<p>Just today I tried to use it quite successfully as an alternative to suspension springs. Right now I don't have it assembled so I can't post a screenshot, but the idea is to wind up the pullback motor then attach it to your construction with a cross axis from one side and beams from another and limit its moving with some details. If you are interested in how I have done it, I will assemble it to demo and post images.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T11:53:33.327Z
An interesting application to be sure :)
Zhaph - Ben Duguid
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-03T16:30:40.810Z
that doesn't work with all pullback motors. Some need less turns to wind up than they provide when turning back.
bb1950328
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-18T18:54:36.553Z
2014-02-18T18:54:36.553Z
Sergei Basharov
<p>Build a catapult with it. The catapult arm would be attached to the motor. Pulling the arm down will wind the motor</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-17T19:51:08.963Z
2014-07-17T19:51:08.963Z
Daniel
<p>Once I built a hand-powered semi-automated screwdriver toy for kids. They needed to "charge it" first by rotating a gear and then push a button to release power. Then they could apply it to a crane or other models. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-09T19:03:07.360Z
2014-06-10T11:14:06.513Z
2014-06-10T11:14:06.513Z
Konstantin Petrukhnov
<p>I built a ball launcher out of one. Kind of like a baseball launcher.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-07T09:00:14.070Z
Hi Alex and welcome to Bricks.SE! Your ball launcher sounds interesting, could you please post a picture of it?
zovits
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-03T21:42:58.543Z
2021-01-03T21:42:58.543Z
Alex Carrier
<p>Yoshihito Isogawa made clock mechanisms from it (well... tic-tac generators) <a href="http://www.isogawastudio.co.jp/legostudio/modelgallery_model/b077.html" rel="noreferrer">http://www.isogawastudio.co.jp/legostudio/modelgallery_model/b077.html</a>
and <a href="http://www.isogawastudio.co.jp/legostudio/modelgallery_model/b078.html" rel="noreferrer">http://www.isogawastudio.co.jp/legostudio/modelgallery_model/b078.html</a>.</p>

<p>Majorna created a "programmable" pull back racer <a href="http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=69748&amp;#entry1744425" rel="noreferrer">http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=69748&amp;#entry1744425</a></p>

<p>...and another clock by neomomonga: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3-CDFw4O38" rel="noreferrer">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3-CDFw4O38</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-04T10:12:06.243Z
The clock ! that's obvious now that you mention it !
Stephane Delcroix
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-04T08:51:44.947Z
2013-12-05T14:40:21.607Z
2013-12-05T14:40:21.607Z
Philo
<p>Sets 42010 and 42011 feature <a href="http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=12787c01&amp;in=S" rel="noreferrer">a pull-back motor</a>. They have a very high torque for a very small numbers of turns, they then free-wheel.</p>

<p>I'm trying to find alternate usage for them. That is anything but connecting them directly to the wheels without gears, as putting any gear demultiplication is great while the motor is turning, but it quickly prevents the vehicle moving when free wheeling.</p>

<p>What I've managed to do so far:</p>

<ul>
<li>Using it to launch a spinning top</li>
<li>Launch a rotor blade</li>
</ul>

<p>Anything else ?</p>

<technic><piece-usage>
What other uses are there for pull-back motors?
Stephane Delcroix
# What other uses are there for pull-back motors?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-03)

Sets 42010 and 42011 feature [a pull-back motor](http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=12787c01&in=S). They have a very high torque for a very small numbers of turns, they then free-wheel.

I'm trying to find alternate usage for them. That is anything but connecting them directly to the wheels without gears, as putting any gear demultiplication is great while the motor is turning, but it quickly prevents the vehicle moving when free wheeling.

What I've managed to do so far:

* Using it to launch a spinning top
* Launch a rotor blade

Anything else ?

**Tags:** technic, piece-usage


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## 5 answers

### Answer by username_8 on 2013-12-04. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

Yoshihito Isogawa made clock mechanisms from it (well... tic-tac generators) <http://www.isogawastudio.co.jp/legostudio/modelgallery_model/b077.html>
and <http://www.isogawastudio.co.jp/legostudio/modelgallery_model/b078.html>.

Majorna created a "programmable" pull back racer [http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=69748&#entry1744425</a></p>
<p>...and another clock by neomomonga: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3-CDFw4O38" rel="noreferrer">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3-CDFw4O38</a></p>](http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=69748&#entry1744425)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: The clock ! that's obvious now that you mention it !  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2014-02-18. Score: 7

Just today I tried to use it quite successfully as an alternative to suspension springs. Right now I don't have it assembled so I can't post a screenshot, but the idea is to wind up the pullback motor then attach it to your construction with a cross axis from one side and beams from another and limit its moving with some details. If you are interested in how I have done it, I will assemble it to demo and post images.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: An interesting application to be sure :)  
> **username_3**: that doesn't work with all pullback motors. Some need less turns to wind up than they provide when turning back.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2014-07-17. Score: 3

Build a catapult with it. The catapult arm would be attached to the motor. Pulling the arm down will wind the motor


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### Answer by username_5 on 2014-06-09. Score: 3

Once I built a hand-powered semi-automated screwdriver toy for kids. They needed to "charge it" first by rotating a gear and then push a button to release power. Then they could apply it to a crane or other models.


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### Answer by username_6 on 2021-01-03. Score: 0

I built a ball launcher out of one. Kind of like a baseball launcher.

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: Hi Alex and welcome to Bricks.SE! Your ball launcher sounds interesting, could you please post a picture of it?  

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