FAAC Gate Motor Replacement: The Los Angeles Owner’s Guide
We stock and install FAAC-compatible gate motor replacements across Los Angeles, with most jobs running $850 to $2,400 installed depending on the operator series and gate weight. Same-day service is available when you call before noon, and we carry the common FAAC 740, 770, and S800 series motors on our trucks. Most homeowners realize their FAAC motor is failing when the gate starts reversing for no reason, stops mid-travel, or simply hums without moving on a hot San Fernando Valley afternoon.
Which FAAC Models This Applies To
FAAC has sold gate operators in the Los Angeles market for decades, and the part you need depends on which generation is bolted to your gate. The 740 series, common on residential swing gates in Pasadena and Altadena, uses a compact 24V DC motor with an integrated gearbox. The 770 and 771 series, found on heavier estate gates in Bel Air and Brentwood, run a 230V AC motor with a separate reduction unit. The S800 hydraulic swing gate operator, popular in the 1990s and still running in parts of Hancock Park, uses an entirely different pump-motor assembly that FAAC still supports but fewer independents stock.
To identify yours, check the silver data plate on the operator housing for the model prefix and manufacturing date. The 740 D, 740 E, and 740 K variants use different mounting footprints, and swapping between them without the adapter plate will leave your gate out of alignment. We carry both OEM FAAC motors and the Italian-made FAAC aftermarket equivalents that meet the same IP55 enclosure rating. For most Los Angeles residential jobs, the aftermarket unit saves $200 to $400 without sacrificing the five-year motor life you would expect in this climate. Ironworks Gate Co. is an independent service provider, not affiliated with FAAC.
Signs Your FAAC Gate Motor Replacement Is Failing
- The gate reverses before fully opening or closing. On FAAC operators, this usually means the motor is drawing excess amperage as its bearings wear, which tricks the control board into thinking it hit an obstruction. In Los Angeles, this happens sooner on gates near the coast where salt air accelerates internal corrosion.
- You hear the motor hum but the gate does not move. The FAAC gearbox uses a nylon worm gear that strips gradually under load. Once the gear loses enough teeth, the motor spins freely while the gate stays put. This is especially common on the 740 series after seven to ten years of service.
- The gate moves slower than it used to, especially on cold mornings. FAAC DC motors rely on brush contact that degrades over time. As the brushes wear down, starting torque drops and the control board compensates by running longer cycles. In the San Gabriel Valley, where winter lows hit the 40s, owners notice this first in December and January.
- The operator trips its internal thermal cutoff and shuts down for twenty minutes. A failing motor draws more current and generates more heat. The FAAC thermal protector is doing its job, but the underlying motor damage will only worsen. We see this frequently on south-facing gates in the Valley where ambient heat adds to the problem.
- Intermittent operation that gets worse over time. The motor’s internal windings develop hot spots that expand and contract with temperature. A motor that works at 9 a.m. may fail at 3 p.m. when the windings open up. This pattern is frustrating and almost always ends in complete failure within weeks.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
| Service Component | Typical Range in Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| FAAC 740 series motor replacement (aftermarket) | $850 - $1,200 |
| FAAC 770/771 series motor replacement (OEM) | $1,400 - $1,900 |
| FAAC S800 hydraulic pump-motor assembly | $1,800 - $2,400 |
| Additional gate hardware (hinges, rollers, chain) if needed | $150 - $400 |
What drives the range is gate weight, access difficulty, and whether the control board also took damage from the failing motor. Our price covers the motor, removal and disposal of the old unit, mechanical alignment, limit setting, and safety sensor testing. We settle on the exact number before we turn a single bolt. Every FAAC motor replacement carries our 90-Day Done Right Promise, written and with no paperwork to chase down.
DIY or Call Us?
There is a safe middle ground here. You can verify the model number, check that the gate moves freely by hand with the operator disengaged, and confirm that the photocells are aligned and clean. These three checks eliminate the most common misdiagnoses.
What we do not recommend is removing the motor yourself. FAAC operators store significant energy in the gearbox and arm geometry, and the 230V AC units present a genuine electrocution hazard if the disconnect is not properly locked out. We have been called to jobs in Los Angeles where a homeowner stripped the worm gear housing trying to force a removal, turning a motor swap into a full operator replacement. The call is free, and we carry the parts. If your gate is stuck open or closed, a live person answers our phone at (833) 754-7503, day or night, including Sundays.
FAQs
Seven to twelve years is typical for a FAAC motor in Los Angeles, with coastal properties seeing the shorter end due to salt air corrosion and inland Valley properties sometimes stretching longer if the gate is well-balanced. Call (833) 754-7503 if yours is past eight years and showing symptoms. We offer a free estimate.
Sometimes the control board or capacitor can be repaired, but the motor itself, once the windings or gearbox fail, is not economically rebuildable. The labor to open, diagnose, and reseal the motor exceeds the cost of a quality replacement unit. We will tell you honestly if your particular failure is the rare exception. Call (833) 754-7503 for a free second opinion on any written estimate you have received.
Most FAAC motor replacements are completed in two to three hours from arrival, assuming the gate structure and hinges are in sound condition. We stock the common 740 and 770 series motors on our trucks, so there is no waiting for parts. Call (833) 754-7503 for same-day scheduling.
We carry FAAC-compatible motors for the 740, 770, and S800 series on every service truck, along with the specific mounting hardware and adapter plates each variant requires. For less common FAAC models or older Italian-import units, we can source within 24 hours through our Los Angeles supplier network. Call (833) 754-7503 to confirm availability for your specific model.
A gate should open when you need it to and stay closed when you don’t. Everything else is just the work. Victor Salinas grew up in Boyle Heights watching a neighbor weld wrought-iron gates, trained at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, and has spent more than four decades working on gates and operators across the LA basin. His daughter runs the office now, and he will tell you that is the best business decision he ever made.
When you are ready to stop wondering about your FAAC gate motor, call (833) 754-7503. A live person answers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We will give you an upfront price, show up when we say, and stand behind the work with our 90-Day Done Right Promise. Done right, and backed in writing.
Written by Victor Salinas, Owner, Ironworks Gate Co. at Ironworks Gate Co., serving Los Angeles and nearby areas.