Gearbox with clutch

[SteelBird]

Just an idea. I came across this video on YouTube and it's not easy to move a 100+ kg beast when it goes on strike. Further, in clubs, I see people have one tank act as broken tank and have other tank to tow it. However, as the gearboxes engage full time, it's not easy to roll the tracks. It would be nice to have a clutch in the gearboxes and only engage when driving.



This is especially difficult for the 1/16

[wibblywobbly]

You would need two clutches, one for each gearbox, plus an ability to activate neutral from the tx. It's probably possible, but how many people would go to all that trouble for the rare occasion when their tank is being towed? It would be easier to have a tank dedicated as the broken down one, and remove one gear from each gearbox, so that it was a permanently free wheeling tank?

[SteelBird]

You would need two clutches, one for each gearbox, plus an ability to activate neutral from the tx. It's probably possible, but how many people would go to all that trouble for the rare occasion when their tank is being towed? It would be easier to have a tank dedicated as the broken down one, and remove one gear from each gearbox, so that it was a permanently free wheeling tank?

It sounds reasonable enough, however, you can make things easier by providing an activating lever manually. Something like pushing the drive shaft's pinion away from the gearbox's. No need to activate it from the TX.