Fixing a sagging gate in 20 minutes with a turnbuckle cable kit

@garage_gabe · Oct 6, 2026 · 2.3k views
Difficultyeasy
Time20 minutes
Cost$15

Gates sag because the hinge-side post leans or the frame racks into a parallelogram. Check the post first: if it moves, that is the real fix (dig, plumb, concrete, 1/3 of the post below grade). If the post is solid, a $15 anti-sag kit: a cable from the top hinge corner diagonally to the bottom latch corner, with a turnbuckle in the middle. Tighten until the latch lines up. Wrong diagonal does nothing, so: top of the hinge side to bottom of the latch side.

#gate#sag#turnbuckle#fence#garden

34 💬 4 comments

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@drainpipe_dave 14d ago

Upvoted for the safety notes alone.

12

The "what went wrong" section is the most useful part of this. More people should do that.

12
@garage_gabe OP 15d ago

Unplug it. Always. Takes two seconds and the worst case otherwise is a trip to the ER.

1
@solderpunk 13d ago

I did the same repair last month and your step 3 is where I got stuck. Wish I had this then.

11

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