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Seasonal Maintenance
The only way to prevent freeze-ups is to service the system
in the fall, which involves replacing hydraulic oil and the accumulated water.
Our seasonal service contract provides for this and many other tasks to keep
the system working. We offer this as a basic maintenance contract as well
as a comprehensive maintenance contract, which covers the cost of all parts
including new replacement components.
A hydraulic Gate Operator consists of an electric motor and
pump, valve body, piston and cylinder assembly or hydraulic rotary actuator
and about 150 ft. of copper tubing hydraulic lines.
Repeated exposure to rain, irrigation and flood water in low lying installations
cause the accumulation of water in the hydraulic circuit. This is a bad thing.
When the accumulated water collects in the motor/pump area, it will short out
the oil-immersed electric motor, and this will have to be replaced. Water in
the circuit also causes corrosion of the cylinder lining, shafts and gear rack,
and bearings.
In the winter, this water will freeze and cause the actuator to lock up, or open/close
only part way or very slowly. In some cases the in-ground rotary actuator collects
water (it is at the low point of the hydraulic circuit) which freezes and forms
ice rings inside the actuator. This acts as a positive stop preventing the operator
to fully open or close. We have disassembled units full of water that had frozen
and the expanding ice bent the 1.25" horizontal shaft, or cracked the actuator
block. In these extreme cases the actuator is not repairable.
Most times the gate operator can be removed and thawed; the actuator is disassembled
or "rebuilt".
Please call or e-mail us if you have questions.
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