Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Beekeeping 101 => Topic started by: omnimirage on April 19, 2018, 12:41:59 am

Title: Honeygate malfunction
Post by: omnimirage on April 19, 2018, 12:41:59 am
One of my honeygates isn't sealed and is dripping honey. The bolt to the right side won't tighten anymore, it just spins around forever. It looks tight enough though, the left part of the gate seems to be the loose part. I can't tighten that screw though, even when using a spanner to hold down the back, and a power tool to screw it down tighter.

I'm not sure what to do. I checked to see if there was any gunk behind it, getting in the way of tightly sealing and there isn't. I'm left to wonder if it's damaged and whether I need to just discard it, or whether I can some how tighten it so that it won't leak honey.

Anyone have any feedback?
Title: Re: Honeygate malfunction
Post by: apisbees on April 19, 2018, 01:35:23 am
I will assume it is a plastic one. With a tank or bucket full of honey it is a pain to have one fail. Plastic gates can warp and fail some of the plastic gates use a round O ring to provide the seal. check that it is not cracked, missing, or has a chunk out of it. Spend a little extra and get a stainless steel one that will not warp. need an O-ring any auto parts store should carry all the different sizes.
Title: Re: Honeygate malfunction
Post by: omnimirage on April 19, 2018, 02:45:28 am
It is a plastic honeygate. There's also no O ring on it, that must be it, I'll check out my local shops thanks.
Title: Re: Honeygate malfunction
Post by: apisbees on April 19, 2018, 03:35:46 am
There should be a slot in the face or the cover for the O-ring to fit into.
Title: Re: Honeygate malfunction
Post by: LazyBkpr on April 19, 2018, 04:48:47 pm
Yep, what Apis said. Mine had a clear o ring in them when i got them, they all have black automotive o rings in them now!
Title: Re: Honeygate malfunction
Post by: riverbee on April 19, 2018, 11:22:35 pm
replace the o ring like apis and lazy said, also, are the bolt/nut plastic on the plastic honey gate?
no o ring, it's going to leak.......

plastic honey gates work fine IF they have the o rings AND ditch the plastic bolt nut tightening combination (these fail) and change them out with stainless.
also omni, check to make sure you have no cracks anywhere in the bucket where the honey gate is seated or in the honey gate itself.