Connecting remote windmills

[Mark Brown]

I'm pretty much end game and wanted to keep things going so I decided to connect two windmills on two different buildings.  Both have four windmills feeding a large gear with a large gear beneath them connected to a small gear (speed increase with reduced power).  I ran the axle from one building to the other and no matter what I do the shafts I want to connect are spinning in opposite directions.  I even tried coming off the other side of the large gear with the small gear as that would make it spin the other way and discovered the small gear connects to the other side of the spur gear so it appears no matter what I do I can't connect them.  Any ideas?  Thanks.

[Vratislav]

Well, this is strange. 
Do the sails that face the same direction in both systems also rotate in the same direction?

I have two ideas:
1) Stop both systems using brakes and try to connect them stopped,
2) Break one system completely and build it from the joining point to ensure common rotation.
 

[Zer0pig316]

From what little I have experimented, this is essentially impossible with this set-up. Windmills and large gears on a straight input always rotate clock-wise when you are facing them (large gears when you face them from above) from my experience. If you could place a large gear upside down (with teeth facing down) you could achieve the counter rotational connection you need but, you can only place small gears with the teeth facing down. There are two solutions here:

1. One of the windmill structures needs a small gear to small gear connection at the bottom which but this would change your speed/torque ratio

or

2. Place a large gear between the two windmills with your axels coming into it, this gains counter rotation

 

 

 

Edited March 30, 2025 by Zer0pig316
clarification

[Mark Brown]

Not sure why but I can only reply to my original post...so;

At Vratislav;

I tried both of your suggestions.  Well, for you second one I removed all sails on one windmill then put them back on.  It seems to insist on spinning one direction.

At Zer0pig316

I think your second suggestion is the solution.  Unfortunately I've built all of my 'machines' under one tower and was just trying to bring the remote windmill over and connect it.  I may revamp things and see if that works.