How to open a guillotine door mechanically?

[Jack Russell]

We have a back door on our drainage system that we drop down to either hold water out or in depending what we are trying to achieve. The wheel that we turn to move it is very stiff. We have welded a 3/4 socket onto it so we can use a ratchet to turn it instead. That has helped but it still takes 2 or 3 hours to drop or raise it. We tried an impact wrench but that didn’t work at all. What I think we need is a high torque motor that we can clip on and drive it. We could either take a generator down or power it hydraulically from a tractor.

The image shows the back of the door and the wheel mechanism at the top of the wall.

Any suggestions of what we could use?

 

[milkloss]

Why not just put a ram on it and plug it into the tractor. Maybe you need the wheel to still function for some reason though?

 

[7610 super q]

Difficult to see from the pics, but could you extend that galvanised frame to accommodate a chain block and tackle ?

 

[Jack Russell]

I think we need to keep the winding mechanism due to the water pressure that can build up on the door when it’s put down. Some think we also need to keep it with the wheel in case the other system is unavailable or we can’t get a tractor down to it in a bad event. If we had such an event it won’t be me wandering down with a ratchet to wind it.

 

[Jameshenry]

I think we need to keep the winding mechanism due to the water pressure that can build up on the door when it’s put down. Some think we also need to keep it with the wheel in case the other system is unavailable or we can’t get a tractor down to it in a bad event. If we had such an event it won’t be me wandering down with a ratchet to wind it.

Have you looked into a replacement wheel and maybe a coarser threaded rod? There should be something available on the market that is easier and quicker to raise and lower, i would have thought

 

[Jameshenry]

This company might be worth a call, they supply sluice gate jacks i see,

 

[Blue.]

We have a back door on our drainage system that we drop down to either hold water out or in depending what we are trying to achieve. The wheel that we turn to move it is very stiff. We have welded a 3/4 socket onto it so we can use a ratchet to turn it instead. That has helped but it still takes 2 or 3 hours to drop or raise it. We tried an impact wrench but that didn’t work at all. What I think we need is a high torque motor that we can clip on and drive it. We could either take a generator down or power it hydraulically from a tractor.

The image shows the back of the door and the wheel mechanism at the top of the wall.

Any suggestions of what we could use?

What type of impact?

My Milwaukee 3/4” would turn it no problem if you can do it with a ratchet.

 

[milkloss]

What type of impact?

My Milwaukee 3/4” would turn it no problem if you can do it with a ratchet.

Not sure it would do the gears much good though!

 

[yohan115]

Not sure it would do the gears much good though!

These rotork valves are used in waste water industry should have to torque for you job but will be 3 phase.

 

[Blue.]

Hydraulic bed drive off a feed wagon or hydraulic motor onto a reduction gearbox.

 

[Matt L]

Why not just a larger diameter wheel to make it easier to turn yet keeping it the same system

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

is it making it hard to lift and drop due to it jamming as it don't lift parallel?
how about fitting jack legs off an artic trailer, one at each side, extend the shaft between the two legs, this would give an even smooth lift, and jack legs have a 2 speed gearbox on

 

[Jack Russell]

I think repurposing a bed drive off a Muck spreader as eulb suggests may be best for me.

My 3/4 Milwaukee doesn’t even turn it?

 

[puppet]

Can you identify why it is so stiff? Is it the wheel and threads or the gate itself?
2 hours to lift it seems extreme, especially if the tide is turning. At one time the wheel must have turned easily

 

[mar]

We have a back door on our drainage system that we drop down to either hold water out or in depending what we are trying to achieve. The wheel that we turn to move it is very stiff. We have welded a 3/4 socket onto it so we can use a ratchet to turn it instead. That has helped but it still takes 2 or 3 hours to drop or raise it. We tried an impact wrench but that didn’t work at all. What I think we need is a high torque motor that we can clip on and drive it. We could either take a generator down or power it hydraulically from a tractor.

The image shows the back of the door and the wheel mechanism at the top of the wall.

Any suggestions of what we could use?

Why is the door on a slide like that, does it need to hold water in a well as out.
There is one near me and it is hinged at the top, when the tide comes in the pressure keeps it closed, when the tide goes out the pressure of the water in the drain behind it opens it.
Could it be redesigned to work on a hinge or is there a reason it can't be done like that

 

[mo!]

Those are small compared to the gates on our flood system. The EA used to open them manually in 20-30 minutes, now two men come with a generator which they have to carry and it takes the same amount of time. Its just a motor with gearbox AFAIK.

I would be investigating why it is so hard to turn first.

 

[Blue.]

I was going to suggest one of these,but I think they’re a bit fast.

They sell for peanuts in auctions because they’re not much use for anything else.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

I was going to suggest one of these,but I think they’re a bit fast.

They sell for peanuts in auctions because they’re not much use for anything else.

Is that not the ultimate of mag drills!!!

No magnet I know but........ I WANT ONE!!!

 

[Jack Russell]

the frame has been twisted at some point and that’s why it is so hard. The gearing is really low as well for the weight of it. Because we only lift it and lower it once a year the cost is prohibitive to repair it. For the sake of a hydraulic motor and gearbox off a spreader it is by far the cheapest option. Even if it still takes an hour or three it will be better to be sat in a cab whilst it’s happening.

 

[Kevm]

You just need a frame and hydraulic motor then, frame to bear against something for anti rotation.
get your socket and a 12" long bar on it and pull it with a spring balance to see how much torque you need, then something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M-S-HYDR...hash=item4b67969179:m:m-qDfKMaugqaOEe3AWO-quA
Size it to suit how much torque you need with plenty spare.