Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 04, 2000 08:16am | #1

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   Peter,

   I think it probably can be done. Keeping the chain greased is the LEAST of your concerns. The question is, is this worth it?

   I don't know what you mean by "cantilever sliding". I assume it will simply slide open and closed. Do you mean that the part across the opening is supported by an apparatus outside the opening? Probably not an issue, but the gate should open freely and not be subject to changing force requirements as it ages. (ie if it gets tweeked it may create portions of the cycle where it needs excessive force, leading to problems with the opener)

   A few things you'll need to address are limit switches and safety reversing. Garage door openers will reverse if they sense too much drive current. This is GOOD TO HAVE. Your gate, wheels and track will need to ensure this won't happen. Even as the unit ages and "stuff happens".

   How will you stop the motor at the correct positions? Garage door openers have limit switched up on the track to effect this controls. On a gate you won't have a track. You may need some weatherproof roller switches which could be actuated at full open and full closed. Most commercial operators have enclosed screw-driven cams which actvate microswitchs which are protected from the elements and damage. These are linked to the motor drive. Even if the gate is off the track and disconnected, the operator will still cycle properly.

   I've had problems with one installation where the gate closed against a magnetic lock. The limit switch was a little flakey: if it actuated too soon, the motor stopped and it never got to the mag lock. If it actuated late, the motor crashed it into the mag lock, the current sensor saw an "obstruction", reversed the motor and the gate opened. (It would then sit there and cycle for days.)

   Elite makes nice operators, but for the $$$, you can buy 20 craftsman....

   Good Luck

   Adam

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 04, 2000 08:21pm | #2

   *b TVMDCGarage door openers are probably not a good choice for your project, especially those with a screw drive rather than a gear and chain.Gate openers use induction loops to sense if a vehicle is in the path while closing. I'm not certain you could reconfigure a garage door's electric eye sensor to an induction loop.I would stick to a gate opener that has all the existing bells and whistles including automatic closing.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 05, 2000 08:17pm | #3

   *Northern Tools (formerly Northern Hydraulics) has a couple of gate openers for swinging gates listed at its on-line catalog - a bit pricier than a Sears opener as the cheapest one listed is $470. Go to:http://www.northern-online.com/and do a search on "gate opener".

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 05, 2000 11:58pm | #4

   *Peter There are several people on my street (paved in the last few years) and I guess one fellow did the gate thing and then another and there must be 4 on our street that use the remote garage openers to open their gates. I've seen one down once but they seem to hold up well enough. I think it must be like the boat thing. If it's a garage opener$125.00 open a gate with it and it goes to $450.00. I'd do it but i don't have a gate. Skip

2. 
   Peter_Parise | Jul 06, 2000 05:30am | #5

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   Adam, thanks for the insight, sounds like I should use the right tool
   for the job. New England winters would beat up anything other than the
   right tool. The canti-lever gate I speak of is a 10 ft chain link that
   is balanced by 5 ft of piping sliding horizontal on 4 rollers . Two at
   the top and two at the bottem. The entire unit never touches the
   ground. The unit will slide with the force of two fingers. Thanks for
   your help , P

1. 
   Robert_Macaione | Jul 06, 2000 05:44am | #6

   *I see these types of setups almost everyday... Chain drive without an idler is trouble... Save some grief and pop for the Northern Tools unit

1. 
   Peter_Parise | Jul 06, 2000 05:58am | #7

   *Thanks Robert IM going to check it out . Pete

1. 
   Peter_Parise | Jul 06, 2000 06:09am | #8

   *Robert, the gate I have is a horizontal slider. I described the gate a little more in detail in the previos message reply to Adam. Thanks for the research begin point. Im off to surf for the the right tool. Thanks, Pete

1. 
   Peter_Parise | Jul 06, 2000 06:20am | #9

   *Thanks Casey, I described the gate in detail to Adam in a previous reply. Northern looks like they have quality stuff but I have the the wrong kind of gate . Its a bebin point . Pe

2. 
   Peter_Parise | Jul 06, 2000 06:22am | #10

   *So true Skip . Ive got the idea now Ive got to make it work . This key board just does'nt set nails well. Pet

3. 
   Peter_Parise | Jul 06, 2000 06:22am | #11

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   Has anyone out there ever used a 1/2 hp garage door opener as a retrofit to
   a canta -lever sliding gate . What a question ? Im interested in using a
   Craftman Door opener with a standard 120v on the horizontal . I plan on
   weatherizing the controler and keeping the chain well greesed with a marine
   greese . Ya think it can be done? Pre