Falk produces some of the most reliable and durable gearbox units available. Since their inception in the s, the company has established itself as one of the primary gearbox manufacturers in the transportation industry, being most recognizable for creating the gears for the Panama Canal gates.
To help you evaluate which Falk gearboxes are the best choice for your needs, we’ll check out the various Falk gearbox models and their features, applications, and advantages.
Let’s get started!
The concentric inline gearboxes deliver top performance in heavy-duty industries like mining, food, and forestry. They have high efficiency, high reduction rates, and low noise levels.
Here are the main Falk concentric inline gearbox types and models:
The Falk UltraMax gearbox serves the same purpose as a parallel shaft gear, but it operates at much more efficient levels (you’ll achieve about 30% cost savings compared to a standard parallel shaft gearbox). This gearbox type is compact, durable, and versatile – a good option for high torque operations.
Falk UltraMax comes in 12 different sizes with a reduction ratio ranging from 1.5:1 to 985:1 and maximum torque ranging from 2,440 to 601,000-inch pounds.
The Falk Ultramite gearbox is designed to have a longer shelf life. Its main advantage is that the high-speed pinion is supported by bearings in the gearbox instead of motor bearings. This eliminates many of the common problems, such as dirt contamination and fretting, that occur with standard incline gearbox models.
This gearbox type also allows quick and easy installation with mounting on top, wall, shaft, or flange.
There are 13 Falk gearbox models of this type with a ratio range from 1.4:1 to 16,000:1 and max torque varying from 795 to 39,100-inch pounds.
This was the original first Falk mixer gearbox. Like the main Ultramite gearbox series, it is motor-independent and performs well in heavy-duty operations. This gear drive comes in 7 sizes, and you can configure the gearbox specifications (such as housing, reductions, and input type) based on your needs.
The Falk parallel gearboxes have a flexible and compact design and low maintenance costs – ideal for running conveyor systems in the textile and mining industries.
Here are 4 of the main Falk parallel gearbox types and their characteristics:
The Falk A+ gear drives are designed to endure the toughest and most demanding day-to-day operations while providing maximum flexibility.
This Falk gearbox series comes in 17 different sizes along with various cooling accessories. The reduction rates vary from 1.8:1 to 438:1.
The Falk V class gearbox is cost-effective, durable, and reliable. This parallel gearbox delivers maximum efficiency at high operating levels and comes in 31 different sizes with a single, double, or triple shaft.
The Falk Y Series gearbox has an advanced and precise design that provides extra strength and endurance. The Y Series parallel gearbox operates at a high capacity which is suitable for most day-to-day operational goals.
These advanced Falk parallel shaft gearboxes are driven by a high-speed pinion and use standard NEMA C-face or IEC motors. Available in 8 different sizes, they range in:
The Falk right angle gearboxes have low noise and vibrational levels. They are extremely durable, and, if maintained properly, can operate beyond their shelf life. Here are 6 of the main Falk right angle gearbox types:
The sturdy design of this right-angle gearbox model ensures the equipment delivers beyond expectation while minimizing wear and tear. This Falk gearbox type comes in 17 different sizes with reduction rates ranging from 1.8:1 to 438:1.
This Falk right-angle gearbox model is engineered specifically to serve the needs of cooling tower systems and other vertical-driven applications. The bevels and gears are cut using advanced technology to minimize noise and vibration levels. All gearbox units are finished with high-quality marine-grade paint to ensure the equipment will last even in the harshest cooling system conditions.
Like the Falk V class parallel shaft gear, this gearbox has a long shelf life, maximizes efficiency, and minimizes operating costs. The V class right angle gearbox comes in 31 different sizes with double and triple reduction options.
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Falk Omnibox is a worm gear drive with over 475,000 configurations – so whatever your needs, Omnibox will most likely have it! Omnibox comes in 14 main sizes with reductions ranging from 5:1 to :1. Additionally, Omnibox is built with high-quality, durable materials, offers top-notch performance, and has minimal downtime.
Falk Ultramite UB is a helical bevel gear built to deliver optimal efficiency and convenience. It comes in 11 different sizes with ratios from 8:1 up to 10,000:1 and a maximum torque of 292,000-inch pounds.
Falk Ultramite UW is a helical worm gear with base, flange, and shaft mounting options. This gearbox model comes in 8 different sizes with ratios from 8.1:1 to 60,000:1.
Falk shaft mount gearboxes can be both horizontally and vertically mounted. They can take on large thrust loads while maintaining minimum wear levels. Falk offers one main shaft mount gearbox. Let’s take a closer look:
The Falk Quadrive gearbox comes in 11 different sizes ( – ), with shaft bore diameter varying from 1 7/16 inch to 6 ½ inches. The gearboxes have three configuration options:
Falk gearboxes are well-known for their durability and high load capacity. However, even the best gearbox makes and models require regular maintenance and some minor repairs from time to time. So, if you’re looking for reliable Falk gearbox repair experts, Houston Pump & Gear is here to help!
The world of AEG gearboxes is a lot to take in for someone new to the sport, and in the modern day and age it is remarkably difficult to find this foundational Airsoft knowledge out there on the internet. Many new players assume that the "version" nomenclature indicates a progression in power and skirmish capability, and thus assume a version 7 gearbox is objectively better than a version 2. This article is penned with the intention of clearing things up, and providing a basic, non-comprehensive guide to the most common gearbox versions in Airsoft.
Put simply, the difference between most Airsoft gearboxes is simply the shape of the shell, which varies in order to fit a gearbox into the form of various real-world rifle platforms. Gearboxes for different platforms will have unique parts, such as the selector plate, trigger, cylinder head and nozzle, but many platforms share the same gearbox shell, gears, cylinder and piston. Below we outline the most common Airsoft AEG gearboxes, detail some of their features and what sets them apart from the others.
The version 1 gearbox was the first electric gearbox designed by Toyko Marui, back in the early s. The version 1 gearbox is driven by a proprietary motor, and contains 3 gears which drive a spring loaded piston which compresses air and is used to propel the BB. The version 1 gearbox is known for its high rate of fire, but it uses a proprietary TM EG500 motor and unique gears and as such cannot take many internal upgrades. More modern FAMAS AEGs, such as the Cybergun and the Cyma use a modified Version 1 gearbox, which uses V2/3 gears and a standard motor which is compatible with aftermarket alternatives.
The Version 2 gearbox is one of the most common gearboxes around today, alongside the version 3. Version 2 gearboxes are found in Airsoft AEG M4/AR15s, SMG-5s and G3s. These gearboxes use 3 gears, known as the sector gear, the spur gear and the bevel gear, together with an anti-reversal latch and an uncaged motor. The basic version 2 Gearbox has had many enhancements added by various manufacturers over the years, and often features a quick change spring system and radiused cylinder window corners for added strength.
The extended version 2 gearbox can be found in Classic Army and A&K SR25 style AEGs. This gearbox is identical to the version 2 in every way except the length of the cylinder/piston, which is elongated in order to provide additional air for the longer inner barrels used in these DMR style rifles.
The version 3 gearbox is another popular gearbox, and is commonly found in AR36 AEGs, AK47/74 AEGs, AUG's and S55x series rifles. Whilst the version 3 shell is used in all of these designs, the nozzle, tappet plate, selector plate and motor cage type vary. The version 3 gearbox uses a caged motor, which makes adjusting motor height easy and increases the overall rigidity of the design. Gears, pistons and other small parts are cross-compatible between most version 2 and version 3 gearboxes. This gearbox is generally regarded as the best gearbox for high FPS builds, though version 2 gearboxes with reinforcements are equally suited.
An Extended Version 2 gearbox, found in the Toyko Marui PSG-1. This gearbox is unique and uses a longer piston than the standard version 2 in order to provide additional air to facilitate the PSG-1's extremely long inner barrel. The gearset for the version 4 gearbox is also specifically designed for it, as it allows the PSG-1 to "pre-cock" the piston for a faster trigger response on semi-automatic.
The version 5 gearbox is found inside the Toyko Marui Uzi, which is long out of production. This gearbox is considerably smaller than the others, and has a polymer shell instead of metal. This gearbox is the forerunner of the AEP gearbox as Tokyo Marui's gearbox for compact AEG's.
The version 6 gearbox was designed around the Tokyo Marui P90 SMG, and the M1A1 Thompson SMG. Two SMGs which could not be more dissimilar! Such is the flexibility of the version 6 design. The version 6 was intended for use in unconventionally shaped guns, and is an excellent choice for custom builds because of this. The V6 provides a caged motor and is compatible with standard version 2/3 gears and piston though it requires its own nozzle and cylinder head, which varies in design depending on which platform the gearbox is being used with.
Version 7 gearboxes are found in M14 AEG rifles, though there are two different forms they take. The original Tokyo Marui M14 gearbox uses newly designed gears, as do the Cyma M14 rifles, including the EBR. The AGM M14 uses a standard version 2/3 gearset inside a version 7 shell, and whilst it does not run as well as the TM and Cyma M14 rifles it retains parts compatibility with the more common gearboxes. Version 7 gearboxes found inside M14 EBR AEG's use a different motor cage than the standard version 7, to allow for a change in motor angle to fit the EBR Chassis.
The version 8 gearbox is used in the Toyko Marui Type 89 AEG, and features a mechanical 3 round burst feature allowing for 4 positions on the fire selector, instead of the usual 3. It is similar in appearance to the version 2 but has a larger lower section, and as with the version 2 gearbox, uses an uncaged motor.
The version 9, more commonly referred to as the Tokyo Marui NGRS gearbox, is a more advanced design with a recoil system, functional bolt lock and refined internal parts for a leap up in performance. This gearbox is used in the Tokyo Marui M4 NGRS series and the TM416 Delta. The NGRS gearbox uses an uncaged motor which is compatible with other gearbox types, but the remainder of the gearbox components are proprietary and are not interchangeable with other gearboxes.
The AEP gearbox is a miniaturised metal gearbox, following similar principles to the other gearbox variants but with a teeny tiny piston and cylinder, and three tiny gears. The AEP gearbox was designed from the ground up and is not compatible with any other gearbox parts, due to its shrunken nature. The original AEP gearbox can be found in some form in all Automatic Electric Pistols, and the SMG variant, being larger, is found in AEPs such as the MAC-10 and SMG-7, which use a slightly larger gearbox. The original or "machine pistol" version usually comes out of the box firing around 200 FPS, and the SMG AEP gearbox usually clocks in at around 240 FPS. SMG version of this gearbox can be upgraded to around 300 FPS, though this can put undue strain on the motor, which is proprietary and is hard to source. Shown in the image is the machine pistol AEP gearbox.
Support weapon gearboxes take various forms, and are generally heavily reinforced gearboxes optimised for full-auto fire. Support weapon gearboxes are generally compatible with standard version 2/3 gears, pistons and cylinders, and take standard AEG motors. Support weapon gearboxes can be found inside M60, M240, PKM and most M249 AEG's. These gearboxes don't have facilities for firing semi automatic, and are tuned for higher rates of fire than a standard AEG gearbox. Some support weapon gearboxes offer rate of fire adjustment, and are capable of using higher strength springs than most other Airsoft gearbox types. The gearbox shown the the image is from an A&K M60 MK43, though other support weapon gearboxes are visually similar.
So there you have it! Our Beginners' guide to Airsoft AEG gearbox versions. This guide should give you a basic working knowledge of which gearboxes are used in which AEGs, and the differences between them. This is by no means a comprehensive guide, and even two AEGs using the same gearbox version will have differing parts throughout, so if you are shopping for a complete gearbox, make sure you get the correct gearbox configuration for your particular platform, and if you are in doubt, feel free to contact us!
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Faster Gearbox.