DarkShadow73 Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 Ah, finally a Citizen here at the forum... I have a question that has been burning in my mind for some time and I am sure it has been answered many times before. On a lot of the newer models with PF they don't include a 24-tooth white clutch gear to protect the motor, whether it be an M or XL. At the end of the play on either end of the LA, and that dumper raises and lowers super fast there is that awful grinding noise. What exactly is that noise, the motor or the LA? Is it harmful? Sometimes when you raise or lower it you can't exactly tell when the dumper or alternate tilt bed of the same set is at the very end or lowest point of the LA. Quote
Bricktrain Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 There is a clutch in the LA that you hear. Quote
Splat Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 If you want to know more about the inner working of the Linear Actuator, I recommend reading through these articles at TechnicBRICKS: Linear Actuators – Part I Linear Actuators – Part II The mLA under magnifying glass ...when load goes above a certain limit, internal force increases and the clutch mechanism enters in action, allowing the orange part to rotate against the white tube. It makes a characteristic noise as you will be able to hear.... This is intended to protect actuator from getting damaged and at the same time allows LAs to continue working normally as soon the driving source changes direction. Quote
DarkShadow73 Posted April 1, 2011 Author Posted April 1, 2011 Yes I have seen the inner workings of the LA, but I didn't know whether it was caused by the LA or the M-motor. Either way it is a nasty sound and I tried to retrofit a 24-tooth clutch gear to dampen the end travel of the LA, but it didn't help. Is this harmful to the LA in the long run. Problem is you have to 'feather' the switch on the bat box at the end of the travel either way to make sure you don't grind it too much. If you want to know more about the inner working of the Linear Actuator, I recommend reading through these articles at TechnicBRICKS: Linear Actuators – Part I Linear Actuators – Part II The mLA under magnifying glass Quote
Blakbird Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 Yes I have seen the inner workings of the LA, but I didn't know whether it was caused by the LA or the M-motor. Either way it is a nasty sound and I tried to retrofit a 24-tooth clutch gear to dampen the end travel of the LA, but it didn't help. Is this harmful to the LA in the long run. Problem is you have to 'feather' the switch on the bat box at the end of the travel either way to make sure you don't grind it too much. The operation of the internal clutch is not harmful to the linear actuator in short doses. However, if the clutch slips for a long time or frequently, the "teeth" that make up the clutch will wear away and the actuator will not work any more. Quote
DarkShadow73 Posted April 2, 2011 Author Posted April 2, 2011 Sort of figured that. I try to feather my loader up and down at the end stops to make sure not to stress the LA. Bad design, they should have put a clutch gear in that model. The operation of the internal clutch is not harmful to the linear actuator in short doses. However, if the clutch slips for a long time or frequently, the "teeth" that make up the clutch will wear away and the actuator will not work any more. Quote
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