How to rig a motorized slide gate?

[1950ChevySuburban]

Hello all,
I got my slide gate up and it rolls easily. Next step is hooking up my Liftmaster motor to it. What's the best way to do this?

I'm unsure on how to do this. I can see the "pull" side of things, but what about return? Is there a better way than a long looped chain?

Also any insights on Liftmasters regarding setting limit switches etc.. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all!

John

 

[AndyL]

RTFM honestly, go with the drawings and specs in the manual, and follow the setup procedure - if you don't you will have issues...

 

[cruzn57]

this is a DOOR opener, correct?
so the manual/ instructions aren't worth much,
I'm doing the same, so any info is WELCOME!

will be using a spring to ease the jolt at first,
thoughts are to place opener in the middle and have it push/pull the chain.
will use a motorcycle type chain tensioner to keep the chain from jumping or slipping.

 

[little cowboy]

the motorize part should be easy......but what is a slide gate?

 

[Sureshot]

I built something once and welded a chain to it. Bolting the ends or securing with a turnbucke would also work. I think it was a #40 or so. I would put the opener beside the gate and drive a shaft with the opener size chain. On the same shaft have a #40 sprocket that engages the chain on the gate. Since the opener "adjustments" adjust the number of turns the opener will make you can then figure a gear ratio that will work.

So as a rough idea divide the number of feet you want the gate to open by the openers "normal" span. We will use 7 feet. Gate to open 16'. 16/7=2.28 Opener sprocket is for example 16 teeth. 16 teeth x 2.28=36.6 So get a 36 tooth or so sprocket. This will also make gate move 2.28 times as fast as the door.

The greater the "span" or turns of the opener the more flexibility you will have.

 

[1950ChevySuburban]

Slide gate. A gate that slides as opposed to swing-out.

 

[1950ChevySuburban]

Sureshot: kind of makes sense, but not sure how the motor "pushes" the chain. And actually, the 16' you mentioned is spot-on!

 

[DIC]

Sureshot: kind of makes sense, but not sure how the motor "pushes" the chain. And actually, the 16' you mentioned is spot-on!

The chain is attached to the gate at both ends of the gate...It pulls the chain either direction

 

[DIC]

The chain is not looped..Its just one straight chain
Probably best to use an operator made for a slide gate

 

[AndyL]

So just what kind of opener are you trying to use here? And in what configuration?

Page 12 in this manual shows the typical method On a SL585)
http://www.liftmaster.com/CatalogResourcesV3/en-us/shared/files/tucmanuals/0134851.pdf

Hrm, they've taken away the HCT5011 manual, it shows a slide gate method, using a 'standard' trolley, which could work; asuming you're trying to make something work that doesn't really belong...

 

[upndown]

If you're purchasing a gate opener it should come with instructions, not that hard to install.. if you're trying to convert a residential operator, they are not designed for outdoor applications!!(not waterproof) Motor and electronics don't like rain.

 

[1950ChevySuburban]

I bought two Liftmasters used, in good condition. I s'pose I could them out and research model numbers.

I plan to hide the opener out of the rain, artistically of course!

Looks like I'll be using a 16' chain, tight, and the gears rolling it along.

 

[Sureshot]

On the item I built I welded the chain onto the unit. It was a 50" diameter pipe (the chain was welded a little inside the end). I had a small gear (8 tooth if I remember right) on one end of a shaft on pillow blocks. The other end of the shaft had a ring gear from a 350 chevy with a starter mounted in place. The pillow block was mounted on an arm that floated and the weight of the pillow block and starter kept the small #40 gear engaged. It effectively reduced the speed the pipe would turn to a fast walk. We use it to wrap hose. The "drum" freewheels out and I rigged it with a remote so you could hold the end of the hose and keep tension as you walk it back in with the starter engaged.

So you would sub my starter for a garage door opener driving the other end with whatever size chain the one you have uses. Then instead of a pipe you are driving your gate.

I would run the opener and see how many turns the drive gear makes with the adjusters near the outer limits then calculate then ratio and sprocket sizes from that.

I could get pics if this doesn't make sense.

 

[1950ChevySuburban]

Makes sense thanks. I'll dig out my Liftmaster and start fabricating. I just had a hard time comprehending the push-pull chain part.

 

[J66442]

My work has 7 slide gates. All use a electric powered hydraulic pump with the wheel turning on a piece of aluminum angle approximately 4 inches wide. There is a visible divet in the aluminum where the wheel starts and stops. The wheel, if I remember correctly, looks like a heavy duty caster wheel 2-3 inches wide with a rubber lining. I assume there is something below to pinch the angle to the wheel.

We have had the gates for about 5 years and have noticed an increased amount of breakage. Three gates are broken currently. Two are closed semi permanently and one is closed while they manufacturer makes the parts.

These gates have a lot of use and are intended to automatically close behind each vehicle. At least 7 cars have been squished over time.

When the gate breaks, you shut off the electric and move a lever to release the hydraulics. You can manually open and close the gate. The gates are really difficult to move which tells me there is a problem with the gate itself, probably the bearings it rides on.

The expensive maintenance have led to the gate closures. The idea is to have usable gates when another one breaks.

 

[Dickey]

Just so I'm clear on what is being described; Are you mounting a garage door opener to your gate to open and shut it?

I have a swing gate setup in such a manner. I didn't want extra remotes and such to get in and out of the yard. A slide gate would be a lot simpler I think.

 

[1950ChevySuburban]

Like an opener, but more sturdy and professional.

 

[mr48chev]

Can you run the chain around an idler sprocket and loop it back to the motor sprocket in a loop? With a piece in the chain at the right spot that connects the gate to the chain. It would be pulling either way that way.

 

[RollUpDoor]

Can you run the chain around an idler sprocket and loop it back to the motor sprocket in a loop? With a piece in the chain at the right spot that connects the gate to the chain. It would be pulling either way that way.

This how a gate opener is designed. 2 idle pulleys on the sides of the drive sprocket.

If you bought an opener designed for a gate then it should be easy. If you bought an opener for a commercial door it might work with fabrication. If you have a residential operator no way will it stand up to heavy use of a gate.

 

[1950ChevySuburban]

That's what I was trying to come up with. I thought there was a way without stretching a 16' long chain across the gate. Would you have a diagram of this setup?

Sitting at home recovering from brain surgery trying to spell and figure stuff out.

I truly appreciate all the help, comments and advice!

 

[Dr_No]

I installed a proper sliding gate motor on my gate so you may need to do a bit of adaption to this but it may give you some ideas.

Instead of chain, it uses sliding gate toothed rack/track that is bolted along the length of the gate. It comes in metal or nylon versions like this: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nylon-AT...?pt=AU_Building_Materials&hash=item3f1546d70b

Then the motor has a gear/cog sticking out the end of it that engages with the rack on the gate. Maybe you could adapt your motor to be like this (sorry, I aren't familiar with what a liftmaster is or looks like)

Good luck

 

[Sureshot]

This how a gate opener is designed. 2 idle pulleys on the sides of the drive sprocket.

If you bought an opener designed for a gate then it should be easy. If you bought an opener for a commercial door it might work with fabrication. If you have a residential operator no way will it stand up to heavy use of a gate.

I went back to look at the gate design one more time. You say it works with one finger so I wouldn't sweat the opener lasting. It is not a comercial gate opening ten times an hour and I doubt the snow and slush is going to be a factor in Tuscon.

If you use two idle pulleys do you not need 32' of chain to make the loop? Plus the opener will run out of travel with that many turns. Unless it is a design different than what my limited experience has seen with openers.

 

[RollUpDoor]

Here is an install manual. There are pics of the pulley system.

http://liftmaster.com/CatalogResourcesV3/en-us/shared/files/tucmanuals/0134925.pdf\

 

[little cowboy]

Slide gate. A gate that slides as opposed to swing-out.

ok...that kinda gate

 

[Sureshot]

Here are some pics of the setup I built a few years ago. Obviously in a wet location and was never painted but that is the only way anyone would see it. The shaft is 1" keyed. The pillow blocks sit on a piece of 2x4 rec tubing that pivots on the one end. The spacers under the pillow blocks were to align the starter. The hole in the center of the ring gear was the same size as the weld on hub. I then welded on a big enough gear to use the existing holes in the ring gear. You can see the tack welds holding the chain on the inside of the pipe. The small gear driving the chain is a weld on hub as well.

 

[Lippyp]

All of the sliding gates I have seen have a rack and pinion type opener, a toothed rack on the gate and a motor with a gear on the end that meshes in the track and spins one way to open, one way to shut. The track would be the hardest thing to fabricate but I woneer if you could weld motorcycle chain or something similar from maybe some old farm machinery to the gate and then use the matching drive sprocket on a starter motor or similar, just reverse the polarity to change direction and fit two stop switches.

 

[AndyL]

just a thought... I don't think these residential door openers will work for any length of time...

But - models like the Liftmaster HCT are used on slide gates - standard trolley configuration... just straight arm down to the gate. Just mount to the fence beside the gate, in the gap between, even if they're 7' rails you should be able to get close to 8' of opening distance...

 

[darkk]

You could possibly attach a long *L* angle iron to the length of the bottom of the gate. Mount a short shaft thru the LM3800 with a small wheel welded/bolted to that shaft. Mount the opener so the wheel rests against the *L* angle iron on the gate with a small tension wheel mounted under it to keep the *L* angle iron pinched between the two, like the pinch wheel set up on a wire feed welder. A little fabrication necessary but it could be done...

 

[VHF]

Next door at work is a slide gate with a Liftmaster commercial opener. It has a chain the length of the gate (about 16') that rides on a sprocket on the opener. There is a rain cover over the top of the sprocket. There is a fair amount of slack in the chain which needs to be taken up by the opener each time it reverses direction.

It has a very loud and annoying beeper anytime the gate is moving, which is 20+ times per day.

 

[1950ChevySuburban]

I think the best answer is like Lippy and others have said, chain fitted like a rack and pinion and geared back and forth action.

 

[cruzn57]

can you take pics as you construct it.
I'm doing the same thing,
Thanks

 

[little cowboy]

My only concern, which can be addressed, is the chain out in the weather. It would likely need regular maintenance.

 

[1950ChevySuburban]

I'll certainly take as go, may take a while as I'm still under from surgery.

 

[cruzn57]

like I'm in big hurry?

no problem, I'm still wiring and plumbing my garage, ( I do have the 220 ran for the welder)
need to pour more cement, for clean up area outside the garage.

Thanks
hope you get to feelin better!

 

[Sureshot]

My only concern, which can be addressed, is the chain out in the weather. It would likely need regular maintenance.

If the chain is welded to the fence it does not pivot and lubrication is not an issue.