How to repair a sliding gate?

Sliding gates are modern fences, the design of which, in most cases, is simple and reliable. Nevertheless, even these functional and practical devices sometimes fail. Today we will talk about the most common sliding gate malfunctions and how to fix them.

The need to repair the gate may arise when the following unpleasant phenomena appear:

• uneven movement of the gate leaf;
• the door leaf moves in jerks or stops;
• the mechanism jams;
• door operation is accompanied by extraneous sounds or the drive is working very loudly;
• the gate leaf does not close correctly, that is, it does not fall into the "traps" in the closed position.

Therefore, there may also be such malfunctions as the impossibility of closing the door leaf after opening it or the absolute immobility of the system.

In the first case, the cause of the malfunction is inoperative photocells or knocked down end positions, in the second - damage to the rollers, malfunction of the control unit, failure of the drive gearbox. Other causes include a change in the position of the toothed rack, debris or ice getting inside the guide rail.

The most common examples of failures in a sliding gate system are:

• the impossibility of closing or opening such gates;
• lack of response to commands from the remote control device;
• failure of the control device;
• mechanical damage to the door leaf;
• complete failure of the system to make any movements when the drive is running.

The likely factors behind these problems are:

• refusal in the operation of the control unit;
• failure of end switches of safety elements;
• breakage of the supporting gate rollers;
• failure of the gearbox on the electromechanical drive;
• low oil content when using a hydraulic drive;
• wear of the drive gear;
• curvature / contamination of the supporting beam;

• support rollers stopper or mechanical changes in the foundation;
• blown fuse;
• failure of the electric motor and step-down transformer system;
• breakdown of the control board and incorrect adjustment of the electric drive.

If there is no response to commands from the remote control, the most likely options are a wiring malfunction or a dead battery in the control panel. These problems can be easily rectified with the replacement of the corresponding elements. A worn-out remote control (or buttons on it) can be replaced at specialized stores or institutions.

It is better to entrust the repair of sliding gates (including swing or sectional automatic gates) to the appropriate service centers.

To eliminate the above problems, service center specialists will check the receiver, remote control and wiring, replace the elements and adjust them, check the photocells and correct the wiring, test the operation of the switch and the control unit.

To correct irregularities in the operation of the mechanical part, qualified craftsmen will check the gearbox and the amount of oil in it, inspect the structure for the presence of oil leaks, check the movement of the support rollers and the condition of the supporting beam, the presence of deviations of the fence from the horizontal and the so-called nodding when moving, inspect the gear rack and the leading gear. If necessary, they will repair or replace the gearbox, oil, pinion and adjust the rack.

If the sliding gates are damaged due to mechanical effects such as a collision with a car or displacement of the soil under the foundation of the gate, specialists will face the problem of checking the beam for deformation and the fence for horizontal position. If necessary, during the work, it is possible to replace the door casing, add soil, dismantle and replace the supporting beam, which can only be performed under production conditions for the above reason.

In order to avoid possible damage to the sliding automatic gate, some tricks should be observed during operation.

By observing them, you will reduce the likelihood of breakage to a minimum, thereby the structure will last longer:

• Vehicles should be driven through the fully open gate leaves.
• Make sure that there are no foreign objects in the movement sector and the mechanism.
• Pay attention to the sound that the gate makes when opening / closing, as strange sound effects can be a sign of a problem.
• To prevent malfunctions, it is necessary to regularly lubricate the moving elements of the door with a frequency, for example, once every 3 months. For prophylactic purposes, a special agent should be applied to a previously cleaned surface.

• Another way to prevent malfunctions is to adjust the door leaf. This manipulation, in contrast to the lubrication performed by the owner himself, must be carried out by professional specialists.
• The owner should pay attention to a diagnostic inspection of the gate once a year. This simple and regular procedure will allow you to maintain such a gate in proper quality and, if something happens, contact the service on time. Proper care will allow you to operate the structure for a long time.

• The gate must be kept clean, and in winter conditions must be constantly cleared of ice or snow. Particular attention should be paid to the surface of the gear rack and the rollback working area. The work of the structure should not be interfered with by foreign objects, for example, logs or embankments.
• It should be noted that the condition of electrical wiring and cables should be monitored. They must be insulated from rain. It is advisable to firmly fix their position in order to maintain integrity. If any elements of automation are found to be worn, they should be immediately replaced with new ones.

From time to time, it is necessary to tighten the loosened nuts of the structure, and a stabilizer should be used to protect the power grid from voltage surges. When installing electromagnetic limit switches, their safety should be monitored.

In conclusion, we can conclude that it is better to entrust the repair work of sliding structures to specialists who are professionally engaged in the production and installation of such structures. Sometimes independent mechanical interventions can lead to undesirable results up to the failure of the entire system.

You can watch the process of repairing sliding gates in the following video.