[doncatwalker]

I've got 2 Fly Audi Quattros, which have shaft-driven 4 wheel drive. There's therefore 2 pinions in each car, 4 in total across the two cars. Unfortunately the pinions are made from plastic and 3 out of 4 are split (and this is straight out of the box - top quality components!). To get the cars running properly, I want to replace these with brass.

I therefore have what I hope is a very simple question. I'd thought to replace them with Slot.It brass pinions, but will these fit?

(Apologies id this sounds stupid, but I am fairly clueless

)

Cheers

Don

 

[CJA]

Ey Up,

Yes they will fit, be careful not to distort any spring couplings, and use a proper pinion puller, not pliers/screwdriver + aggression !!.

We all started relatively clueless !!.

vbr Chris A.

 

[Martyn_]

Logical next question ....... Do most motors have the same diameter shaft? So will the vast majority of pinions have the same inside diameter as each other?

 

[SuperSlab]

Serendipitous?

Received two Flys (Flies?) yesterday: a DP and a classic Porsche 917. Took them out of the box, turned the rear wheels by hand and got the dreaded sticking after 1/3 of a turn. On both! Both pinions split!

But I must say that I have not experienced it that often. But the only brand on which I have found split pinions is Fly.

Replaced the inline DP pinion with a 5.5mm brass Slot.it pinion and the sidewinder 917 with a 6.5mm brass Slot.it: all is sweetness and light!

Unless I am mistaken, all FC130, FK130 and FK180 motors have 2mm shafts, all slim can FF050's have 1.5mm shafts. Also as per my above comments: be aware that inlines typically have 5.5mm OD pinions, sidewinders 6.5mm.

 

[dangermouse]

But the only brand on which I have found split pinions is Fly.

I have 2 Ninco cars with split pinions - new out of the box - 1 red and 1 black angle winder pinions - found them the same way turn it 1/3 of the way around a noticeable click and really noisy when you run it.

I tried a couple of pinions for a match but found the pitch must be different as they either didn't work or were noisier I have ordered 2 6.5mm brass pinions hope they work

slot.it pinions should be fine for the fly or you can pick up some good quality plastic/nylon pinions.

DM

 

[90s F1 Kid]

Hey all,

Have the same problem with a split pinion on a Fly Porsche 935. Picked a slot.it brass pinion 5.5mm, 11 tooth and can't get it on. From reading above I'll need a pinion puller to do this, any specific brand recommended?

Thanks

 

[Martyn_]

Thanks for the info SuperSlab

 

[matthew77]

I had duff pinions on some Fly cars, BMW M1, Porsche Carrera 6 and 1 or 2 others, the gear teeth kept touching rather then interlocking smoothly and you couldn't turn the axle at all. I tried brass pinions but made gears a bit noisy and they seemed to be a bit stiff to turn and made cars hard to run/control. I swapped them for a generic grey plastic pinion and they run brilliantly now. I don't know who made the plastic pinions, it was something Pendles sent me on request (they weren't Fly spare parts) I requested. I don't know why the I had trouble with the brass pinions, I think they may have been for a different motor position.

Ninco do a handy gear puller, makes life easier with brass pinions!

Considering what we pay for Fly cars, I think their quality control should be much better.

Matthew

 

[doncatwalker]

Interesting to hear others have had the same problems with Fly's high-quality plastic pinions!

Thanks for all the advice. There seem to be a couple of options. One fairly easy and I guess cheap (better quality plastic pinions), the other more difficult and expensive, but probably worth it. It sounds like 5.5 mm brass pinions could be a good way forward and, loath as I am to avoid trying to bodge it, I think it's time to invest in a pinion puller. Recommendations for a decent value one would be appreciated. This will just be for occasional use, so I don't want to break the bank.

Cheers

Don

 

[SuperSlab]

QUOTE (doncatwalker @ 26 Jan 2012, 15:34) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I think it's time to invest in a pinion puller. Recommendations for a decent value one would be appreciated. This will just be for occasional use, so I don't want to break the bank.
Don

I have a Ninco puller/press as well as a new Slot.it. While the Slot.it (at a dramatically higher price) is obviously a class act, I have found that the Ninco is perfectly adequate. It is a bare bones, no nonsense, rather utilitarian piece of equipment, but I personally believe it is good enough for almost all but the heaviest of users and represents good value at the low price. I was certainly quite happy with it for a couple of years until I wanted something "fancier". In fact I used it again just yesterday when I could not seat a pinion deep enough on the shaft using my Slot.it (the motor shaft "bottomed out" in the Slot.it press but the Ninco has no "stop" as such).

So while not as much a precision instrument as the Slot.it and needing more care in its use, given your stated requirements I believe it should serve you perfectly adequately.

 

[doncatwalker]

Many thanks SuperSlab