Better Than Wolves Forum

Axles can only power a gearbox up to 3 blocks away. Chain (bicycle chain, aka 2 chains coming from one side of a gearbox, or a single chain coming from gearbox. made in Steel age) could be used to send mechanical power from gearboxes up to maybe 10 blocks away. Would be useful for the regathering of used axles and gearboxes from that lone windmill in the desert 2 miles from your base to be used for more intricate uses. Chain could also be used to lift more platforms than rope.

Thank you for your consideration.

On your first point, it makes sense but its far cheaper just to use wood and redstone for long distance mechanical energy rather than steel. On the second point, FC wanted to avoid any changes to the platform where possible.

The 3 block limitation is intentional. This has been asked many time and the answer is no. You can search the forums for reasons why using "3 block axle". See http://sargunster.com/btwforum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=44

This has been suggested dozens of times before, you should use the search function before posting anything.
The axle suggestion is also simply not possible without making it into an entity, which is definitely not happening. The 3 block limit is there, because there aren't any more bits left to store that information. Another block would only circumvent that problem, if you make 3 different blocks, each with another orientation, which is not a feasible suggestion imo.

EDIT: damn ninjas (but thanks for the link @PatrickJs, couldn't find that specific thread)

ah. understood. plz lock this thread.

Locked.