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Linear Gate Motor Replacement: The North Hollywood Owner’s Guide
A Linear gate motor replacement in North Hollywood typically runs $620 to $1,180 installed, depending on which Linear model you have and whether the arm bracket is still intact. We stock Linear-compatible motors and parts on the truck, so most replacements happen the same day we diagnose the failure. Call (213) 566-1045 and we’ll give you a written price before any work starts.
Most owners discover the motor has failed the hard way: the gate stopped mid-swing, the remote does nothing, or there’s a hum at the box but no movement at the arm. Sometimes the gate was already slow for weeks. The motor was the last thing to go, but it’s the first thing you notice when you’re stuck at the end of the driveway.
Which Linear Models This Applies To
We replace motors across the Linear series most common on North Hollywood driveways: the LRA, LSO, and SLR swing-gate lines, plus the older ACT and APeX models still running on plenty of properties near North Hollywood Park. The key identifier is the metal tag on the side of the motor housing. It lists the model and serial, and that’s what we match before anything gets ordered or pulled off a shelf.
Linear changed arm geometry and limit-switch placement between generations, and a motor from one series will not drop into another without modifying the mount. We’ve pulled too many used motors off online listings that were advertised as “fits all Linear” and arrived with the wrong stroke length. For Linear specifically, the OEM arm assembly is usually worth keeping if it’s not damaged. The aftermarket motor bodies work fine in many cases, but the arms and brackets are where cheap copies fail early. We stock OEM Linear parts plus quality aftermarket equivalents, and we’ll tell you the price difference in writing so you can choose.
Signs Your Linear Gate Motor Replacement Is Failing

- Gate hums but won’t move. The capacitor has failed or the motor windings are shot. The control board still sends power, but the motor can’t turn the arm. We confirm this with a multimeter before recommending replacement.
- Gate moves slower than it used to, especially in the last few feet of travel. The gear train inside the motor housing is wearing. Linear motors use a plastic reduction gear that strips over time, and the motor works harder to push through the damage.
- Gate stops partway and the alarm beeps or the light flashes. This is usually the internal limit switch losing its position, but on older Linear units it can also be the motor drawing too much current and tripping the board’s overload protection. Both point to the motor assembly.
- Remote works, but the gate only opens an inch or two and reverses. The obstruction sensor thinks something is in the path. Often it’s the motor failing to produce consistent torque, not an actual obstruction. We check the sensor first, then the motor’s current draw.
- You hear grinding or a rhythmic click when the gate runs. The motor’s internal gears are skipping. On Linear SW, SD, and similar models, the gear teeth shear clean off after years of Southern California sun baking the grease inside.
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AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
Here’s what installed Linear gate motor replacement costs in North Hollywood:
- Linear LRA, LSO, or SLR swing-gate motor replacement: $620 to $890 installed
- Linear actuator arm replacement (motor plus arm assembly): $780 to $1,180 installed
- Motor plus new control board: Add $210 to $380 if the board was damaged by the failing motor
- Service call to confirm the diagnosis: Free with the replacement, credited toward the job if you proceed
Every price is written down and handed to you before we touch a tool. That’s Haven Standard Clause 1, and it’s how we’ve operated in North Hollywood since Adrian Vance started the company in 2014. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise covers the replacement: if it isn’t right within one year, we make it right at no charge.
DIY or Call Us?

A Linear gate motor runs on 110V or 220V and connects to a control board that stores capacitor charge even after power is cut. You can safely check the obvious things: is the breaker on, is the manual release lever engaged, is there a stick caught under the gate. Do not open the motor housing or the control board enclosure if you’re not trained to discharge capacitors first.
Where DIY goes wrong on Linear motors specifically: people replace the motor but keep the old arm, and the worn arm destroys the new motor inside a season. Or they miswire the limit switch, and the gate over-travels into the end stop and cracks the mount. If you’re not sure, call (213) 566-1045. We’ll give you a written diagnosis and a written price, and you can decide with numbers in front of you.
FAQs
A Linear swing-gate motor in North Hollywood typically lasts 7 to 10 years, though gates without a rain cover near the coast or with heavy daily cycling can burn through one in 5. Heat is the bigger killer here: motors mounted in full sun with no shade envelope run hotter, and the plastic gears inside get brittle faster. If your gate cycles more than 40 times a day, expect the shorter end of that range. Call (213) 566-1045 for an exact assessment of your setup.
Sometimes, when the failure is the capacitor, the limit switch, or the gear train on a model where we can get OEM gears. Most Linear motors under $400 in raw part cost aren’t worth opening when labor to rebuild them exceeds the price of a new motor with a warranty. We’ll quote both options in writing and recommend the cheaper long-term choice. Estimates are free.
Most single-motor Linear replacements in North Hollywood take 90 minutes to 3 hours from unboxing to final limit-setting and photo log. We set the travel limits, test the obstruction sensor, and photograph the final positions and wiring before we leave. That photo record is yours to keep, filed with the job under Haven Standard Clause 4.
Yes. We carry Linear motor assemblies, arms, brackets, capacitors, and control boards on the truck, plus replacement parts for LiftMaster, Mighty Mule, and Ghost Controls. If we don’t have the exact part, we get it same week and we write that timeline into your estimate before you commit. Call (213) 566-1045 and we’ll confirm availability while you’re on the phone.
If your Linear gate motor is done, name what you found. We’ll name what it costs. And we’ll leave the gate straight. Call (213) 566-1045 for a free estimate and a written price before any work begins.
Written by Adrian Vance, Owner & Lead Technician, Vance Gate Repair North Hollywood at Vance Gate Repair North Hollywood, serving North Hollywood and nearby areas.





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