Gate Closer - Installing a Colonial Cannonball Automatic Gate Closer

There are many automatic gate closers avail to close a garden gate, but none is as simple and elegant as the Cannonball. This simple design can be seen in regular use in Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. This video will tell you what you need to know in order to purchase, and install one on your own gate.

[@abergman5]

I didn't come here to see if it was really as simple as the thumbnail picture. I came here for an academic lecture on the topic of overcomplicating the simplest things.

[@Hondo3569]

Aw shucks, sorry about the length. My dad was an elementary school principal, so I guess I get the teaching vibe from him.

[@abergman5]

Well at least you're a nice guy, thanks for the video 😂

[@pappysproductions]

😂❤

[@jillianwarriner8730]

Skip to 13:11 to see how it works

[@pappysproductions]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you
Some people like to talk you out of watching their video

[@ralphchurch7]

He finally opens the gate at 13:00 Holy shit. This video could have been 30 seconds long!

[@robchoutka8971]

BASICALLY you're correct ;-)

[@vanessadinh4932]

Good thing i read the comment first

[@fredsanford336]

My, god, my head almost exploded.

[@pearljoe3814]

youre a hero

[@elgmichoacan818]

I seen someone online asked what these were for and someone said it was for closing gates.. didn't understand how so here i am.. i learned something new today thank you sir

[@petesessa2041]

Recently moving from Va. Beach to Pensacola, we had to rebuild the fence & gates when we got here. I wanted to include a bit of our Colonial Williamsburg heritage at our new place.
I'll be using this method to close our 5 x 7 gates.

[@houndsmanone4563]

Thanks Hondo. I like your idea there. Have a fine week.

[@mrsir2378]

13:05 is what you came for

[@frontball2754]

Mr Sir yeah, excessively long video for something simple. Thanks for the quick link.

[@georgebush2798]

Thanks for that

[@markdorsey9323]

Thank you for sharing this. I am building some Santa Fe style gates for our enclosed patio out front. And while I too have seen the cannonval closers at Williamsburg.. but at the time I really wasn't looking at them with a "how do they work" frame of mind. I think these will go great with my set op. Thank you

[@18winsagin]

I'm in Yorktown and I'm about to fix my new gate with something similar, my neighbors have Cannon Ball closers Haha. I'm gonna create something original though, I have a couple pieces of Brass I may use for the weight. I remember as a kid 50 years ago Grandad had two old gears hanging on a chain for a gate in West Virginia and I've never forgotten that but my Wife probably wouldn't go for that lol.
I'm gonna attach the small cable to the back of the gate right of center and the other end on the gate support post to the right of the gate and the weight travels up and down with a small pulley with a hook on it and it wont touch you or get a kid caught around the neck.

[@jimacheson4933]

Just what I needed. Thanks

[@watchsevan]

BRILLIANT

[@soundwave802002]

Way to much talking. Get to the point

[@rachelporelli2135]

Would this work on drive gates ?

[@Hondo3569]

If the weight is heavy enough, I don't see why it wouldn't.

[@williamoloughlin8298]

Ok Hondo you did a nice job on the functionality of the system. Now take another look at the whole site, its a bit ugly. Rusted ball, rusty chain, chain in middle of accessway where rust can get on a white outfit. In colonial times, the fence would have been painted white, probably the hardware would be black ironmongery. Then there's the ugly lawn and patchy grass at the gate front. The gateway should be finished and inviting. Solutions; treat the chain and ball with rust converter, cold galvanise the ball and chain (spraycan) 2 coats. spray coat the ball and chain with black enamel 3 coats high gloss). Move hook on gate closer to hinge a bit (adjust counter weight if needed). Install a double latch to open the gate so no leaning over a wet algae topsill . fix the lawn by seeding a lush boston lawnseed, paint/stain the post to match the fence. Get rid of the shitty plastic postcap and replace with a colonial wooden one (buy from any big store madeup). Plant a purple wisteria on the fence or a passionfruit. You can run the chain sideways back to the gate hinge post then through a pulley down to the ball post which would keep the chain well away from the walkthrough area and look tidier. There you go mate, easy as.

[@Hondo3569]

Thanks for the suggestions. I installed this when we first moved in, and the lawn was in a poor state of repair. However that has been fixed at this point. I was thinking of planting a wisteria, so you're thinking along the same lines as I am. Thanks for your thoughts and ideas.