The gate opening and closing machinery operates not on a freely suspended heavy object, but on the gate slots, which move up and down or rotate around pivot points. The operation of the gate opening and closing machinery in moving water also depends on the dynamic water pressure, which varies with the gate opening size. Particularly for gates with large spans, double-point lifting and closing are required, and it is crucial to maintain synchronous double-point operation. The speed of the opening and closing machinery is extremely low, generally not exceeding 4 meters per minute, with only some rapid gates reaching 10-14 meters per minute.

The vertical distance between the lowest and highest positions of the gate hoist equipment is known as the height or lift of the hoist. Generally, it is numerically equal to the maximum winding and unwinding rope quantity of the drum or the maximum stroke of the hydraulic hoist piston. The unit is in meters. The lifting speed is the upward speed of the hoist equipment under the extra rotational speed of the motor or the extra discharge volume of the oil pump. Before operation, a thorough inspection of the hoist should be conducted, checking the smoothness of each part and whether any bolts are loose. When the hoist is in operation, the operator must not leave the scene and should immediately stop the machine upon discovering any issues.