I have a Lionel Gateman from the 70's and it has taken me a while to figure out how to wire with a FastTrack accessory pack, but I think I have it now. (Lighting from transformer and activation wires from the two outer tracks.) Anyway, the red plastic gear underneath broke off some time in the last three decades. I managed to glue it in the correct position but the gateman does not go back into the shed after the circuit opens again. Everything electrical looks fine. The gateman's hat seems to bind on the top of the door jam. I have tried tightening and loosening the nut on the bottom and I have moved the spring up a loop or two tighter. I think it could benefit from a new spring or moving up another loop, but (1) how can you change the door and gear if parts are available and (2) any suggestions on why he is binding on the door and how to fix it. I think that it was probably defective years ago and when he got stuck the steady activation torqued the gear such that it cracked. I would rather repair this one or get one from the same period. I think it is U.S. manufacture.
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There are replacement "kits" for the door and red gear(I've gotten mine from both parts dealers and from ebay. I found that a new replacement worked better than a repaired one in the long run. As far as the man hitting the top of the door frame, I am clueless. On any that I have operated/fixed, there is about a quarter inch clearance. Is the base of your gateman flush with the green base? If not, that must be your trouble spot. I believe that you are on target regarding the spring tension effecting the man's return into the house. Check to make sure that you have the teeth on the red gear lined up properly with the metal swing piece to which the man is mounted. When the door is closed, the metal swing piece should be all the way tight against the solenoid bracket.
Have you had any success in getting your gateman to operate properly? I am curious to know the remedy.
I am still playing with it and will replace the spring but I think I need to remove the lock washer to lower the gateman. I can use locktite to keep it in place.