Startgate Installation

Dick We have 3 gates-One of them tripped about 5 o more than the others. Fred and I decided to trade the bad one in on a new "FIS" type gate. This opens all the way and has to be closed by hand. I needed this for smaller kids who would slip out the side--sometimes--when it was mounted on the left, and the first gate caused one to go out on the right. Make sure your posts are the right distance, and are solid. BUT , we would loose Both impulses, not one or the other. Sounds like Dr Fred needs to have a look!! Hope this helps!!



Originally posted 26 Feb 2002 by Chase chase@vara.org

Yes, the wand was up to the post on the other side. As I mentioned, one set of contacts worked fine. After the race I discovered that the second set of contacts required the wand to open nearly twice as far as the first set of contacts. With a hard left required right at the start, it allowed a couple of racers to slip between the post and the wand and not trip the second set of contacts. It is one of the newer style start gates. I have a backup to use for the rest of the season. Is it worth trying to fix it?



Originally posted 26 Feb 2002 by Dirk Gouwens dirk@dreamscape.com

[This message was edited by Admin on September 13, 2002 at 12:07 PM.]

Dirk I had the same problem last year and it is due to the angle of the racer coming out of the gate. This is why FIS and USSA require the manual return wands. They are spring loaded to ensure that the gate opens. I know that the gates that NYSEF has are not more than 5 years old. One of them was new 2years ago and the other isn't but one or two years older than that. I did have problems with one of the gates last year but I believe is was with the Headset amp and not the contacts. Did Doug send it too Fred for repair?


Originally posted 26 Feb 2002 by Tim Maxwell Tim@FinishLineSports.com

[This message was edited by Admin on September 13, 2002 at 12:07 PM.]

It is possible that the gate is worn out. There is obviously no piece of equipment that gets more use than the start gate. It is also a mechanical device and prone to wear. I do not the age of the gate in question. The square box style with the white nylon arm mounted on the top were superceded in 1991 by the moulded style with
the black metal arm. The early gates have easily replaced microswitches, the newer ones can be replaced but it is harder. I would not expect a gate that gets heavy use to last more than 10 years.

The start wand stick is supposed to be set against a post on the other side of the start so that it is impossible to slip past without triggering. The stick should literally touch the far post.

We test gates here with a template that has the 15% marked on it. Any gate that does not come close to reliable triggering gets stripped for parts and made into a headset amp.


Originally posted 25 Feb 2002 by Fred Patton

[This message was edited by Admin on September 13, 2002 at 12:07 PM.]

[This message was edited by Admin on September 13, 2002 at 12:08 PM.]

[This message was edited by Admin on September 13, 2002 at 12:08 PM.]