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new FP pinion
We have in 2 of the last 3 years removed the pinion from the FP motor and replaced it with our own metric gear. Its pretty easy to do as long as you take care not to damage the shaft. We never had one fail. I know team 71 has done something similar, because in 2002 (I think? maybe 2001...) they lent us their very cool pinion puller fixture which made precise disassembly/assembly in the pits an easy thing to do.
That is one problem with swapping thw gear out - if you burn up an FP motor, you need to have a spare with the right gear on it, or be ready to modify a borrowed motor in the pits.
As to going to extremes to use the drill gearbox - I question that approach. The drill gearbox is not as efficient as a simple spur geartrain. It is pretty compact, though... I guess it depends on your objectives.
Ken
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