A Starting gate is a padded door that opens automatically upon the push of a button during horse racing, requiring skill, insight, and teamwork from riders. They serve as barriers against horses trying to enter or leave this moving barrier.
Many automated motor-controlled gates come equipped with grease fittings (zirk), making the lubrication of hinges much simpler. Simply purchase a standard grease gun and heavy grease from your hardware store to lubricate their hinges.
Inspect the Posts
Starting gates must always put safety first, especially since their use involves unpredictable animals that put tremendous weight and force onto equipment. A starting gate should be designed to withstand this stress without becoming unreliable; one way of doing this is ensuring it has fail-safes in place and that these work properly - such as Steriline's spring lock back gate system which prevents horses from running into it when it drops and allows jockeys to exit safely - something Steriline provides to racecourses, saving both money and lives over time - another aspect that also impacts lifespan is proper maintenance over time: this feature alone could save racecourses quite some money over time!
Clean the Tracks and Rollers
Starting gates are designed to move smoothly, and maintaining this condition requires regular cleaning. Use a brush or vacuum cleaner to clear away dirt and debris before spraying lubricant onto rollers and bearings so they move more freely. Wipe down the insides of the tracks too while you're at it - automotive brake cleaner may also come in handy in areas of stubborn grease build-up on tracks!
Before each race begins, a starter reaches up to the starting gate and presses a button that rings a bell, and opens each door of padded gates with great precision. The team of men responsible for overseeing this operation makes sure each door is properly prepared before each race starts; additionally, their crew monitors horses and jockeys as they approach, enter, stand in, or exit starting gates; should any rider show signs of discomfort or distress while standing within one, an additional member of the crew quickly jumps into a truck to move it back safely away from rails if needed.
Although it remains unclear whether or not the starting gate malfunctioned in this incident, or simply opened prematurely, its aftermath highlights the risks associated with operating machinery designed for human operation. Establishing a preventive maintenance program could help detect issues before they become harmful or cause injury to someone.
To prevent such misfortune, the following checklist can be used to inspect and maintain your starting gate between races. Though tailored towards Steriline racing gates, its implementation can easily apply to other starting gate designs. Keeping gates in top condition reduces costly repairs that could put a stop to your race program or cause injuries to jockeys and horses alike.
Check the Clutch Adjustment
Start gates are essential components to the safety of both horse and dog racing, so they must open properly to ensure both horses and jockeys stay out of harm's way. Failing this, crashes may occur or drivers could lose control, so it is vital that clutch adjustments of gates be reviewed regularly as well as cleaning being done regularly to maintain maximum protection for horses and drivers alike.
One of the first telltale signs that your clutch needs adjustment is an unpleasant or burning smell. Another indicator may be resistance in your clutch pedal when applying pressure. Regular clutch adjustment checks with appropriate oil are crucial to avoid either burning out or grinding of clutch plates.
If your clutch emits an unpleasant odor, replacing its friction plates may be in order. To do so, remove it and measure its width and flatness before replacing them with new plates that conform to your owner's manual specifications.
Once the plates have been replaced, you should also examine the ring gear and flywheel to ensure everything is in good shape. Check for cracks or damage on either part - thickness can help give an indication - but also visually inspect to ensure there are no missing teeth or other irregularities in either.
Next, examine your clutch cable. Add some slack by loosening the jam nut that secures it to the adjuster itself; this will allow the adjuster to be dialed back. Use a feeler gauge to measure the gap between the stop bolt and the small lever arm; it should have approximately 1.2mm clearance between these parts.
Once the clutch cable is properly adjusted with some slack added, tighten up its jam nut. You should hear a distinct change when adding or taking away slack from it; this ensures your clutch remains centered when opening gates.
Repair the Hinges
There are two primary kinds of gate hinges - barrel and sealed bearing type hinges. Barrels consist of simple housing attached to posts with pins slipping through. If any part becomes damaged or corroded, this could cause the gate to sag or become difficult to open. Sealed bearing types require more complex mechanisms that have many moving parts; should any part become dry of grease it may also result in failure to open the gate properly.
First, determine the source of the issue; this could be anything from loose screws or missing hinges, to tightening of existing screws that hold hinges together (and that won't spin under minimal pressure), using either a power drill or screwdriver to tighten them using tightening pliers or tighteners to get your gate back into alignment. If any screws won't tighten properly or have become stripped out over time, replace them with new longer ones from an approved supplier.
If the gate is out of square, forcing it back into shape with braces may often be enough to correct it. To do this, lay it flat on a surface and use a tape measure to take diagonal measurements from one corner to the opposite corner using diagonal measurements from top to bottom; if they match then your gate should be square; otherwise, use pipe clamps stretched from the hinge side of the gate to latch side to square it up as necessary.
If your gate's hinges are rusty, replacing them should be an easy and straightforward task for those with some experience. Simply unbolt the old bolts and install new hinges - which should work once they've been unscrewed from their hinges and bolts - using either lumber props or another set of hands can help support it while you unscrew hinges and bolts. For heavier-rusty gates or latches that have many parts missing due to corrosion build up, you may require new hinges altogether - most hardware stores sell kits that contain everything necessary parts necessary to reassemble new hinges - once installed you rehang the gate for testing!