Do I really have the first transmission?

[mrleisure]

I had a tire off one of my Segs tonight and I took a close look at the transmission.

Do I really have the first production transmission? The last four digits of the serial number are 0001 and they look like they were etched in by hand. I was a contest winner and did get a very early machine so maybe it's possible, although it doesn't seem likely. The other tranny on that machine ends in 0008.

Can anybody here verify?


http://www.wingnut.com/theredkey/images/first_tranny.jpg

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[Dragan]

Very cool! I think I'd be checking with Segway directly to determine their serial number sequencing, but you just may have a jackpot there. I imagine it would be pretty neat to have a look inside that gearbox in a few more years to see how it's held up. Do you get any excessive/unusual noise from either of them?
Wayne

Segway of Alberta - Calgary
www.mysegway.ca

[mrleisure]

That machine (with tranny 00001 & 00008) is my "good" machine and there have been absolutely no problems. Err, other than a battery fault I saw today.

My main machine (same vintage) has developed a distinct wobble, but it's also taken some absolutely horrifying abuse. I suspected a slightly bent axle, but I'm told that doing such damage would be nearly impossible. I swapped and re-seated the wheels but the wobble remained. For lack of a better adjective, it does sound "tired" when going up steep mountains.

I still get the occasional "bug-zapper" sound from both machines, but it's changed in pitch and timbre over the years. Instead of a sharp zing it's now more of a low buzz.

I was hoping someone like Hugh Haurgon would jump in with information about the serial number sequence. I don't really want to pester LLC support with trivia questions.

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[Zorba9]

Chris you may the "original #1" tranny there. Aren't you glad you didn't go "picnic table hopping" with that one! :)

KOG

Zorba9.....

[mrleisure]

The answer came in via private e-mail.

No, I don't have the first production transmission. I do have the first transmission made in batch # 211. The serial numbers are etched in by machine, not by hand. The first production machines went to employees in 2001.



http://www.wingnut.com/images/redkey-web-logo-100px.gif (http://theredkey.wingnut.com)

[ghostrider]

02 is the year
11 is the week

[bystander]

Sounds like mid-March.

Should mrleisure "Beware the Ides of March (http://www.infoplease.com/spot/ides1.html)"?

[Brooster]

I don't know, but they were--and still are to this day--a heck of a band. One of Chicago's finest.

"Im your vehicle baby, I'll take you anywhere you wanna go ..."

http://www.theidesofmarch.com

Yet another powerful marketing idea, courtesy of the passionate owners here at SegwayChat.com.

[8][:P]



Brooster

[mrleisure]

My transmission was just the first one made that week? Well now, that is definitely less than special.

While we're one the subject- Does anyone know what the AA etched above the serial number indicates?



http://www.wingnut.com/images/redkey-web-logo-100px.gif (http://theredkey.wingnut.com)

[Brooster]

Axicon version A?

Brooster

[legpain]

When, when, when, is anyone going to understand there is no axel to bend??? You just can't bend it because there isn't one!!! IT'S NOT A CAR!!

There's a motor that's married to a gear box. Bend a gear box axel?? Where's the pressure to do that?

I'll eat crow with no problems if anyone can prove that there is an axel to bend.

Come on, let's have some good old fashion debating...

John

[SegwayUtah]

I think the "axle" being spoken of it the shaft coming out of the transmission which the Segway HT wheel hooks onto. That could possibly be bent under some pretty extreme pressure, I imagine.

Chris

[mrleisure]

The answer regarding the "AA" also came in via private e-mail. The AA indicates the first production revision of the component. A later revision might be an AB, AC, etc. The batteries would be more likely to see newer revisions than the transmissions.

I've been corrected before for calling the transmission shaft an axle, and I keep forgetting the correct terminology. Axle sounds right to me, but I stand corrected. As far as bending the shaft goes, I've been told that it's damn near impossible. Then again, I've cracked two wheels in half and that's also nearly impossible. For the record, when a Segway wheel breaks, it makes a loud crack not unlike a small caliber gunshot.

Where does that kind of pressure come from you ask? Haha, I'll only respond that you might be surprised at the wretched abuse my Segway has endured.

I'll follow up when I can determine absolutely if I've bent the transmission shaft, or not.

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[Mr_Laurenzano]

If you bent the shaft bro... ?? no way. I found some killer rock formations at the northern most part of Pismo Beach (on the beach) that are nothing more than segway ramps and some of the greatest rides ever. The people that take the tour with me just love to watch what this little ginger will do. I'll send some pic's to RED KEY.


Segway-
Half the speed of a car,
Twice as Smart.