How to Repair a Jammed Gate

Scrub the gate's hinges with a coarse garden brush to remove any accumulations of oil, moss or other debris. Spray the gate with water from the garden hose, if necessary. Let the area dry before moving to the next step.

Apply a few sprays of penetrating oil, such as WD-40, Wickes, Liquid Wrench or other brand, directly to the hinges. This low-viscosity oil helps loosen rusted parts and provides lubrication to hinges and other jammed moving parts. Gently work the product in by opening and closing the gate a few times.

Lift the gate off its hinges, if possible, and apply a thick coat of white lithium grease to the part of the hinge attached to the gate frame, if penetrating oil fails to do the trick. Apply more of the grease to the part of the hinge attached to the gate and reconnect the pieces.

Squirt powdered graphite, available from hardware stores, into the gate's lock if it is also jammed. Used by watchmakers and locksmiths, powdered graphite helps lubricate the tumblers of the lock when a key is inserted. You won't need to use much, roughly a teaspoon.

Gently heat the key with a cigarette lighter or match if a frozen lock is preventing the gate from opening. Move the key in and out a few times to melt the ice and release the tumblers. You might have to warm the key several times. Use gloves while handling the key.

Consider raising the gate if it strikes the ground before it can be fully opened. Or, if the gate swings over soil, it might be easier to re-landscape the area. Raising the gate involves removing the hinges and attaching them slightly higher on the frame.