The gate opening and closing machinery operates not with a freely suspended heavy object, but with a gate that moves up and down along the gate groove or rotates around a pivot. The machinery to open and close the gate in moving water also depends on the dynamic water pressure, which varies with the opening size of the gate. Particularly for gates with large spans, double-hoisting operation is required, and it is crucial to maintain synchronous operation of the double hoists. The speed of the opening and closing machinery is very 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 hoist equipment for gate opening and closing mechanisms is referred to as the height or lift of the hoist. It is generally equal to the maximum winding capacity of the drum or the maximum stroke of the hydraulic gate opening and closing mechanism's piston, measured in meters. The lifting speed is the upward speed of the hoist equipment when the motor is operating at extra speed or the oil pump is discharging at extra flow rate. Before operation, a thorough inspection of the hoist should be conducted to ensure all parts are smooth and that bolts are not loose. During operation, the operator must remain on-site and immediately stop the machine if any issues are detected.