42228 - McLaren F1 - Transmission doesn't seem to make a difference.

The McLaren F1 set's transmission design has caused some confusion among builders. A user, /u/PKenzie, initially questioned the functionality of the transmission in set 42228, noting that the gear selection seemed ineffective.

The builder realized that the green and red cogs are free-floating and don't receive torque directly through their center axles. Instead, torque comes from the black input shaft into the gear selector worm, which then applies torque to the green or red cogs. The gears are locked together, and the black shaft dictates the rotational speed to the selected cogs.

The user's initial confusion stemmed from not fully understanding how the transmission design works. The grey and blue cogs on the bottom shaft are connected to each other and the engine. The green and red cogs connect to their respective grey and blue cogs and each other through the center of the transmission gear. This means all four gears move together, and the gear selector worm determines which gears are engaged.

For builders working on set 42228, understanding the transmission's mechanics is key to a successful build. If you are having trouble with the build, you might find a LEGO building guide helpful.