- For use on metal, wood and vinyl gates
- Fits 1″ to 6″ diameter posts
- Made with polymer and stainless steel components that will not rust, bind or stain
- Horizontally and vertically adjustable
- Easy to install
Product Description
Sold as one unit. (1 unit = each.) For use on metal, wood and vinyl gates. Fits 1″ to 6″ diameter posts. Made with polymer and stainless steel components that will not rust, bind or stain. Horizontally and vertically adjustable. Easy to install. Key lockable for add security. Replaces SKU # 5192158. Carded clamshell. Manufacturer number: S836-171. SKU #: 5439393. Country of origin: Australia. Distributed by National Mfg. Sales Co…. More >>
I bought this latch/lock mechanism for use on a 6′ tall aluminum fence that surrounds a swimming pool. The double-sided feature of this latch is very nice and works smoothly. As another reviewer already noted, the instructions are relatively poor having no text, only pictographs. However everything goes together easily and fits well. The most difficult part is drilling a 5/8″ diameter hole all the way through your fence post for the connecting rod to pass through, which I did with a boring drill bit without any problems.
Also as mentioned by another reviewer, the nearly all-plastic construction is a little disappointing, but common. The most disappointing bit of plastic is the rod which links the two lock mechanisms, but since it doesn’t seem to be heavily stressed, I suppose it should hold up fine.
For a tall aluminum gate such as mine, there really aren’t a lot of attractive latch options. Many pool gates are now the magnetic pull kind which tend to be designed for shorter gates.
Rating: 4 / 5
I recently purchased and installed the “dual access gate latch” to solve the problem of always being on the “wrong side of my yard gate” and having to go around to the other side (where the padlock was). I’d been looking for something like this for a long time and was pleasantly surprised to discover that there actually IS such a thing! Being able to open the gate from either side will definitely make yard work a lot less of a hassle, as I can now go from front-to-back or back-to-front using an otherwise-locked gate.
PROS:
1. It has a “real” lock cylinder that uses a “real” house-type key. This is so much better than those cheap stamped keys that come with many padlocks nowadays.
2. Doesn’t take an inordinate amount of time to install (about 1-1/2 hours for my first one) and should install easily on most wooden gates with a post or other suitable framing (e.g., a 4×4 post and 2×4 framing).
CONS:
1. Among the poorest installation instructions I’ve ever seen. Actually, there are no descriptive (written) instructions at all – just a series of pictorial diagrams in three different languages. You CAN figure it out, but it takes some time and is definitely not for someone with little or no mechanical inclination. However, once you’ve done one, additional latches should be a snap.
2. With the exception of the bolt and latch itself, construction is plastic, which was a disappointment (but common nowadays). The housing itself is polycarbonate, which is a better grade of plastic, but still plastic.
3. The latch is attached to the gate and post using short (1″) wood screws. This isn’t nearly as sturdy and secure as a conventional steel gate latch and padlock, and could easily be forced by someone intent on breaking in. So this type of latch is not a good choice for security.
4. At over $60, it’s probably over-priced, considering the type of construction and the fact that it doesn’t provide very good security.
CONCLUSION:
This is a functional device. It solves a problem: that of the homeowner being able to easily use a locked gate from either side. What it lacks in security might be made up for in reducing the “annoyance factor” of always being on the wrong side of the gate!
Rating: 3 / 5