How to Install Adjustable Gate Springs

Stretch a tape measure across the rear face of the gate's post. Measure the post's width, and divide the post's width by two. The result of the calculation represents where you will position the center points of your gate spring's plates between the edge of the post and the edge of the gate.

Latch the tape measure's clip to the hinge-side of the gate, several inches below the upper hinge. Draw the tape across the gate. Make a pencil mark at the point that represents the position of the plate's center point on the gate. Hold the spring's upper plate on the mark.

Pull the loose plate down to the lower portion of the gate post until the spring is taut and the lower plate roughly aligns with the center of the post. Stretch the tape measure across the post, just above the lower plate, and use the tape measure to align the lower plate with the post's center.

Press a pencil through the upper plate's screw holes, and use the pencil to create screw hole marks on the gate's surface. Press a pencil through the lower plate's screw holes to lay out screw hole marks on the post. Select a twist bit equivalent to the diameter of the wood screws' shanks. Mount the bit to the power drill.

Bore a pilot hole through each screw hole mark to a depth roughly equivalent to the length of the wood screws' shanks. Mount a driver bit to the power drill. Align the upper and lower gate spring plates with their respective screw holes. Mount a wood screw to the power drill, and drive the screw through the center screw hole of the upper plate. Drive screws into the remaining holes to fasten the gate spring to the gate and post.

Grip the head of the gate spring's adjustment pin with a pair of pliers. Pull the pin from the adjustment nut. Attach an adjustable wrench to the adjustment nut. Rotate the wrench clockwise to increase the spring's tension or counterclockwise to reduce the tension. Insert the pin into adjustment nut. Lightly tap the pin with the butt of the wrench or pliers to seat the pin within the nut.

Open and close the gate to gauge the springs' tension. Remove the pin, and turn the nut to further adjust the gate spring's tension.