By Kent · Lock Depot Staff Writer

Three part numbers, one question: how wide is the door

The Glynn-Johnson 79 series is an extra heavy duty surface mounted overhead holder and stop. The three models, the 792H, 793H and 794H, share a design, a finish list and a mounting method. They differ by the door opening they cover. Pick the wrong one and the stop works at the wrong point in the swing, and a stop that catches late or early does not protect the wall or the hinge.

The catalog gives a door opening range for each. This is the entire selection:

• Glynn-Johnson 792H: door openings 23-1/16 in. to 27 in.
• Glynn-Johnson 793H: door openings 27-1/16 in. to 33 in.
• Glynn-Johnson 794H: door openings 33-1/16 in. to 39 in.

Measure the opening and pick the range it falls in. A standard 36 in. door is a 794H. A narrower door near 30 in. is a 793H. The 792H is for the narrow ones, such as a 24 in. or 26 in. utility door. The ranges do not overlap, so there is no judgment call at the edges. If you are between ranges, send us the measurement and we will sort it out.

What this series is built for

The catalog describes the 79 series as designed for high-traffic industrial applications, with extra heavy duty door protection. Think of a shop door, a loading area entry, a mechanical room, a service corridor, a kitchen door. These are doors that get hit by carts, pushed with a shoulder, and flung open by someone in a hurry. A light stop gives up on a door like that. This one is built to take the hit.

It is listed for interior and exterior use and for single-acting doors. It is non-handed, so you do not need a left and a right. That keeps ordering simple: one model per door width.

Selective hold-open, in one quarter turn

The feature I like best is that the hold-open is selective. The catalog says a simple 90 degree rotation of the roller mechanism turns the hold-open off, and the unit then acts as a shock absorbing stop. So the same holder serves a door you want propped open for deliveries in the morning and stopped cleanly the rest of the day. No new hardware, no swapping parts.

The holding power is adjustable. The catalog says the hold-open tension is set incrementally by turning the nut at the end of the bar. Tighten it for more holding power, or back it off if the door is hard to release. Set it so the door stays where you put it and does not drift closed when somebody walks past.

Stop angle and the closer on the same door

The 79 series is compatible with a variety of door closers, and the catalog says the models come with templates for variable mounting positions, giving a hold-open and stop angle from 85 to 110 degrees. That angle decides where the door parks. Open it against a wall, and you want the stop to catch before the handle meets the plaster. Open it into a corridor, and you may want a wider angle so the door sits clear of traffic.

A holder and a closer share a door, so check the closer before you pick the holder. A closer arm and an overhead stop both live at the head of the door, and they need to clear each other. If you are fighting a door that slams into a wall, read our guide to the Glynn-Johnson 450 overhead stop too.

Setting one up on the door

Mount the holder at the head of the door with the template that matches the angle you want. Hang the door and fit the closer first, then position the holder so the bar clears the closer arm through the whole swing. Open the door by hand to the angle you chose and look at where the roller meets the stop. If the door reaches the wall or the frame stop before the holder does its work, move the mounting position, not the tension nut. Then set the hold-open tension with the nut at the end of the bar, test it with the door fully open, and give it a push to see that it stays put. Check it again after the first week, because a busy door settles a new hardware install quickly.

A holder that takes the hit each day is also worth a look on a maintenance round. Run the screws tight, check that the roller turns, and make sure the hold-open still releases when the door is pulled.

Finishes, and the SP listings

The 79 series is listed in satin chrome (US26D) and in US26, US10, US3 and US4 finishes. There are also SP listings, such as the 792H SPBLK in black, at a noticeably lower price than the US finishes. The catalog lists them as the same extra heavy duty 79 series, and I do not have a spec that separates them beyond finish, so ask us before you assume anything. Pick the finish by the room: black on a service door, chrome where it sits next to other chrome hardware.

When another stop is the better call

If the opening is narrow or the door is lighter, you may not need this much stop. The Glynn-Johnson 702H and 706H are covered by door width in their own guide. Another route for a heavy door is the 902H heavy duty surface hold open. The 79 series is the call when the door is busy and takes abuse every day.

Common questions

How do I know whether I need a Glynn-Johnson 792H, 793H or 794H?

Measure the door opening. The 792H covers 23-1/16 in. to 27 in., the 793H covers 27-1/16 in. to 33 in., and the 794H covers 33-1/16 in. to 39 in.

Can the Glynn-Johnson 79 series hold the door open and stop it?

Yes. Turn the roller mechanism 90 degrees and the hold-open is disabled, leaving a shock absorbing stop.

How do I adjust the hold-open tension?

Turn the nut at the end of the bar. The catalog says tension adjusts incrementally.

Is the 79 series handed?

No. The catalog lists it as non-handed.

Is it for interior or exterior doors?

Both. It is listed for interior and exterior, single-acting doors.

See the whole line on our Glynn-Johnson page. Send us the door width and the closer you have and we will confirm the model.