OVERVIEW

Use this article to help you assemble, install, and/or replace Magnetic MicroDrive straight or articulating gate arm components.

Gate Arm Components 

The gate arm is shipped in two or three separate containers, depending on whether the arm is straight or articulating.

Straight Arm

The items below are included with straight arms:

• Gate arm, shipped in a tube.
• Preassembled short boom and hardware - Packaged as two half shells, rubber-banded together.
• Gate tool kit (if purchased), shipped in a separate box.
• T40 torx screwdriver.
• T30 torx screwdriver.
• 3/8 T handle.

Articulating Arm

The items below are included with articulating arms:

• Gate arm, shipped in a tube.
• Preassembled short boom and hardware - Packaged as two half shells, rubber-banded together.
• Forcing lever and hardware, shipped in a separate box.
• Gate tool kit (if purchased), shipped in a separate box.
• T40 torx screwdriver.
• T30 torx screwdriver.
• 3/8 T handle.

Required Tools

• #2 Phillips head screwdriver
  
• 3/8 T-handle (included in gate tool kit)
• 7/32 T-handle or allen wrench
• 3⁄4 socket or wrench
• 3⁄4 wrench or crescent wrench
• T15 torx screwdriver
• T20 torx screwdriver
• T30 torx screwdriver (included in gate tool kit)
• T40 torx screwdriver (included in gate tool kit)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Torque wrench (optional)

Remove the Gate Arm 

Step 1. Gather tools and components

The tools below are required for this section:

• 3/4 socket or wrench
• 3/4 wrench or crescent wrench
• T40 torx screwdriver

Step 2. Remove the Gate Arm

1. Remove the gate’s top cover and front access panel.

2. Put the gate in service mode with the switch labeled “service”. A red LED indicates the gate is in service mode.

3. Press the up arrow button to raise the gate arm completely.

4. Turn the gate off with the circuit breaker switch.

5. If the gate arm is articulating, disconnect the forcing lever from the gate arm.

1. Use a 3⁄4 socket or wrench and a crescent wrench to remove the end bearing bolt from the bracket connected to the gate arm. Hold the nut with the crescent wrench while you loosen the bolt.

2. Loosen or remove the other forcing lever bolt from the bracket connected to the gate, to give you more room to replace the gate arm later.

6. Place one knee along the bottom of the gate arm and loosen the mounting bolts. This prevents it from slipping out of the bracket.

7. Hold the gate arm from above the mounting bracket to stabilize it.

8. Use a T40 torx screwdriver to loosen the two mounting bolts on the top side of the gate arm. Loosen just until you feel the gate arm slip slightly.

9. Keep the gate arm stabilized with your hand and knee, and loosen the two bottom mounting bolts.

10. Grab the gate arm with your other hand and pull it away from the mounting bracket.

11. Gently place the gate arm on the ground on one of its sides. To make sure the powder coated finish doesn’t get damaged, handle the gate arm carefully and don’t put it on an unlevel surface.

12. Proceed based on whether you need to:

• Replace a preassembled short boom
• Replace or assemble a gate arm

Replace the Preassembled Short Boom

Step 1. Gather tools and components

1. Identify the necessary gate arm components and hardware and unpack the containers. The items below are necessary for this section.

• Preassembled short boom (grey section) and hardware - Packaged as two half-shell covers, rubber-banded together.
• T15 torx screwdriver
• T20 torx screwdriver
• T30 torx screwdriver
• #2 Phillips head screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver

Step 2. Replace the preassembled short boom

2. On the gate arm you just took off, use a T 15 screwdriver to remove the two screws that hold the rear plastic cap in position. There is one on the top and one on the bottom. Don’t misplace the screws, you may need them later.

3. Use a screwdriver to gently pry the end cap off the gate arm. Set it aside.

4. Slide the bottom threaded mounting plate out of its track. The bolts may need to be loosened, but not removed. Set the plate aside.

5. Remove the two bolts from the top threaded mounting plate. Set aside the plate and screws.

6. Remove the four screws on one of the half-shell covers with a T30 torx screwdriver and set them aside.

7. Turn the gate arm over onto the opposite side and remove the four screws on the second half- shell cover. Set them aside.

8. Remove the four screws, two on each side, that secure the outer gate arm section, with a T20 torx screwdriver.

9. Pull the outer gate arm section off the mounting plates.

10. Slide the mounting plates of the replacement preassembled short boom into the original outer gate arm.

11. Align the screw holes on the side and replace the four screws that were removed in step 10.

12. Make sure the preinstalled screws on the replacement inner gate arm are tight.

13. Put on one of the half-shell covers that was removed in steps 8 and 9 and tighten the screws.

14. Turn the gate arm over and re-install the second half-shell cover removed in steps 8 and 9 and tighten the screws.

15. If the replacement gate arm section is new, it may have a plastic end cap. Remove the two screws and gently pry the end cap off. Set aside the screws.

16. Slide the top, threaded mounting plate into the end of the gate arm.

17. Align the two holes on the top of the arm and slightly thread the two bolts that were removed in step 5. Tighten the bolts only a few turns.

18. Slide the bottom, threaded mounting plate into the lower track.

19. Secure the end cap with the two end cap screws.

Step 3. Install the arm

20. Continue to INSTALL A GATE ARM.

Replace or Assemble a Gate Arm

Step 1. Gather tools and components

1. Identify the necessary gate arm components and hardware and unpack the containers. The items below are necessary for this section.

• Long outer gate arm
• Forcing lever and hardware (articulating arm only)
• New or existing preassembled short boom (grey section) and hardware. Packaged as two half-shell covers, rubber-banded together.
• T20 torx screwdriver
• T30 torx screwdriver
• 7/32 T handle.

Step 2. Assemble the gate arm

2. If you want to use the existing preassembled short boom and replace only the outer gate arm, follow the steps below. To assemble a new gate arm and boom continue to step 3 on the next page.

1. On the gate arm you just took off, remove the four screws on one of the half-shell covers with a T30 torx screwdriver. Set aside the half-shell cover and the screws.

2. Turn the gate arm over onto the opposite side and remove the four screws on the second half-shell cover. Set aside the half-shell cover and the screws.

3. Use a T20 torx screwdriver to remove the four screws, two on each side, that secure the outer gate arm section.

4. Pull the outer gate arm section off of the mounting plates.

5. Slide the replacement outer gate arm section over the mounting plates.

6. Continue to step 3 below.

3. Remove the rubber bands and separate the half-shell covers. Set them aside.

4. Slide the outer gate arm section of over the two connection plates that are already installed into the preassembled boom.

5. Line up the two mounting holes on one side of the gate arm and insert the two torx screws and washers into the proper holes. Repeat on the opposite side.

6. Tighten the four torx screws that you just inserted to connect the sections.

7. Make sure the six preinstalled screws on the inner gate arm section are tight.

8. Put one of the half-shells onto the gate arm and insert the four torx screws. Do not tighten the screws yet.

9. Put the second half-shell onto the other side of the gate arm and insert the remaining four torx screws.

10. Tighten all eight of the half-shell mounting screws.

Step 3. Install the forcing lever brackets (articulating arm only)

11. Place the forcing lever bracket over the lower part of the gate arm near the hinged end.

12. Align the slotted hole on the forcing lever bracket with the threaded holes in the gate arm.

13. Insert the allen head mounting bolts into all four of the mounting holes.

14. Position the bracket so that the mounting bolts are in the center of the bracket mounting slots, and tighten the bolts with a 7/32 T-handle.

15. If the Forcing Lever Gate Bracket is not installed on the gate, insert the two allen head bolts provided, and tighten them.

Step 4. Install the arm

16. Continue to INSTALL A GATE ARM.

Install the Gate Arm

Step 1. Gather tools and components

1. The components and tools below are required for this section:

• Assembled gate arm
• 3/8 T handle
• 3/4 socket or wrench
• 3/4 wrench or crescent wrench
• T40 torx screwdriver
• Torque wrench (optional)

Step 2. Install the gate arm

2. Make sure that the four bolts on the flange that secures the gate arm are loose. They need to be as far out as possible but still securely threaded into the mounting plates.

3. Slide the gate arm into the gate flange, and make sure that all four bolts are in their slots.

4. Hold the gate arm in the flange with one knee, and tighten the four bolts with a T40 torx screwdriver until they are snug, but not tight.

5. Finish tightening the mounting bolts in a star pattern, alternating between the top and bottom of the gate arm at alternate corners.

• They need to be tight, but do not overtighten; the gate arm should break away if hit by a vehicle.
• If you have a torque wrench, tighten to 12.6 ft-lbs (17NM).

6. Continue based on the type of gate arm you’re installing and follow the corresponding instructions to level the gate arm.

• Articulating gate arm
• Straight gate arm

Install a Straight Gate Arm

Level the gate arm

1. Turn the gate back on with the circuit breaker switch and allow the controller to boot up into operational mode.

2. Press the button on the left of the controller, labeled with a square.

3. Set the service mode switch back to normal operation. The gate arm will lower into the down position.

4. Find the four allen head bolts that clamp the main gate arm fitting to the gate’s rotating shaft. They may be covered by gray plastic caps. If so, gently pry off the caps with a flat head screwdriver.

5. Put the gate in service mode with the switch labeled “service”. A red LED indicates the gate is in service mode.

6. Press the down arrow button to raise the gate arm completely.

7. Power off the gate with the circuit breaker switch.

8. Use a 3/8 T-handle to slightly loosen all four of the clamping bolts that you located in step 4. You may need to tap the bolts with a hammer to get them loose.

Note: Loosen the bolts slowly, and only enough for the gate arm to rotate freely. If the bolts are too loose, the arm can fall and cause injury. Loosen the bolts slowly, and only enough for the gate arm to rotate freely. If the bolts are too loose, the arm can fall and cause injury.

9. Manually move the gate arm position until it’s level to the lane surface, check with a carpenter’s level if desired.

10. Once the arm is level, retighten the four allen head bolts in a rotating pattern. 

• They need to be tight to prevent the gate arm from becoming misaligned again.
• If you have a torque wrench, torque the bolts to 55.4 ft-lbs (75.11 NM).

11. Turn the gate back on with the circuit breaker switch. Replace the plastic bolt head covers if removed earlier.

12. Run the gate arm up and down in service mode to check that the position is correct and that the arm moves through its full range.

13. If the arm still needs adjustment, repeat steps 1 through 12.

14. Once satisfied with the gate arm alignment, put the arm down in service mode.

15. Power off the gate with the circuit breaker switch.

16. Move the service switch back to the normal position.

17. Wait at least 10 seconds, then turn the gate power back on.

18. If the gate arm raises and doesn’t go back down, press the button on the left of the controller, marked with a square. The gate arm should lower and be ready to operate.

19. Verify the gate arm alignment and movement with a live test transaction.

20. Slide the front panel back on the gate.

21. Put the top cover back on the gate and lock it.

Install an Articulating Gate Arm

Level the gate arm

1. Unscrew the end bearing fittings halfway out on both ends of the forcing lever. Leave the jam nuts loose for now.

2. Attach one end of the forcing lever to the gate bracket with the bolt, flat washers, and nut supplied. Hand-tighten the nut.

3. Manually raise the outer gate arm section to be level with the lane surface. Note where the outer forcing lever end bearing fitting is in relation to the mounting hole on the outer gate arm fitting.

4. Adjust the forcing lever length to match the measurement in step 3 above. Screw one or both end bearing(s) in or out to achieve the length required. Do not screw either end out more than 3⁄4 of its thread length.

5. Manually raise the outer gate arm again to a level position and insert the attachment bolt, flat washers and nut supplied. Hand-tighten the nut.

6. Make sure the outer gate arm section is level.

• Use a carpenter’s level if needed.
• Readjust the forcing lever as needed to get it level.

7. Once the outer gate arm is level, tighten the forcing lever bolt on the gate with a 3⁄4 socket or wrench. Use a crescent wrench to hold the nut in place while you tighten the bolt.

8. Tighten the outer gate arm section end bearing bolt with a 3⁄4 socket or wrench. Use a crescent wrench to hold the nut in place while you tighten the bolt.

9. Manually raise and lower the gate arm to ensure that it performs as expected.

10. Turn the gate back on with the circuit breaker switch and allow the controller to boot up into operational mode.

11. Press the button on the left of the controller, labeled with a square.

12. Set the service mode switch back to normal operation. The gate arm will lower into the down position.

13. Slide the front panel back on the gate.

14. Put the top cover back on the gate and lock it.