Is it possible to change sliding gate motors by yourself?

If you think it is time to change your sliding gate motors or roller door motors you may be thinking if you can do it by yourself. Although the most recommendable thing to do is to contact an expert in garage door remotes and garage door motors that can successfully review the status of your […]

If you think it is time to change your sliding gate motors or roller door motors you may be thinking if you can do it by yourself. Although the most recommendable thing to do is to contact an expert in garage door remotes and garage door motors that can successfully review the status of your automatic solutions.

The motors of the automatic gates, whether they are sliding gate motors, roller door motors or any others, they all have a useful life, which can be extended by 5, 7, 9 or up to 15 years, depending on the model, the brand, the care received and the climatic conditions, such as humidity or salinity, which can affect its operation. Its replacement is a job that we can do ourselves, since the same electrical installation is used, we only have to manipulate tools such as the welder and the angle grinder. From sliding gate motors to roller door motors or any other type of garage door motors and including garage door remotes, here at MDI you will find anything you need to ensure your businesses’ and house’s safety.

Tools to use:

  • Brush
  • Metal cutting disc
  • Roughing disc
  • Angular emery
  • Safety glasses
  • Gloves
  • Tape measure
  • Welding machine
  • Welding mask
  • Emery Mask
  • Bubble level

The materials to use:

  • Anticorrosive
  • Electricity insulating tape
  • Zippers with fixing bracket
  • Electrodes 3/32 blue dot
  • Square iron 25x25mm
  • Engine kit

To choose the motor, there are 2 very important variables to consider: the weight of the gate that will move and if it will be given a residential or more frequent use. The larger and heavier, the more power the motor will require to move it. This is a fact for sliding gate motors, garage door motors, roller door motors and more. There are motors that allow to move gates of 350, 400, 600 and 800 kg. Some can offer a timed and adjustable automatic closing, speed selector and memorisation of new transmitters.

If you want to change sliding gate motors, garage door motors or roller door motors by yourself:

You can start working on the easiest part of the system: garage door remotes can be revised and changed by professionals. It is very important to check that the gate runs well on the rail, that it is well embedded in the cement, and that the wheels are straight, to be sure that there is no unevenness that causes the engine does not work properly.

It is also important to make sure that the axle guides on the upper part of the gate are well aligned, with their bearings well-greased, so that they keep the gate straight and can freely run along the rail. Now, regardless of it being sliding gate motors, garage door motors or roller door motors, you must:

  • Disconnect the automatic from the house to work without electricity.
  • Remove old motor and zips
  • Disconnect the cables that carry the electricity to the motor, put on its ends an insulator.
  • With the angle grinder and the metal cutting disc, remove the motor from its base, you may need the help of a devil to pry.
  • With the same disc cut the zippers that are welded to the lower part of the gate.

Safety with the grinder

When using angle grinders, especially when cutting metal, you have to use a leather debris chest, an emery mask and a glove. Very important, we must take care that the tool has the protection of the disc, which prevents that in the face of detachment from the body, and also helps the sparks go in the opposite direction to the person who is manipulating it.

Attach conduit

According to the entrance hole of electricity, which is at the base of the motor, accommodate the conduit tube with the electric cables. If the base is concrete, it is necessary to chop and run the tube until it fits in the position where the engine enters.

Electric connection

When you change a motor, it is not necessary to replace the electrical wiring, you just have to connect to the one that already exists, this is for all types of garage door motors, either sliding gate motors or roller door motors. But if you want to start with the installation of a motor, the requirement to do so is to dig a trench 25 cm deep, from the outlet of electricity to the engine, put a conduit with a cord that has inside the 3 cables (red, green and white). On the conduit pour a layer of cement so that it remains fixed and does not move. Once dry you can put soil or plant grass.

Fix the frame and the metal plate

For all types of garage door motors such as roller door motors or sliding gate motors it is necessary to calculate the height at which the engine has to stay, according to the position where the zips will go. In this case it was necessary to increase the height to coincide with the old position of the racks, for that reason the fixing of the motor was done on a metallic frame of the size of the base of the motor. Solder the metal frame and then weld it or anchor it to the base of the floor.

To the metal plate you have to make the holes with metal drill, where the bolts are going to be fixed. Pass the bolts and tighten them with the nuts, solder the nut to the plate so that it is firmly fixed.

Protecting the metal plate and welding

With anticorrosive protect the frame and metal plate where the engine will be fixed. Fit the holes in the base of the motor with bolts welded to the base, tighten with nuts and washers, and then finish welding.

For welding:

No matter the type of garage door motors, sliding gate motors or roller door motors you are working on, it is important, before making any movement, to wear safety clothing for welding. Organise the place, clear flammable materials and order so that the work is comfortable and safe. Clean the surface to be welded, removing oil or excess loose and brittle paint, otherwise the welding could be porous. The welding clothes are made of leather, it is a non-combustible material that resists splashes and sparks. It is essential to have a mask and jacket, or failing that, chest and long gloves.

Once you finish all work, make sure your garage door remotes are working well. Remember here at MDI you will find everything you need to improve safety in your house or business.