We’ve noticed that the new globe motor gearbox can be backdriven. Our gearbox on the globes from three years ago don’t. Can these be swapped out? The only possible rule violation I see is that it may not be available anymore to all teams? Since I don’t usually shop for these things does anyone know if its available and if we can swap them out?
Check as see the model number and see if they are the same. If they are then they should have the same features and you can use it. However if it is a diffent motor then you cant swap them.
If you can find the old globe motor somewhere that it’s commercially available, then it’s kosher. Otherwise, no. More importantly, if your old gearbox is not backdriveable and the current one is… well I’m worried about your old gearbox. Those are simple planetary gearboxes, and should always be backdriveable unless there’s some serious binding and damage in there. I’d run both of them with no load and an ammeter hooked up and make sure your old one isn’t just shot. Though, of course, if it is shot, then you can just beat your new one with a hammer until it works the way you want.
Every globe motor we’ve used can be backdriven, going back 6 years. It’s just a simple planetary gearbox. Do you mean window motor? Those window motor models have changed a bit each year and have had different pitch of worm in their wormdrive gearboxes, resulting in some more prone to backdriving than others.
Careful with that hammer, caveman! That planetary gearcase is made of powdered metal, and it just might crack or chip instead of deforming.
lubrication!
I was informed by another CD member that the Globe transmissions need to be diassembled and lubricated before being used if you expect them to last long.
I would also accept attaching a large cantilevered load to the output shaft and running it for an extended period as a viable method for rendering a new smooth running backdriveable globe into and old , grindy, non-backdriveable globe. In light of squirrel’s post, I suspect that opening the gearbox and applying a precise amount of high quality granulated silicon dioxide (sand) would also work.
The point being, globes are backdriveable, and you’ll need to really ruin one to make it not so.
Thanks for all the advice everyone! We were sure we used it to hang on the bar several years back without it backdriving and dropping us. We can’t even backdrive them now but maybe the gears were gummy??? Loved the comments about altering with a hammer. The comic relief was perfect for the stress of the season…got a good smile from our engineer too!
Mahalo everyone!