[HELP] Lever Operated Gearbox

[Ploki]

anyone attempted? Are there any parts aside direct control that can actually engage the clutched design gearboxes?

so to actually have a stick, with either flexes or axles that would operate a transmission where engine block is.

[DrJB]

Check the building instructions of 8880, 8448, and 8466. Those are three examples of gearboxes operated by levers, or so called stick shift in the US.

[Ploki]

nah, I didn't mean using a stick shift. I meant levers connected to a stick shift that controls a gearbox in remote position away from the stick.

like on a real car, where transmission is always connected directly to the engine, and the stick shift is far away.

something like this i guess:

http://upload.wikime...rst_Shifter.jpg

Edited January 5, 2015 by Ploki

[Rishab N]

Check out one of Tyler Reid's cars or Jorgeopesi's Ferrari F40

[Ploki]

Wow.

[DrJB]

nah, I didn't mean using a stick shift. I meant levers connected to a stick shift that controls a gearbox in remote position away from the stick.

like on a real car, where transmission is always connected directly to the engine, and the stick shift is far away.

something like this i guess:

http://upload.wikime...rst_Shifter.jpg

That should be fairly easy to replicate. You will then need 3x or as many as there are in your MOC, and each of those can be connected to some lever/mechanism.

Edit: I just checked the Ferrari's LXF reference above, and there, he uses a short 2L thin liftarm as a gear shifter. Neat trick.

Edited January 5, 2015 by DrJB

[Paul Boratko]

I got a new concept using the new 3L driving ring and clutch gears....

Chasssis starts at the 6:47 mark.. I have since made some small modifications...

[Captainowie]

That's a neat gear shifting system you've got there Paul!

Thanks also for explaining the difference between the old and new driving rings - I should have guessed it was to make it an odd length. I would suggest that these parts have been in the works for a long time - ever since the axle joiners lost their ridges.

Owen.

[Cumulonimbus]

I once started a rebuild of my 8070 to incorporate a transaxle with 4 speeds. I based my gear linkage on the flight controls of a light airplane. It only needed one change over catch for all four gears.

Unfortunately, I never finished the WIP and I don’t have photo’s at the moment. But tonight I could make a quick LDD sketch if you need it.

[efferman]

this is my approach

[Ploki]

wow, so many approaches. And none with flex cables ( have no idea how it would work, but I know real cars also have cables instead of rods, some of them anyway).

@paul boratko: where did you get the new parts, are they a part of any decent sets?

[efferman]

i think most of actual real cars are using cables to remote the gearbox. the others are using electric actuators

[Ploki]

@efferman: my old piece of junk still has rods. :)

[Paul Boratko]

@paul boratko: where did you get the new parts, are they a part of any decent sets?

I ordered them from Lego about 4 weeks ago, right before the holiday season cut-off point... Unfortunately Lego isn't taking anymore part orders for a few more weeks...

You can get them in the 42038 Arctic Truck... It has 3 new red clutch gears, 1 new driving ring, and 1 new 3L axle connector...

[Paul Boratko]

You can also get them in the 42039 24 Hour Racecar, but that set is not available yet in most countries...

[Ploki]

not many of them tho, and I hate all other parts. blah.

How can you direct-order for lego? Will this be available again? (I'm steering off-topic).

I'm not in a hurry with my MOC because frankly, I haven't done anything since I was 20-something and nothing as complex as I plan this super-car to be.

[Meatman]

This bricklink store still has a few in stock along with the gears.

this is my approach

That is a really ingenious idea. Edited January 5, 2015 by Meatman

[Ploki]

I like efferman's approach too, but i'd like it more concealed. I need to get some bricks asap, my fingers itch so bad.

[Cumulonimbus]

As promised, this is a screenshot of the mechanism I came up with (coloured for your convenience).

The principle is very similar to the one of efferman, but by putting the gearbox upside down, the mechanism can be put under the floor of your car.

I also separated the linkages for the two necessary movements (left-right and front-back), so I created more options to tweak the movement and the forces required for each independently, for example by changing the length of the levers.

Be sure to brace this mechanism properly though, any play could prevent selecting some gears properly.

[DrJB]

I like the above contraption, good job Cumulonimbus.

Such design now gives me some 'fresh' ideas as I've been contemplating adding a transmission to Crowkillers' Murcielago. But since it has very small space between the two seats, it's been a challenge (impossible) to fit a transmission in there. With the discussion in this thread one needs only install the shift stick in between the seats, and the transmission can be moved elsewhere in the vehicle.

There are pro-cons to the rods or cables approach. The major draw-back with cables is that they're active only in one direction (tension), and as such, they need to be spring-loaded. They have other benefits as well though my car (fairly recent) still uses rods. IN the end, and from my experience with the automotive, it really is up to the specific manufacturer and how reliable they've made their system over the years. Then there is of course the electro-mechanical option mentioned by Efferman, which goes along the whole idea/trend of 'by-wire' and electrification. It's a bit like clutch actuation on manual drive cars: In the not-too-distant past, VW used cables to clutch/de-clutch whereas Honda and Toyota used hydraulic lines.

Edited January 5, 2015 by DrJB