Are You Finding It Hard To Operate Your Castor Wheeled Gate? Here Are Three Common Reasons
Castor wheeled gates have become a standard feature in most homes. Homeowners prefer them for various reasons with the major one being the ease of operating them. Additionally, wheeled gates are recommended ergonomically especially if you have a manual gate that needs a dedicated person to manage. However, only fixing castor wheels on gates will not guarantee smooth operation for one reason or another. There will be moments when the gate will feel hard to pull or push. This article highlights reasons that might make castor wheeled gates hard to pull and push. Additionally, it gives pointers on what homeowners can do in case they experience such difficulty.
Castor Wheel Diameter -- One of the main features that make a wheeled gate easy or hard to pull or push is the diameter of the wheels. Castor wheels with small diameters are difficult to start rolling because they are usually small. As such, if you have a massive gate, its weight will affect the ability of the wheels to turn thereby requiring a lot of energy to operate. On the other hand, castor wheels with bigger diameters are large and easier to move. Therefore, if you find out that your gate is difficult to open or close despite having castor wheels fixed, you might want to look at their diameters, which should be proportionate to the size and weight of the gate.
Castor Wheel Width -- The width of the castor wheel affect the ease of operating a gate. Full wheels ensure that a bigger surface area is always in contact with the floor; hence, turning it becomes a problem. Since most castor wheels can manage a 360-degree turn, wide wheels will often drag because their ability to switch direction quickly is already compromised. Additionally, compared to small castor wheels, a lot of debris gets stuck on the surface of wider castor wheels, therefore, making them susceptible to rolling problems. If your wheels start behaving in this manner, you should make a point of replacing the castor wheels with narrow ones that can turn quickly thereby keeping the rolling motion smooth and unhindered.
Castor Spring Strength -- For the most part, sprung gate castors are used on commercial and heavy-duty gates. However, if you install your gate on a sloping or uneven surface, then you should get a spring gate castor. However, the strength of the spring will determine the ease with which the gate will be operated. In case you still find it difficult to pull or push the gate despite having a spring castor wheel, then the spring is not strong enough to absorb the pressure created by pulling or pushing the gate on a slope. Consequently, you should use recommended springs that match the specifications of your gate.