Mine ilt out. I use a "kicker" attached to a rope. Once I loosen the hold shut rope, I pull the kicker. Pulling the fast causes a 12" wooden lever to hit the hatch, that normaqlly opens it, accassionally I need to pull a second time. My hatches are hinged on the bottom and open outward. Then as they open I connect the pull shut rope in poswition. That rope is set to limit the amount of open so it doesn't go too far and I need to climb into the trusses to help pull then shut when done boiling. It worked perfectly for 20 seasons when I quit boiling.
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.