[ChrisH]

The BeachBots have used the Fisher Price motors with great success ever since they were introduced. But we have never used them as a drive motor. when combined with the supplied gearbox, they make a pretty good winch. You can even use the supplied wheel adapter for your winch drum. Two plates with a hole in the right spot and a couple of scraps of aluminum angle and you have a really powerful winch. Our winch for pulling us on the bar last year was one of the fastest around, and we had enough pull to lift a second robot, in case somebody should have accidentally gotten hooked on us. It used two FP motors and gearboxes with a custom drum. The only problem we have had was a failed limit switch. It allowed the winch keep pulling beyond its normal travel and bend our lift. Fortunately it was during a demo and not the competition season

As Al S mentioned earlier, it is important to keep them operating at the correct speed. We always design our systems so that the motors are running at 75% of free speed and 25% max torque under a normal load. Those rules pretty much apply to all motors. Follow them and your motors will live long and you will prosper.

ChrisH