New 16T

[GuiliuG]

A new 16T was released with the second version of the 8043 model :

Personally, i have bought the first version so i wasn't aware of the new.

bricklink

Did somebody have this new version? And if somebody have it, can he explain a little more about it?

[Zerobricks]

Just found it today in my 8043. I dont understand why is there another redesign so soon...?

[DLuders]

Hmmm, very interesting:

Old part 4019 "Technic, Gear 16 Tooth (Old Style with Round Holes)":

New part 94925 "Light Bluish Gray Technic, Gear 16 Tooth (New Style Reinforced)":

[Alasdair Ryan]

it must be down to some sort of strain in the gears that they found in the old style it does seam a bit stronger than the old style

[TechnicJuan]

Well it is definitely stronger, but I have never even broke one of the old ones. Maybe there are new sets in the works that are putting a lot of strain on that gear. I am surprised that it isn't in another color since that seems to be the new trend with gears.

[Jurgen Krooshoop]

Although the old ones seem pretty strong, I did breaksome in a very large Technic model I'm making. Since my 8043 was the first version, I don't have these new 16T's, but if they're stronger, than they would be a great addition to my parts-collection.

[Ultimario]

My 8043 is the new version but it does not have any of those new type of gears. However mine is one of the first new versions since the LAs are all with the 36X0 code in them and nothing newer which i hear others getting.

[allanp]

My version of the 8 wheel crane has them (early crimbo prezzie!), it also came with the instructions and the sticker sheet in a bag with a cardboard stiffener.

[Zerobricks]

Maybe some H2 model puts too much strain on them, so they reinforced them?

[techxcc]

Just finish building and modifying 8043 to my own liking. I didn't notice the new 16T's until I was repeatly modifying the gear box. In additon to being stronger, they seem to slide on and off the axles much easier than the old version. A welcome change!

[Crtlego]

I noticed this new gear as well. It seems a bit smoother but for some reason I feel like there is something wrong about it. I guess its just its a new piece and I haven't gotten used to it. I got in my 8043 which I believe is new because I got the actuators with 38X0 labeling and the instructions with a cardboard reinforcement in the bag. It looks interesting though.

[Blakbird]

I'm kind of disappointed. The 16T gear was one of the few remaining Technic parts that has survived unchanged since 1978. As many have mentioned, there has never really been a strength problem with this gear (unlike the old 24 tooth gear or the current 8 tooth pinion). Personally, my guess is that the new gear has nothing to do with increased strength but rather with decreased production costs. There is little incentive to spend the money on new molds for a part that didn't have any problems unless they can make up that money with reduced incremental costs.

[rgbrown]

I've noticed that they've been quite inconsistent in the past with how tightly the grip the axles. Some of the old ones gripped very tightly while some just slipped loosely on and off. Perhaps it is difficult to manufacture the old one to tight enough tolerances? At any rate, I don't think it's a strength problem - unlike the old z24s which were useless

[Anio]

I'm kind of disappointed. The 16T gear was one of the few remaining Technic parts that has survived unchanged since 1978. As many have mentioned, there has never really been a strength problem with this gear (unlike the old 24 tooth gear or the current 8 tooth pinion). Personally, my guess is that the new gear has nothing to do with increased strength but rather with decreased production costs. There is little incentive to spend the money on new molds for a part that didn't have any problems unless they can make up that money with reduced incremental costs.

+1

[dhc6twinotter]

I have the newer version of 8043, but it still has the old style 16t gears.

[Tobbe Arnesson]

It could be quite simple; the molds get worn with time. Perhaps they had to manufacture new ones and altered the design while they were at it.

If the quality have been inconsistent recently that's even likely.

Have to take a look at my 8043:s when I get home, I had the cardboard packed instructions but did not notice that the gears were different. Granted I had pretty poor lights while I built it and could not see that there were two different axle joiners (mixed up the tan ridged ones for the gear box with yellow smooth ones).

[Jetro]

And now you can't put a rigid hose in one of the holes any more (or so it would seem), so no more coupling 16t gears that way. I also remember seeing the technique used in one of Kevin Clague's small walkers... Is it me or do we more often lose possibilities than gain them with renewed part designs?

[allanp]

The newer version does seem to be more consistent dimentionally (although I only have 2 right now so I might just be lucky). They grip an axle not too loosely or tight and they also seem to be rounder actually. Have you ever noticed how when the old version turned on an axle it wasn't properly round, these new ones seem better for that, probably due to the design having less places to flex as the plastic cools down after molding.

[CP5670]

This does seem to be a needless change, although I kind of like the look of the new gear. There have been reports of the older version of this gear having a weak grip on axles during the last year or so, which may have prompted the change. However, the gear had no problems before 2009, so the issue wasn't with the design itself.

And now you can't put a rigid hose in one of the holes any more (or so it would seem), so no more coupling 16t gears that way. I also remember seeing the technique used in one of Kevin Clague's small walkers... Is it me or do we more often lose possibilities than gain them with renewed part designs?

I think the worst example of this in recent times is the new differential. The small width makes it useful in some situations but it's overall far less versatile than the earlier one was.

[teflon]

I've cracked one or two of these old 16t gears. But I don't remember on which occasion this appeared, maybe in 8868. The old design was not very sturdy for my taste. But since old and new design are compatible, I don't see any damage being done.

[andythenorth]

I've broken quite a few of the old ones when used with the large PF motor.

This model chews them up, but for space reasons I can't use a tougher gear. The new one looks useful.

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=307640

[Erik Leppen]

The newer version does seem to be more consistent dimentionally (although I only have 2 right now so I might just be lucky). They grip an axle not too loosely or tight and they also seem to be rounder actually. Have you ever noticed how when the old version turned on an axle it wasn't properly round, these new ones seem better for that, probably due to the design having less places to flex as the plastic cools down after molding.

Actually this seems like a valid explanation to me.

Anyhow, I like how the new design is more consistent with the 20 tooth (double bevel) gear.

What I don't like is how all my 16t gears are now actually deprecated. But if the part keeps to come up in quantities like in 8258 and 8043, that won't be a problem for very long.

[freakwave]

Anyhow, I like how the new design is more consistent with the 20 tooth (double bevel) gear.

Makes them more consistant but also removes one possibility of putting bars, etc into the round openings of the former 16t gear. might not be a technic use but makeing greebles for all things space has lost a nice piece...

Gerald

[Tropy]

I'm kind of disappointed. The 16T gear was one of the few remaining Technic parts that has survived unchanged since 1978. As many have mentioned, there has never really been a strength problem with this gear (unlike the old 24 tooth gear or the current 8 tooth pinion). Personally, my guess is that the new gear has nothing to do with increased strength but rather with decreased production costs. There is little incentive to spend the money on new molds for a part that didn't have any problems unless they can make up that money with reduced incremental costs.

+2

[Front]

I'm kind of disappointed. The 16T gear was one of the few remaining Technic parts that has survived unchanged since 1978. As many have mentioned, there has never really been a strength problem with this gear (unlike the old 24 tooth gear or the current 8 tooth pinion). Personally, my guess is that the new gear has nothing to do with increased strength but rather with decreased production costs. There is little incentive to spend the money on new molds for a part that didn't have any problems unless they can make up that money with reduced incremental costs.

I have no facts about this change, but....

Blakbird, remember that moulds get worn and replaced by new ones. So it just takes a new part design to use on the next mould that is going to be produced anyway, because of wear on moulds.

The new gear seems slightly stronger. Maybe there was a problem on the old ones keeping a consistent friction when sliding on a cross-axle.

More important, the new one looks like you can put a cross-axle through it. The old one doesn't really have something in the center that looks like a cross-hole. Kids would like to have something that's obvious, or at least it will mean that more consumers have success when building with this parts.

Erland, Part Design