Breaking mounts of Encoders on Andymark Super Shifter

[TogetherSword8]

This year we got new andymark supershifters, and bought 4 for our two robots that we build. In the past two days, we began to run the practice robot a lot, and we have broken both mounts for the encoders that come pre-installed on the robot.
We have diagnosed the problem that when we shift gears, the bearing at the end of the shaft pushes on the encoder mount, and the shifting of gears causes the mount to split.
Has anyone had this problem before, and if so, how did they fix it? We have some ideas of our own, but would rather not mess around with an idea we have if it is a problem that has been solved before.

[Bruceb]

you are breaking the mount? It is aluminum that is like a quarter inch thick?
Or are you talking about the encoder itself?
We have used the same super shifters for years (changed gear ratios this year) and have never broken the incoder much less the mount.
Got a pic?

[TogetherSword8]

We are breaking the plastic mount that then encoder attaches to. Ill attach a picture in a little bit when we are done working on something else.

[TogetherSword8]

Here is a picture of what we broke. This is the plastic mount that holds the encoder on. This is under the mount for the chip, which is under the chip, which is under the disc, which is under the outer case that snaps into the mount for the chip. It is the actual part you use to mount the encoder to the plate.

The picture shows the main part that came off, but the top is also cracked, with obvious signs of the center getting pushed out.

[Bruceb]

we just screw the encoder on the servo mount bracket that comes with the supershifter. It has holes in it for the encoder.

[TogetherSword8]

Sorry, but the mentor and i had some miscommunication. We are actually using the AM shifter that is here:
http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-0957.htm

[Bruceb]

Ah OK I dont have any experience with that
Sorry

[Phalanx]

It's hard to tell from the photo you posted, but, it looks like you have the encoder bracket mounted inside out.

It should be mounted such that the "cut around" in the plastic bracket sits over the bearing in the gearbox, and it should be flat on the side you screw the encoder on to. Try flipping it 180 degrees along the horizontal plane.

That's the best I can make out from the photo.

[404'd]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

It's hard to tell from the photo you posted, but, it looks like you have the encoder bracket mounted inside out.

It should be mounted such that the "cut around" in the plastic bracket sits over the bearing in the gearbox, and it should be flat on the side you screw the encoder on to. Try flipping it 180 degrees along the horizontal plane.

That's the best I can make out from the photo.

From what I can tell from the picture I believe they have it installed correctly. Itd be pretty hard to install it flipped like you're saying.

[jblay]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

It's hard to tell from the photo you posted, but, it looks like you have the encoder bracket mounted inside out.

It should be mounted such that the "cut around" in the plastic bracket sits over the bearing in the gearbox, and it should be flat on the side you screw the encoder on to. Try flipping it 180 degrees along the horizontal plane.

That's the best I can make out from the photo.

I also think that it is mounted backwards. If those are the encoders I think they are you want to have most of the encoder sitting above the screws not below them.

[cglrcng]

Did you follow the instructions listed here under "How To Pictures" tab at the link you provided for the AM Shifter at Andy Mark? Aligning the disk clips at the very end of the back of the hex output shaft. Means you would not use the alignment tool usually provided w/ the encoder I would think.

Or are there spring clips missing from the hex end of the output shaft on the other side allowing the output shaft to back out the other side? (The ewncoder side). We usually cut the shafts for clips on the wheel side ourselves.

http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-0957.htm Click on the tab below it marked "How To Pictures."

Good Luck!

(After a much closer review of both the Docs and the How To Pics there at the Andy Mark Link above....Something is definitely wrong...The Docs and the pics do not even match...I'd contact Andy Mark ASAP). The installation shows 180 degrees different in exactly how those should even be mounted according to the Docs and How To Pics.
Looking again, the completed pic at that link showing the whole (am-0957) for sale...NOTE: Use the magnifier on the pic...It shows no encoder enclosure cover on that completed encoder...Just the wheel clips lined up w/ the end of that shaft. So, maybe you cannot put the normal encoder cover on w/ those particular shifter gearboxes. (they do work without the cover...That I do know. If a cover is snapped on and that shaft floats outward, it would break that mount. I'm sure if a cover was supposed to be attached, that completed gearbox pic would show it attached. Did you have a cover attached to the encoder that broke the mounts? The How To Pics don't show a cover either...But I wouldn't think they would given that all they are trying to show there is the alignment of the encoder wheel clips to shaft end.

[Alan Anderson]

How is the bearing being pushed far enough out to damage the encoder mount? Is the bearing itself perhaps installed backwards, with the flange on the outside of the gearbox case instead of the inside?