Dropped hinges or hot weather?

[stealthwolf]

I don't know if it's the warmer weather causing problems. I hung a gate in December 2017. Everything was level and square. There was not enough space for hook and band hinges that I'd bought so I resorted to T-hinges.

When I fitted the slide bolt to lock the gate, it was perfectly level. To the point where there was a little play in the bolt once closed. Yesterday I slid the bolt back (with some difficulty) to open the gate and couldn't reseat it when I'd finished - there was a drop of about half the thickness of the bolt (~5mm).

Is it all to do with the hot weather drying things out?
Some of the tongues of the T&G is now showing where I hadn't painted it with outdoor varnish.
What should I do now the gate doesn't lock?

 

[JohnD]

Move the bolt keep, or fit a bigger one that will accommodate the movement.

This hot dry weather is a good time to treat the bare wood exposed in the T&G. Take it off and lie it flat if you can.

Does the gate have diagonal braces, and are they tight?

 

[Bosswhite]

Depends on the usage of the gate, metal to metal of the hinges do wear according to usage, a "gnats whisker" worn off the hinge over the length of the gate could mean inches drop on the closing bolt

 

[EddieM]

Yeah weather related, constantly have to adjust ours.