Automatic Gate Opener

Automatic Gate Opener FENCING Gates 26-2-12 Farmyard gates can be a hassle to open and close, but not for Kent Elder. For the past 15 years, his automatic gate opener has kept him behind the wheel of his truck instead of climbing in and out. It has worked so well and trouble-free, the Mulvane, Kansas, farmer set up similar gates for friends and neighbors. "I've looked at automatic gate openers, and they cost $500 or more," notes Elder. He can set one up for a lot less using an ordinary garage door opener. "The toughest part of the job is finding the right angle for the opener rail support," he says. On his gate he mounted the drive unit and opener rail on a 2 by 6 plank with the power head end attached to the post on which the gate hung. A 1 1/2-in. pipe was welded to the trolley arm that normally attaches to the garage door. The pipe runs to an eyebolt clamped to the top rail of the gate. To open and close without binding, the plank needed to be mounted at just the right angle from the closed gate. After several tries, the rancher settled on an arc of 117 degrees from the closed position or 27 degrees from the open position. When the driver unit engages, the trolley arm travels the length of the chain drive rail assembly, pulling the gate open and then reverses direction to close. Elder also fashioned an all weather cover for the power head from a plastic file box. Elder also attached two coil springs over the gate end of the pipe, one on either side of the eye bolt. Collars at the end of the springs maintain enough tension on the gate to keep it closed to cattle or horses trying to push through, yet allow it to open enough for a man on foot to slip past. Contact: FARM SHOW Follow-up: Kent Elder, 1132 N. Greenwich, Mulvane, Kansas 67110 (ph (316 777-0090).

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