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We just received word that 3 of the LCN 4040XP closers currently being tested have surpassed 20 million cycles and are still going strong! The tests are being conducted at LCN, following the procedures of ANSI/BHMA A156.4.
It has taken 2 1/2 years of constant cycling for the size-4* closers to reach the 20-million mark in the rapid cycle testing, and several 4040XPs have surpassed 10 million cycles in the standard cycle test - set at a size 6*! The increased internal pressure created by the increased power setting = more wear, but the 4040XP is designed to withstand the abuse, with a stronger pinion, larger bearings, and stronger teeth.
In addition to these internal tests, an LCN closer with the improved seal (o-ring) material was just certified by Intertek at 15 million cycles. This seal will become standard on all LCN 4000 series closers in 2010.
If you’re not familiar with the 4040XP closer, you can learn all about it by watching the video below. Call me a dork (or a doork), but it cracks me up. I love the part about the “renegade preteens and their simian acrobatics.”
And I want that Born to Close tattoo. 
* The “size” refers to the closer’s spring size, which can be adjusted to provide more closing force (and greater internal pressure) or less closing force.
January 5th, 2010 8:11 am
hello Lori, hope you had a wonderful new year!
hmm, thats something new that I learned that I never knew, that if the size is stronger and tested to 20 million, there’s more wear from internal pressure,
my favorite parts too were the 2 cartoon door closer engineers with the “math problem” “……I call that a masterpiece, ahahahahhahahhahhaha”
children practicing their Tarzan routine, I HAVE SEEN THAT ALOT in middle school, seems kids in my middle school back then (late 1995-98) they could not RESIST jumping up and grabbing those EDA arms to do a pull-up or 2 on it.
another 2 of my favorite parts were watching the insides moving in the closer but yet the arm didn’t move, (haha its breathing, ok, kidding about that)
and last but not least, BORN TO CLOSE, so Lori, when you getting your tattoo?? and when you do, will you take a pic and show it to me?
(ok, kidding again)
I have been thinking about getting a tattoo, maybe something hardware related, but don’t know where or what exactly, maybe a closer….
all I have to say about LCN 4000 series closers, one word, INDESTRUCTIBLE!
here’s a good formula for you, closers+humor = better marketing and makes a usual product video alot more interesting. sometimes results in finding a group of hardware geeks
if possible, can you ask someone at LCN to maybe share video/photos of how LCN closers being tested, or during the 20 million cycle test or even how they are made?? thanks in advance.
-Jess
January 6th, 2010 11:26 pm
Dear DOORk,
The earnest LCN laddie cracked me up too, with his simian antics et al.
I particularly loved his offering of the KEY factors to LCN door closers! The phrase didn’t get its own “humor box,” nor did the Seal Cycle Life Test get its own rendition of a seal on a bicycle.
I agree with Jess about humor + closers!
With appreciation,
Linda
CEO, LCN*
*Life Cycle Nabob
January 7th, 2010 12:17 pm
Linda, humor can really help get a business going, isn’t LCN meaning Lewis C. Norton?? reason I ask, because of the letters at end of your comment “Life Cycle Nabob”, that’s a new one for me, very popular one I have heard about those closers (and is SOOOO TRUE!) Last Closer Needed.
Linda, do you by any chance work for LCN closers?? if so, thats pretty cool.
I have always been a fan of LCN closers since I was 12 when I seen my first one on my 6th grade classroom door.
I know for sure that if there was a weldable version of LCN 4000 series, there would not need to be any need to touch it accept during installation, (ok, may not be the best thing to do, since if it needs to be rebuilt the whole door would have to be removed from the door frame)
I went to 3 different schools (middle school, high school and a technical trades school)that used both the 4040(standard version with EDA arm)and 4010 (with eda and detent hold open) many times people didn’
t even know they were there until the door stopped closing or made a loud noise (such as a long hiss noise when there’s air trapped in the closer’s hydraulic system)
heres a good LCN story for ya, school I went to back in 1998-2002, first 2 years, were just fine, lcn all around and everything was great, then when I returned for my 11th grade year (I know, some of you already have read about the change of closers, in a comment for “cracker barrel shocker” posted back in june)
well they thought the competitor’s closer (brand name starts with D their north american plant located in PA. well, after a year of complaining and smelling brand name D’s closers, I cracked a joke about the old Corbin (a vintage traditional styled door closer used on the boiler room door from the 40′s or 50′s saying it had better control then brand D (which was true) then when I finally got to meet the architect who was going to be doing a long term project on the school, he seen brand D’s product and me and him agreed (mind you I was a student there!) that LCN would be put back on all the doors that brand D was on.
many times I find myself saying “they don’t make closers like they used to” with LCN, they made them really well and STILL DO! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK LCN!!!
-Jess the door closer expert
January 9th, 2010 12:48 am
“Linda, do you by any chance work for LCN closers?? if so, thats pretty cool.”
Jess, I Love Cool Ness, but my only connection to LCN is to admire that they have the sense to employ Lori Cool Niece!
I appreciated your comments for their humor and their technical expertise. I am learning so much by following this blog, that I am happy to represent a non-industry coterie that has become much more aware of doors and hardware and need for fire inspections and proper maintenance. Just think,, when you said “I know for sure that if there was a weldable version of LCN 4000 series, there would not need to be any need to touch it accept during installation, (ok, may not be the best thing to do, since if it needs to be rebuilt the whole door would have to be removed from the door frame)…”
I thought that in some cases, rebuilding a whole door might be a Likely Corrective Notion!
I’m off to Google up “D” companies in PA! Thanks for the conversation and knowledge contribution!
Linda the door closer observer