Did they ever build such an axle?

[Scot]

I am pondering building a farm gate opener using a small car/truck rear axle as the hinges and turning it with a gear reduction motor to open it. Since the axle is sitting on end, I was wondering if anyone built one that had the axle seals inboard (dry tubes) like an open knuckle 4x4 front has?



Any ideas?

 

[OKish]

you mean like a rear differential on a car with independent suspension?

like this? #ad

 

[Sled Puller]

Maybe a high tack synthetic grease for the bearings, and forget the oil.

 

[nickleinonen]

why not just a regular rear end assembly? instead of oil in the gear housing, leave it dry, and spray the gears with open gear spray lube, and pack all the bearings with heavy grease. . ? it's not like it is moving at high speeds or running for long a time

 

[Scot]

Okish. I am wanting a regular monobeam type rear axle.



Re grease vs oil vs nothing. Nothing or just a yearly spray will probably have to work. Grease tends to seperate and make a mess during the 1+ month of 100*+ weather we have around here. 41 days so far this year...

 

[KBennett]

I have a lot of experience in the field of gate operators and worked in the field for 5 years engineering the electronics for them.

I think that the way you are going about it will require a tremendous amount of torque. If your gate is wider than 6 or 7 feet then anything that pushes on it (wind, humans, animals, etc. ) will have tremendous force on the axle and whatever you choose to mount it on.



If I were to do this I would hang the gate on some heavy bearings and go out and get a 12VDC weather proof actuator. The kind they use for satellite dishes, etc. Mount the base of the actuator to the post using an offset bracket and mount the other end to the gate. Run it on a 12VDC battery and trickle charge it with a battery charger or solar panel it so that if power goes out your gate will still work.

Here is a link to a picture of one:

Swing gate



Please be careful, gate operators can generate enough force to crush or kill.

 

[gregdoerfler]

Why not just get an electric drive thru gate there is one listed on jefferslivestock.com website. but if you want to drive a vehicle thru it i would not recommend it, they say it wont scratch but i would not trust it.