[kmcclary]

Thank you ALL for all of the calls and helpful advice!

Nate Smith, a college student (formerly from Team 470) saw our post and is coming out today to help us wrap a few things. Thanks, Nate!

But the big news is that Team 494 Goodrich / Flint came to our rescue!

Pat Major, and Jeff, two engineers from Goodrich Flint Team 494, along with Pat's son Dwight, called us yesterday after seeing our post. We talked, emailed them our animations of what is SUPPOSED to happen and some digi photos of the current state of affairs, then talked on the phone some more.

They then went WELL above and beyond, DRIVING DOWN HERE all the way from Flint (an hour away from us) and spent ALL evening with the team helping us to COMPLETELY tear down and rebuild the ENTIRE assembly! They helped us to shift the design to include rollers in the right place to eliminate the problem. They stayed with us until almost midnight, then drove another hour home, making it a seven hour investment! WOW!

We now have a running lift! They definitely played a key role in helping us solve the lift problem with some great ideas and LOTS of elbow grease! Kudos to 494!

Oh, BTW, now that you guys at 494 know our ENTIRE strategy, can you *please* do us one more *tiny* favor and NOT wipe the floor with us poor rookies in the competition? <wink> Thanks!

Joe Taylor from 461 wrote:
> [Simplify!]

<chuckle> Boy, oh BOY did we EVER do that with the drivetrain! (You'll see what I mean when you see it tomorrow... :-)

> [...] hey, if getting your original design is a possibility, then go for it!

Oh, it was DEFINITELY worth the work! The lift problem involved a critical part basic to our payload and a major component of our game strategy. Without it working, we'd have in essence been a moving obstacle that could shuffle a few things around. But who knows, as you said that may be good enough! <grin> A Pack Rat running around underfoot moving things on you can cause a lot of grief and confusion! <wink>

THANK YOU ALL from the bottom of our hearts! As a direct result of all of your gracious help, we'll be there and running tomorrow with our machine, "The Pack Rat!"

Go, Rat Pack!

- Keith McClary, Huron High Team 830 "Rat Pack"