Should I cut my 24T-16T 4L differential casing?

[trekman]

I'm working on a project where I hope to have a worm gear sliding on a track and then connecting with 3 24T gears. (This will provide me with an NXT motor shuttling between three functions.) The middle gear will be an actual 24T gear, But the other two, spaced 1L on other side are presently 24T-16T 4L diff casings. This is because I need the 24T diff as a clutch style gear, which would rotate freely on the axle of the middle 24T gear.

Should I do the unthinkable and cut the diffs down? It would mean that I could reduce the size of my gear box down by 6studs. It would appear to be an easy cut down, and give me some useful 24T clutch gears?

[KopMaister]

I would've done it.... however only if i had plenty of spares.... i like to try and "remodel" some parts to my liking and to suit my needs.... but i always want to keep spares in case i need it for something else.... really think lego should make a 24t clutch shifter gears.... would make for awesome mocs :P

[allanp]

a 24t syncromesh gear would be awesome, but seeing as you do not need the clutch function then cutting down parts might be a bit drastic.

Could you not use 16t gears?

Would a 24t white clutch gear give too much resistance to do the same?

How about a wholly different method of using one motor to select between three functions? with the one below you could do away with the nxt and use a servo motor if you have one.

Edited January 28, 2013 by allanp

[trekman]

Using my present design, the good the thing about the 24T is that it meshes with a worm drive over three studs. It is 2 1/2 approx for a 16T, which is a hassle to make up. The white 24T clutch might get ruined. I think I might change around the gears and have the 24T with axel at one end(previously in the middle), and then the other two 24T gears with 3L axles just mounted in a frame. They will spin independently. I will take drives off these two gears from the bottom using an 8T gear.

Should now avoid cutting 4L Diff case, but it was a nice idea.

[Strikeman]

trekman, could you not use a half-bush to fill up the 2 1/2 stud space to 3 studs, so you can use 16 tooth gears ? I don't know, I'm just thinking here of course ! Cutting parts is pretty drastic

[Carsten Svendsen]

I know what you could do. If you have a buggy motor, then just put a 24T clutch gear on to it, give the motor full power, and then hold the clutch gear in place. That way you would melt the rubber inside to a round thing which'll go smoothly with your setup. No one will ever know you've done this! (Except us of course )