My FCG is trashed!!!

TearyThunder · #1 07-09-2006

I was hoping to be completing my FCG this weekend but I'm going to have to trash it now. The friend I had doing the drilling the rotesserie and rod destroyed the piece that accepts the rod.

I was using this as reference:
http://www.geocities.com/hillbilly_n...OWEENfcg2.html

I am trashing the entire project for now. It's pretty depressing. Needless to say the friendship is dead too. I was lied to! He said he knew what he was doing and it would be a piece of cake. The accepting piece of the motor I had was removable so he place it in a vice and crushed it! He brought it to me broken in 4 pieces, said sorry, and left!

I give up on any animations and trusting anyone else with my props.

Mr Unpleasant · #2 07-09-2006

Kind of drastic measures... don't you think? Building props is all about failures and successes. You can't just give up on something because it didn't go right the first time. I''l bet everyone here has had things go wrong and was forced to rework their project. It also seems like a waste of a friend too. Sorry if I sound like a mother.

TearyThunder · #3 07-09-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Unpleasant

Kind of drastic measures... don't you think? Building props is all about failures and sucesses. You can't just give up on something because it didn't go right the first time. I''l bet everyone here has had things go wrong and was forced to rework their project. It also seems like a waste of a friend too. Sorry if I sound like a mother.

I would agree with you on the failure part if the most important part of the motor wasn't destroyed. I simply don't have the funds left to buy another complete rotisserie just for the one part. I probably should have done the drilling myself but I didn't have any bits for metal. I have learned my lesson not to trust anyone else to do it.

Also for the friendship IF he didn't try to make me look like an idiot by saying it was the metal that caused it to break apart when I could clearly see where he crushed it I may have felt a little different. The icing on the cake was he said sorry and left with no other words when I pointed out the crushed places. I was speechless at his attitude. It was like he didn't care at all he destroyed the piece.

I will just stick with what I KNOW I can do without help of anyone else. I may try anamatronics later on but I don't see anything happening this year. I'm just too sick to my stomach about the whole situation.

ScareFX · #4 07-09-2006

So sorry about your motor Teary. That situtation stinks. But Mr. Unpleasant is right about others having things go wrong. I've broken so many things I don't want to think about it.

However, there are sometimes solutions to problems that may not be evident at first glance. Is there any part of the shaft that is still exposed? Can you post a picture?

TearyThunder · #5 07-09-2006

I have already considered that ScareFX, but there is maybe a 1/4 inch of shaft and there is no way I will be able to attach anything to it. I considered super gluing the piece back together but it's bent too bad and won't line up correctly regardless of how much I try to reshape it.

heresjohnny · #6 07-09-2006

Sorry about the FCG TearyThunder! I also have had plenty of things fail, it is part of building props.

There are many ways to accomplish what you are trying, and even with a 1/4" of shaft left this may be salvagable. Does the motor still work? Is the shaft solid, and long enough to tap into? Can you remove the shaft without huting the motor? It may be worth posting a few pictures, the FCG is definitely worth a little pain to build.

ScareFX · #7 07-09-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by TearyThunder

I have already considered that ScareFX, but there is maybe a 1/4 inch of shaft and there is no way I will be able to attach anything to it. I considered super gluing the piece back together but it's bent too bad and won't line up correctly regardless of how much I try to reshape it.

A 1/4" might be tight but you can look for a shaft coupling to connect the existing shaft to an extention (or even a bolt). Below is a picture of a coupling that I use on one of my crank props. This type would work if you have about 1/2 inch of shaft on the motor. Those couplings cost about $3.50.

But don't give up, lot's of folks here can help.

darryl · #8 07-09-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScareFX

A 1/4" might be tight but you can look for a shaft coupling to connect the existing shaft to an extention (or even a bolt). Below is a picture of a coupling that I use on one of my crank props. This type would work if you have about 1/2 inch of shaft on the motor. Those couplings cost about $3.50.

But don't give up, lot's of folks here can help.

I think something like this will work for you. Your shaft is pretty small but you should be able to find something similar to Scare FX's coupler and epoxy it on. The flat spot on your shaft will allow you to screw a set screw down tight so the coupler won't spin and the epoxy will help insure it won't fall apart.
Good luck with the friend!!

TearyThunder · #9 07-09-2006

HJ, I have to wait to post pics since I have to get more batteries. The ones I found and used to take the pics of my tree are dead now.

From what I can see there is no way to to remove the shaft. The motor still works. The friend didn't have that with him thank goodness. The shaft is solid, round, and has a straight edge. You know "D" shaped. I see no way to "tap" into it but an new at stuff like this.

Brad Green · #10 07-09-2006

Definitely post some pictures of the motor when you can. As victims of unexpected mechanical disasters, we've all become proficient at salvaging 'ruined' pieces. It may not be as bad as you think.