[EricH]

Originally Posted by zinthorne

I may have to cut the tube hole on the top slightly bigger. When i looked at the dimensions in solidworks, the gear is 1.8 inches in diameter, and the space in the tube is 1.8. So theoretically the gear can be slid down inside the tube, but it depends on the tolerances of the tube and gear when they are actually made.

I would suggest using more than one decimal place. 1.8" on the gear could cause trouble if the tube is 1.75" like I think it is. (Unless you're using thinwall tube, but I highly doubt that based on the dimensions you've given.)

I suspect that you're looking at--at best--an interference fit, which means you'll be forcing the gear a bit--not fun. It might even be a press fit, which would make life really miserable.

Yeah, I'd cut that tube hole bigger, at least on one side.