How to Correct the Limit Gear Spacing on a Patriot Actuator

How to Correct the Limit Gear Spacing on a Patriot Actuator

Overview

The gear spacing problem is when the blue worm gear on the actuator arm and the white gear on the retract limit shaft (a part of the limit assembly) are not meshed together well enough. This causes the limits to stop moving while the actuator runs, resulting in the limits getting out of adjustment.
The fix involves loosening the 4 screws that hold the limit assembly in place, pressing it into the blue worm gear, and then tightening the screws back down. In this article you will learn how to correct the gear spacing.

Applies to Part Number(s)

  1. 510001

What You Need

  1. 5/16" hex nut socket
  2. Torx T15 (or flathead) driver 

Procedure

Opening the Actuator

There are 5 hex nut bolts (5/16") along the back edge of the actuator housing. Use the 5/16" socket to remove these bolts to open the actuator housing. Sometimes the gasket can cause the housing to stick together once the bolts are removed. If so, apply downward pressure on the back half of the housing to release it.

The 5 bolts to remove to open the actuator housing.

Loosening the Assembly

There are 4 screws that need to be loosened. They are the 4 T15 screws that each have a lock washer beneath them. Use the T15 driver to loosen them.

The 4 T15 screws that hold the limit assembly in place.

Correcting the Spacing

Correcting the spacing requires pushing the limit assembly into the blue worm gear, and then tightening the screws back down.
  1. Push the limit assembly into the blue worm gear from the left side.
  2. While holding the assembly in place, tighten the 4 T15 screws back down.
Info
When the spacing is correct, the blue worm gear and the white gear on the retract limit shaft are meshed together as shown below.

Correct gear spacing.

Close the actuator

Once the spacing has been corrected, reinstall the back housing and tighten the 5 bolts back down.

The 5 bolts to re-tighten.