Sentry 300D Gate Opener

[Retired Iron Peddler]

Does anyone use a Sentry 300D dual gate opener? I've been using a GTO/Mighty Mule 502 dual gate opener since 2006. The first few yuears, the gate opener worked flawlessly, but for the last year, I have had multiple problems with the slave opener. The master opener has always worked. I'm getting tired of messing with it and I'm thinking of replacing the whole system with something else. I noticed that Lowe's doesn't sell the Mighty Mule gate openers anymore and sells the Sentry system instead. It's more expensive than the Mighty Mule. At this time I'm ready to spend more; however, I'm still too cheap to buy an Apollo system.

Bill

 

[MotorSeven]

Have you called Mighty Mule? They seem to have good customer service, so you might give them a shot first. We have a ''mule and the only issue so far was the pivot point pulling off the gate.

 

[Retired Iron Peddler]

Have you called Mighty Mule? They seem to have good customer service, so you might give them a shot first. We have a ''mule and the only issue so far was the pivot point pulling off the gate.

Oh yes, many times. I'm on a first name basis with tech support. The slave opener (8 months old and still in warranty) is on its third trip back to FL for service. (I pay the shipping to FL) The revolution counter has been replaced twice. The slave opener will open the gate twice and after closing the second time it will sound the alarm that it has failed and neither gate will open which is very inconvenient for my wife. If I disconnect the slave arm opener from the control box and leave it disconnected for a few days and then reconnect it, it will work twice and quit again. When it fails to open, I have to place pressure against the closed gates and remove the pin from the master opener arm in order to get in or out. It isn稚 fun after dark and in the rain.
To remove the slave opener to return it, I have to disconnect the wiring in the control box and pull the cable from the 32+ feet of conduit under the paved driveway and block the gate from opening while the master gate continues to open and close. When I pull the cable out I attach and feed in pull wire in order to pull the slave opener cable back through the conduit when re-installing the slave opener arm.

Bill

 

[MotorSeven]

Wow, your way too patient...I think I would be throwing something in the creek by now. We went with a single 18' gate, no slave, and after reading your problems I am glad. If this one ever needs replacing it will be a vertical gate opener.

 

[Retired Iron Peddler]

Wow, your way too patient...I think I would be throwing something in the creek by now. We went with a single 18' gate, no slave, and after reading your problems I am glad. If this one ever needs replacing it will be a vertical gate opener.

Yep, since I've not had a problem with the master opener on either gate opener (this is my second MM opener), I'm thinking about using the old original control box and the old original master opener to open the slave gate and use a two button remote (using different codes) to open it after the master opens. My wife won't have to worry about it since she can drive through just one of our dual 16-ft gates. Only when truck deliveries occur or wide farm machinery during hay baling season will I need to open both gates.

Bill

 

[heehaw]

what is a vertical opener?
heehaw

 

[Retired Iron Peddler]

The third time was the charm. I received the slave opener arm from GTO and re-installed it. It has worked flawlessly for two weeks. The warranty service folks at GTO couldn't find anything wrong, but replaced the revolution counter any way. Evidently the rev counter was working intermittently. I'm a satisfied customer now.

Bill