinda hard to answer. There are also hinges that allow a passage door in a house open to clear the jamb allowing for wider egress. For example a 30" door does not open to reveal 30" unless it can swing 180º. But with the offset hinge you get all the 30" after only a 90º swing.

That's likely not exactly what you need. W/o knowing more, I think mounting the hinge with spacers between the hinge and the tailgate might do the trick.

Show me more detail.

[Zeke]

Also look at Blum Euro hinges. The catalog is huge and all the applications are drawn out in detail.

[RNajarian]

I think the name is swing clear hinge. That may be the trick. The tail gate has bolts on the inside that won’t let it lay flat, so I need to lift it a bit so it will lay flat in the bed of the cart.

[flipper35]

Can you offset the hinge and put bumpers on the other end (top) to keep it level when folded inside?

[rusnak]

If it is swinging into the cart, and not downward and out, then the door will have to be narrower than the body, leaving an unsightly and slightly dangerous gap around the outside of the door/gate.

[Zeke]

Now that I understand the application that is easy to do with a little compromise.



Use these. Put the angle of the left under the existing platform, perhaps right where the existing hinge is located now. Bend the other leaf flat and bolt to the outside of the gate. When it folds 90º you will have the distance between the leaves less the thickness of both floors.

Another style of offset hinge:



Or, if these will allow you to flip the center leaf: (they should)

[RNajarian]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Can you offset the hinge and put bumpers on the other end (top) to keep it level when folded inside?

Yes I can.

Originally Posted by rusnak

If it is swinging into the cart, and not downward and out, then the door will have to be narrower than the body, leaving an unsightly and slightly dangerous gap around the outside of the door/gate.

It already can swing into the cart.

It has room to swing out (downward and out) but not in its current configuration. The tail gate needs to move back about 1/2 an inch to clear the rear of the cart.

I’ll take better photos next time I go to our other place.

[RNajarian]

If anyone is interested I may have found a solution.

Due to hardware on the inside of the Tail gate (locking latch) the tail gate cannot fold in and lay flat.

The hinge will allow that range of motion, but the latch simply gets in the way. Sorry no photo, but imagine this latch used to secure the tail gate closed.




This hardware does not allow the tailgate to lay flat in the bed.

Upon closer examination of the hinge, it looks like it is a ball bearing hinge installed in a way the tail gate will not fold out and hang down 180 degrees from the closed position.

Below is a photo of someone else’s golf cart without the tail gate. I’m thinking I want the tailgate fold out and down and cover the license plate area to accommodate the rear passengers.



However, when I tru to fold the tailgate out it stops at about the 210 degree mark. It could be because the hinges are installed upside down . . . see photos. . .

This is the ball bearing hinge at 180 degrees.


These are catalogue photos of the hinge showing range of motion is limited to 270 degrees.





Next time I get to the cart, I’m going to flip the hinges and see if I can get it to completely fold down.

First World Problem. Thanks for listening.

[RNajarian]

Found a.photo of someone else’s cart with the tailgate. . .