Maintenance of a swing gate motor

Introduction

Having a swing gate motor is very convenient. But if you have such a drive installed at home, you may wonder how to properly maintain and take care of it?

If you installed the equipment yourself, you probably have at least a minimum level of technical knowledge. So this might not be complete „black magic” for you. But if you used the services of an installer, this article will probably be for you 🙂

I will briefly explain what you need to pay attention to in the context of caring for a swing gate automation. Enjoy reading 🙂

Why is maintenance of a swing gate motor necessary?
How often should you service a gate motor?
Caring for gate actuators – what to check
What to lubricate the swing gate motor with
Maintenance of control electronics
How to care for photocells and other equipment
Electrical installation – wiring
Maintenance of a swing gate motor – summary

Why is maintenance of a swing gate motor necessary?

Every equipment requires care so that it can serve as long as possible and be safe for the user. For example, in a car, a number of activities must be performed periodically, such as changing oil, fluids or brake pads. You also need to check the condition of other wearing parts, e.g. suspension. All this is aimed at our safety and increasing the reliability of the vehicle.

It is no different with a swing gate motor. The saying is also true in this case: „As you care, so you have”. Without proper handling of automation, it will quickly lose its properties and become unsafe to use. In extreme cases, it may break down, and then it will be necessary to open the gate manually – at least until the drive is repaired.

Proper maintenance of the swing gate motor will mean that most faults will never occur, because we will notice the wear of automation elements in time and it will be possible to replace them in advance. Besides, caring for the condition of the equipment will not even allow elements that do not have to wear out so quickly to wear out quickly.

How often should you service a gate motor?

The frequency of periodic inspections that are required by the manufacturer is described in detail in the documentation of the installed drive. It is worth paying special attention to this, because often the manufacturer requires such inspections to maintain the warranty. In this case, you usually need to call a specialist authorized by the manufacturer for the inspection.

But we can do a lot of things ourselves. Basic maintenance of the swing gate motor is always described in the manual included with the equipment. But other maintenance and service activities must be planned by ourselves.

Of course, it’s best to look after the equipment as often as possible, but there’s no need to exaggerate. If the instructions do not specify exactly the time intervals at which specific activities should be performed, you can usually follow general rules:

We inspect the actuators carefully at least twice a year – before and after winter.
It is also a good idea to inspect the control electronics and all wiring twice a year, which can be done together with the actuators.
Equipment affecting safety (e.g. photocells) is checked as often as possible – not less than once a month.
Other activities (e.g. cleaning actuators) – as needed.

Caring for gate actuators – what to check

When it’s time to inspect the actuators, always pay attention to a few basic things:

Condition of seals. If you can see that the seals are already worn out, they should of course be replaced with new ones. But properly cared for seals will serve a long time without the need for replacement.
Condition of the power cord. If the actuator is properly installed, the cord will not be damaged. But it’s always worth inspecting it and replacing it if necessary. Especially if there are small children or pets on the property – sometimes they can pull the cord while playing and tear it.
Condition of the actuator casing. Check for dents or abrasions on the protective coating. If there are signs of corrosion, immediately remove them and protect the damaged area. Check if the mounting screws and pins have not loosened. If necessary, tighten them or replace them with new ones. Do not forget about all kinds of plugs, e.g. for the key to unlock the clutch in the gear. The poor condition of these elements can cause water to get inside the actuator, which will certainly damage it.
Actuator movement resistance and gear condition. During the warranty period, look into the actuator only when allowed by the manufacturer! Worn gear elements will translate directly into the resistance with which the actuator will move. If necessary, replace them with new ones. And remember to lubricate the gear if required by the instructions!
Operation of limit switches (if the actuator is equipped with them). Check if the gate always stops in the same places. If you notice that any limit switch is not working properly, replace it with a new one.
Cleanliness of the actuator. Do not allow the actuator to work covered in sand or mud. Such working conditions will cause very quick „death” of the seals and the piston itself. Clean the actuator especially after rainfall, because water bouncing off the ground raises dirt with it, which settles on the actuator elements.

What to lubricate the swing gate motor with

Another element of actuator maintenance is their proper lubrication. You need to take care of the seals so that they can operate for a long time without failure. Moistening them with a suitable lubricant is necessary so that they do not work dry. Dry running causes quick wiping of rubber seals, and consequently water getting into the actuator. We lubricate the seals with a suitable agent safe for rubber elements, e.g. silicone grease spray. Spray the seals and the piston extended from the actuator with such a spray. It will form a thin protective layer on these elements, which will also protect against dust sticking to it.

If the actuator gear also requires lubrication, first check the equipment manufacturer’s recommendations. The documentation should contain information about the lubricants to be used. If it’s not there, or after the warranty period you are regenerating the actuator yourself, in which the manufacturer did not foresee the need to look into the gear, then use gear grease (or oil if it works in an oil bath). The appropriate grease must also maintain its properties at temperatures in which your drive will work – pay attention to this. If there are rubber elements in the gear, absolutely make sure that the grease you want to use is safe for them!

Maintenance of control electronics

Properly secured electronics do not require any special maintenance, but you still need to pay attention to the following details:

Condition of the controller casing. Check carefully if it is not cracked and if the seals fit perfectly. For electronics, this is extremely important, because moisture will quickly destroy it. Also take care of the cleanliness of the housing and sometimes just wash it 🙂
Grommets and cable glands. Apart from the fact that moisture can get to the electronics through them, there is another matter that is quite often ignored. Any hole in the casing can be an entrance for various critters that can make a lot of mess on the electronics. Therefore, they must absolutely be sealed!

Maintenance of the control electronics is also a periodic checking of the control panel settings. This is especially important at the turn of summer/winter periods. In the summer, actuators work slightly easier due to higher temperatures. Therefore, setting e.g. overload parameters in the summer may not be suitable for the winter. So it may be necessary to periodically adjust the settings to the currently prevailing conditions. And of course, you must not forget to check the correctness of the controller’s response to emergency states, which is related to the next section.

How to care for photocells and other equipment

Photocells are an extremely important component on which the safety of using an automatic swing gate depends the most. That is why it is so important to keep them in good condition and periodically check the correctness of their operation.

To find out if the photocells are working properly, you just have to cut the beam between them while the gate is moving and check the system’s reaction. But beware! When performing this maneuver, take special care not to be hit or even crushed by the moving gate!

Maintenance of photocells also includes checking the cleanliness of the „windows” through which the beam reaches from the transmitter to the receiver. Too dirty will weaken the infrared beam, and consequently even completely block the operation of the photocells.

From time to time, also look inside the photocell casing and clean them inside. Make sure that no insects have nested inside, whose presence will quickly damage delicate electronics. If the casing sealing requires improvement, make sure to take care of it.

Also review the signal lamp (moisture, insects, condition of the lamp housing) and other additional accessories installed in the system, e.g. an electric strike, which may require lubrication – check the manual.

Electrical installation – wiring

The wiring of the entire system must also be subjected to maintenance and periodic inspection. I mentioned it a bit when describing the maintenance of actuators, but these are not the only cables. Check all points of wire connections with electronics (connectors on the controller board, blocks in photocells, signal lamp and other modules if installed). If the wires have been extended somewhere, you should also check their continuity with a multimeter.

We pay special attention to signs of corrosion on the contacts. If they are visible, they must be thoroughly cleaned and the cause removed (e.g. leaking housing through which moisture enters). This is very important, because poorly contacting contacts will cause excessive heating, and consequently can lead to irreversible damage or even cause a fire.