TSC and gate openers

heehaw · May 4, 2007

i "was" going to go to tractor supply and carry a sale sheet from Atwoods, and buy a mighty mule gate opener: but just for the heck of it, i decided to call TSC first: they will no longer match sale prices, only regular prices. Atwoods has the MM350 on sale for $269: which is the cheapest i have ever seen, anywhere: if anyone wants to rig a garage door opener up to open a gate, there are instructions on how to do that using a genie opener, and mounting the opener directly onto the gate: its pretty slick, if your interested, i will try to figure out how to post a link?? i would do something like that, but i would have to buy the garage door opener too, so why not just buy the gate opener?
heehaw

ctpres · May 5, 2007

Have had Mule on gate for about 3 yrs now. No prob. except with very heavy wind gate may stop open/close cycle. I have two small signs on 16 foot tube type gate which increases the wind resistance. Install was very easy. 110vac intercomm to house. Wireless keypad on outside for family & friends. Only regret is I didn't put a pushbutton on post on the inside to open gate when mowing, checking mail etc. Button is somewhere on project list. Only routine maint. required is occasional shot of silicon to control rod. If crime/theft is a possible prob. in your area I recommend pin type padlocks to secure both ends of operator. Help keep operator on YOUR gate and make it more difficult for anyone to entry property by simply removing one of the operator pins.

deereguy · May 5, 2007

Did you install an exit wand (the magnetic one in the ground)? We installed one that was 100' behind the gates so as you exit with a golf cart, mower, car, truck, or tractor they open. If I had to do it all over again (we will be re-doing ours due to a 15 yo driver running down a gate and fence), I would have gone with the 150' wand, unfortunately the wand wasn't damaged in this accident.

We have the Mule 503 (for double) gates, it worked well the 6 weeks it was up before the above mentioned accident.

Soundguy · May 5, 2007

I just put in a MM 350 ( from tsc ) last weekend.

I have a 16' tube gate with a wheel.

I did a few things different fromt he instructions.. but all went well.

The positive close latch/plate, i actually installed to the fence post/gate/jamb and not the gate itself.

Also due to geometry of my gat to the hinge post I installed another seperate post for the gate opener to pivot from due to too low of clearance between arm and gate. Used all OEM brackets that were included. Did have to drill a new hole int he oem tear drop shape bracket, as the 6 holes they provide for different angle didn't quite fit what I needed.
I used a short 1' piece of chain link fence tube and cut that long ways and sandwhiched it around the gate tube before I drilled my holes inthe gate, so it would be a stiffener... worked perfectly.

I programme dmy wifes onboard remote controler in her yukon to the gate opener code ( after changing from the factor code ).

I got a keypad (wireless) at the entrance, and I got a push button exit mounted at the back door/garage door to the house so I can just hit the button as I'm leaving.. or open the gate from the door if pizza is showing up.. etc.

The exit delay control is kinda sensitive to set. but a little patience gets it.

All in all, the wife loves it.. it was her aniversery present this year.. she's been asking for one for 5 ys now.

Also.. mine was really too far to run ac power to du to some obbstructions.. so i went with the (expensive) soalr 5w kit, and a good HD battery in an 'ooutdoor' marine enclosure.

Soundguy

heehaw · May 5, 2007

i will probably be makin a run to the TSC competitor, to buy the MM 350 for $269: thats the cheapest i have seen in the last couple years.
heehaw

project_X · May 5, 2007

heehaw said:
if anyone wants to rig a garage door opener up to open a gate, there are instructions on how to do that using a genie opener, and mounting the opener directly onto the gate: its pretty slick, if your interested, i will try to figure out how to post a link?? i would do something like that, but i would have to buy the garage door opener too, so why not just buy the gate opener?
heehaw

if you could post the instructions, I'd be interested.

Cheers,
Rob

ctpres · May 6, 2007

No exit wand. Gate would open close at every pass w mower or tractor and wouldn't help when on foot.

weldingisfun · May 6, 2007

I've got two MM350 Gate Openers both on 16 foot gates. Had them for about 4 years, minimal problems. The outside gate has the MM Lock on it. Once closed no one will open it without the key or the Keypad code. A shot of WD-40 every month or so and it is happy and as pointed out some silicon on the opener rod is all it takes. One operates on AC the other is solar. Had to replace one battery after 3.5 years ($18) can't complain. TSC here wants $298 for the MM350. Lowes Website lists it for $378 and HD Website shows it at $479.

Unclebuck257 · May 6, 2007

I've had MM double gate openers on two 14 foot gates at our entrance now for over 6 years. I'd suggest that if you're not going to hook the openers up to electricity that you skip the nonsense with the MM battery, that comes with your unit, and just go buy a 12 volt marine battery at Wally World and hook that up from the jump start. The MM battery isn't worth flip and won't work after a day or two of cloudy weather. I also use two solar panels, one on each side, or gate and have never had a problem with it staying charged, even after a week of cloudy weather.

Also, I've had to replace one arm already at a cost of $334.00. Otherwise, they're great to have!

deereguy · May 6, 2007

We got ours at GTO (Gates That Open) .com, it was cheapest that we found. We are using a 12v marine battery for now, going to wire it for 110v in the future. The major problem we had was the antenna and the wireless access pad, couldn't get the antenna high enough with a 4WD truck. We placed the master box on the opposite post of the wireless controller so our exit wand would be further away (we had telephone/cable lines on the access pad side).

heehaw · May 6, 2007

Free Automatic Gate Opener Plans by Keith Vickers on the Natural Handyman home repair and do it yourself website
thats the web site that gives instructions on how to make a gate opener out of a genie garage door opener:
i bought the MM350 from Atwoods yesterday: $269. cheapest price i could find anywhere. i still wish TSC would take down their sign that says they match prices!!
heehaw

Soundguy · May 7, 2007

weldingisfun said:
I've got two MM350 Gate Openers both on 16 foot gates. Had them for about 4 years, minimal problems. The outside gate has the MM Lock on it. Once closed no one will open it without the key or the Keypad code. A shot of WD-40 every month or so and it is happy and as pointed out some silicon on the opener rod is all it takes. One operates on AC the other is solar. Had to replace one battery after 3.5 years ($18) can't complain. TSC here wants $298 for the MM350. Lowes Website lists it for $378 and HD Website shows it at $479.

Are you talking on the outside of the arm? ( is there a way to lube the worm drive inside? or is it sealed and pre-lubed / permanently?

soundguy

Soundguy · May 7, 2007

Unclebuck257 said:
I've had MM double gate openers on two 14 foot gates at our entrance now for over 6 years. I'd suggest that if you're not going to hook the openers up to electricity that you skip the nonsense with the MM battery, that comes with your unit, and just go buy a 12 volt marine battery at Wally World and hook that up from the jump start. The MM battery isn't worth flip and won't work after a day or two of cloudy weather. I also use two solar panels, one on each side, or gate and have never had a problem with it staying charged, even after a week of cloudy weather.

Also, I've had to replace one arm already at a cost of $334.00. Otherwise, they're great to have!

I also got a HD battery.. and didn't put much faith in that anemic looking MM battery... I have 1 soalr panel.. seems to be doing fine.

Soundguy

anojones · May 7, 2007

I installed the Mighty Mule 350, works pretty well, and actually requires you to buy a battery for it. I purchased an inexspensive battery and put it in a marine box hooked to a single mighty mule solar panel- hasn't failed yet. The opener is slower than the 500 series and a bit fussy in our high wind area. I will probably add the automatic lock to keep it shut as the wind blows on it enough to to cause the close stop to be misadjusted from time to time.

RobJ · May 7, 2007

I have a couple friends that went through the cheap vs expensive gate openers. Keep in mind that both of these use the gates at their main house, so it could be use 4-8 cycles a day, everyday. the cheap MM models don't last that long, the expensive ones ($1500+, commercial types) last for years and years. I think all of these were AC powered. My BIL has the MM types, he has to replace it every couple years and it's only used on the weekend, a battery model.

ToddW · May 7, 2007

I have 2 of the MM gate openers, I used to have 350's but the last time one went bad I replaced it with a 500, so I have a 350 and a 500 now. My biggest problem with them seems to be from lightning damage. After a good storm one of them will fail, usually the electronics (control board) will be fried. Haven't had the opener (actuator) itself fail yet.

Out of curiosity has anyone tried the opener from Harbor Freight? Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

I wonder if it can be used for a single opener, it is a dual.

/Todd

weldingisfun · May 7, 2007

Soundguy said:
Are you talking on the outside of the arm? ( is there a way to lube the worm drive inside? or is it sealed and pre-lubed / permanently?

soundguy

The WD40 goes into the lock assembly and the silcon on the operating rod. As far as I know. the openers are sealed and I presume pre-lubed.

Soundguy · May 8, 2007

Luckilly i have atube gate so wind resistance isn't much on it.. that and the rolling guide wheel, and i am using only about 50% of the tension adjustment on the control board. it came seat at about 25%.. and would stall / reverse i fthe rolling wheel hit a pebble!

Soundguy

anojones said:
I installed the Mighty Mule 350, works pretty well, and actually requires you to buy a battery for it. I purchased an inexspensive battery and put it in a marine box hooked to a single mighty mule solar panel- hasn't failed yet. The opener is slower than the 500 series and a bit fussy in our high wind area. I will probably add the automatic lock to keep it shut as the wind blows on it enough to to cause the close stop to be misadjusted from time to time.

Ronbo · May 9, 2007

Soundguy said:
Are you talking on the outside of the arm? ( is there a way to lube the worm drive inside? or is it sealed and pre-lubed / permanently?

soundguy

I have had mine for about 7-8 yrs now. You can take off the outer cover and lube the gears. The screws go into rods and averything is screwed together inside. Very easy. I do not know about the newer design though. I have an overpriced solar charger and have been runnning a marine battery for at least 5 yrs now. Once a year (no direct sun during december) I take it out and charge it. Silicone lube when I remember (about 2 X yr). Need to re;oace my gate now as it is rusting and drooping. I will build my next gate.

Would I buy another MM gate opener? Yes.