I've got a sliding (rolling, actually, but you know) gate on my driveway,
driven by a motor with a drive chain of the same sort as on a bicycle,
basically. It's got a couple of links that are kinking, preventing the
chain from processing through the drive mechanism and thus preventing the
gate from opening all the way. I've lubed the heck out of the chain, but
the kinks won't loosen up, even twisting them with pliers. They're not HUGE
kinks, just a quarter- to a half-inch out of alignment, but it's enough to
stop them from going through.

Trying to DIY, but gave up and called the company that installed the gate
two years ago, Himco. Himco has promised me for two days in a row that
someone would be out "today." So I'm back to DIY, in hopes someday of
getting my car out of my driveway.

Jim Beaver

"Jim Beaver" wrote in message
...
I've got a sliding (rolling, actually, but you know) gate on my driveway,
driven by a motor with a drive chain of the same sort as on a bicycle,
basically. It's got a couple of links that are kinking, preventing the
chain from processing through the drive mechanism and thus preventing the
gate from opening all the way. I've lubed the heck out of the chain, but
the kinks won't loosen up, even twisting them with pliers. They're not
HUGE kinks, just a quarter- to a half-inch out of alignment, but it's
enough to stop them from going through.

Trying to DIY, but gave up and called the company that installed the gate
two years ago, Himco. Himco has promised me for two days in a row that
someone would be out "today." So I'm back to DIY, in hopes someday of
getting my car out of my driveway.

Jim Beaver

Sounds like it may be time for a new chain , But you could try a thin
product like WD40
to get it freed up.

"Mark H" nomail wrote in message
...

"Jim Beaver" wrote in message
...
I've got a sliding (rolling, actually, but you know) gate on my driveway,
driven by a motor with a drive chain of the same sort as on a bicycle,
basically. It's got a couple of links that are kinking, preventing the
chain from processing through the drive mechanism and thus preventing the
gate from opening all the way. I've lubed the heck out of the chain, but
the kinks won't loosen up, even twisting them with pliers. They're not
HUGE kinks, just a quarter- to a half-inch out of alignment, but it's
enough to stop them from going through.

Trying to DIY, but gave up and called the company that installed the gate
two years ago, Himco. Himco has promised me for two days in a row that
someone would be out "today." So I'm back to DIY, in hopes someday of
getting my car out of my driveway.

Jim Beaver

Sounds like it may be time for a new chain , But you could try a thin
product like WD40
to get it freed up.

Tried it, with no luck yet. Will letting the WD sit a few hours have a
noticeable effect, usually, or is it generally just as effective fresh on as
when it's set for a while?

Jim Beaver

On Oct 25, 8:05 pm, "Jim Beaver" wrote:
"Mark H" nomail wrote in message

...





"Jim Beaver" wrote in message
t...
I've got a sliding (rolling, actually, but you know) gate on my driveway,
driven by a motor with a drive chain of the same sort as on a bicycle,
basically. It's got a couple of links that are kinking, preventing the
chain from processing through the drive mechanism and thus preventing the
gate from opening all the way. I've lubed the heck out of the chain, but
the kinks won't loosen up, even twisting them with pliers. They're not
HUGE kinks, just a quarter- to a half-inch out of alignment, but it's
enough to stop them from going through.

Trying to DIY, but gave up and called the company that installed the gate
two years ago, Himco. Himco has promised me for two days in a row that
someone would be out "today." So I'm back to DIY, in hopes someday of
getting my car out of my driveway.

Jim Beaver

Sounds like it may be time for a new chain , But you could try a thin
product like WD40
to get it freed up.

Tried it, with no luck yet. Will letting the WD sit a few hours have a
noticeable effect, usually, or is it generally just as effective fresh on as
when it's set for a while?

Jim Beaver

If this chain is really "bike chain" gauge or a_bit_ beefier, you can
grip the offending link(s) on either side and flex the link back and
forth, opening up the side plates slightly. If the chain tension is
tight, you may have to loosen the tension to get enough flexing. Maybe
wear gloves, too. Tom

If its bike size chain it should be possible to replace a few links if
nescessary, taking out the offending links first of course.


"tom" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Oct 25, 8:05 pm, "Jim Beaver" wrote:
"Mark H" nomail wrote in message

...





"Jim Beaver" wrote in message
t...
I've got a sliding (rolling, actually, but you know) gate on my
driveway,
driven by a motor with a drive chain of the same sort as on a bicycle,
basically. It's got a couple of links that are kinking, preventing
the
chain from processing through the drive mechanism and thus preventing
the
gate from opening all the way. I've lubed the heck out of the chain,
but
the kinks won't loosen up, even twisting them with pliers. They're
not
HUGE kinks, just a quarter- to a half-inch out of alignment, but it's
enough to stop them from going through.

Trying to DIY, but gave up and called the company that installed the
gate
two years ago, Himco. Himco has promised me for two days in a row
that
someone would be out "today." So I'm back to DIY, in hopes someday of
getting my car out of my driveway.

Jim Beaver

Sounds like it may be time for a new chain , But you could try a thin
product like WD40
to get it freed up.

Tried it, with no luck yet. Will letting the WD sit a few hours have a
noticeable effect, usually, or is it generally just as effective fresh on
as
when it's set for a while?

Jim Beaver

If this chain is really "bike chain" gauge or a_bit_ beefier, you can
grip the offending link(s) on either side and flex the link back and
forth, opening up the side plates slightly. If the chain tension is
tight, you may have to loosen the tension to get enough flexing. Maybe
wear gloves, too. Tom

On Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:40:07 -0700, Jim Beaver wrote:

I've got a sliding (rolling, actually, but you know) gate on my driveway,
driven by a motor with a drive chain of the same sort as on a bicycle,
basically. It's got a couple of links that are kinking, preventing the
chain from processing through the drive mechanism and thus preventing the
gate from opening all the way. I've lubed the heck out of the chain, but
the kinks won't loosen up, even twisting them with pliers. They're not HUGE
kinks, just a quarter- to a half-inch out of alignment, but it's enough to
stop them from going through.

Trying to DIY, but gave up and called the company that installed the gate
two years ago, Himco. Himco has promised me for two days in a row that
someone would be out "today." So I'm back to DIY, in hopes someday of
getting my car out of my driveway.

Jim Beaver

Can you remove the master link to take the chain apart and remove the chain
from the mechanism?

"Jim Beaver" wrote in message
...
I've got a sliding (rolling, actually, but you know) gate on my driveway,
driven by a motor with a drive chain of the same sort as on a bicycle,
basically. It's got a couple of links that are kinking, preventing the
chain from processing through the drive mechanism and thus preventing the
gate from opening all the way. I've lubed the heck out of the chain, but
the kinks won't loosen up, even twisting them with pliers. They're not
HUGE
kinks, just a quarter- to a half-inch out of alignment, but it's enough to
stop them from going through.

Trying to DIY, but gave up and called the company that installed the gate
two years ago, Himco. Himco has promised me for two days in a row that
someone would be out "today." So I'm back to DIY, in hopes someday of
getting my car out of my driveway.

Jim Beaver

If the chain is bike sized, you could use a bike chain tool to release the
tension on the messed up links. Happens to me all the time when biking, I
will suddenly develop "Chain-suck" and kinks due to damage / rightness
caused by some sort of contaminant.

From your description it sounds like many links are involved in the kink?
This almost sounds like a twist pressure has been or is being exerted on the
chain. If a few links get bent, the chain is usually toast.

Anyways, a chain tool simply isolates a link and lines up the link-pin with
a a thumb driven driver. A few turns of the screw from each side will help
re-center the pin, possibly displacing the contaminant as well? Don't turn
too far, as you're not looking to displace the pin entirely. Then apply a
healthy lubricant.

If it's been a long time since maintenance, there are also cheap bike chain
cleaners out there too. If the chain is mounted with plates vertical (like
on a bike), you don't need to remove the chain to clean it. Use a
envir-friendly degreaser in the cleaner to clean the chain, dry it, then try
a standard oil as lube, or a wax-based lube to reduce attraction of
dust/dirt.

"Jim Beaver" wrote in message
. ..

"Mark H" nomail wrote in message
...

"Jim Beaver" wrote in message
...
I've got a sliding (rolling, actually, but you know) gate on my
driveway, driven by a motor with a drive chain of the same sort as on a
bicycle, basically. It's got a couple of links that are kinking,
preventing the chain from processing through the drive mechanism and
thus preventing the gate from opening all the way. I've lubed the heck
out of the chain, but the kinks won't loosen up, even twisting them with
pliers. They're not HUGE kinks, just a quarter- to a half-inch out of
alignment, but it's enough to stop them from going through.

Trying to DIY, but gave up and called the company that installed the
gate two years ago, Himco. Himco has promised me for two days in a row
that someone would be out "today." So I'm back to DIY, in hopes someday
of getting my car out of my driveway.

Jim Beaver

Sounds like it may be time for a new chain , But you could try a thin
product like WD40
to get it freed up.

Tried it, with no luck yet. Will letting the WD sit a few hours have a
noticeable effect, usually, or is it generally just as effective fresh on
as when it's set for a while?

Jim Beaver

WD40 is not a very good penetrating oil. Try something like PB Blaster or
Liquid Wrench. I like Kroil best but it is not widely available. Long soak
time will help as will heat.

Don Young

On Oct 25, 9:40 pm, "Jim Beaver" wrote:
I've got a sliding (rolling, actually, but you know) gate on my driveway,
driven by a motor with a drive chain of the same sort as on a bicycle,
basically. It's got a couple of links that are kinking, preventing the
chain from processing through the drive mechanism and thus preventing the
gate from opening all the way. I've lubed the heck out of the chain, but
the kinks won't loosen up, even twisting them with pliers. They're not HUGE
kinks, just a quarter- to a half-inch out of alignment, but it's enough to
stop them from going through.

Trying to DIY, but gave up and called the company that installed the gate
two years ago, Himco. Himco has promised me for two days in a row that
someone would be out "today." So I'm back to DIY, in hopes someday of
getting my car out of my driveway.

Jim Beaver

Cost of new chain is not a wallet buster.
Consider it a wear item like a fan belt.

"beecrofter" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Oct 25, 9:40 pm, "Jim Beaver" wrote:
I've got a sliding (rolling, actually, but you know) gate on my driveway,
driven by a motor with a drive chain of the same sort as on a bicycle,
basically. It's got a couple of links that are kinking, preventing the
chain from processing through the drive mechanism and thus preventing the
gate from opening all the way. I've lubed the heck out of the chain, but
the kinks won't loosen up, even twisting them with pliers. They're not
HUGE
kinks, just a quarter- to a half-inch out of alignment, but it's enough
to
stop them from going through.

Trying to DIY, but gave up and called the company that installed the gate
two years ago, Himco. Himco has promised me for two days in a row that
someone would be out "today." So I'm back to DIY, in hopes someday of
getting my car out of my driveway.

Jim Beaver

Cost of new chain is not a wallet buster.
Consider it a wear item like a fan belt.

Estimating twenty feet of chain, what's that likely to cost? Not counting
putting it on.

Jim Beaver