The Six Most Common Sliding Gate Problems

Jerking almost always points to a rack-and-pinion mesh problem. Either the rack has come loose from its mounting, the teeth are worn, or the pinion has shifted out of alignment.

A gate that opens halfway and then stops is usually the board's over-current protection tripping. Something is making the motor work harder than it should — often a worn wheel or a bind on the track.

Grinding is a bearing on its way out, or a wheel that has seized. Replace the wheel and bearing assembly and the gate will roll silently again.

This is almost always a safety beam issue — dirty photocells, a spider in the beam path, or misalignment causing the beam to trip mid-close.

Sheared pinion or seized gearbox. See our sliding gate repairs page.

Remote batteries, receiver drift, or moisture in the coding pins. A technician can diagnose and fix in one visit.