Thread: Goodbye FCG, Hello FLG

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Very ingenious! I too always want to to do a FCG, but was turned off by the complexity (I'll probally catch some flack for that) of the design. I prefer simple, and your design is just that! Consider me inspired! Now If I could just figure a way to utilize one motor instead of three, got some grave grabbers that need a source of animation too and dont want to throw all my motors into one basket.

Originally Posted by CycloneJack

Very ingenious! I too always want to to do a FCG, but was turned off by the complexity (I'll probally catch some flack for that) of the design. I prefer simple, and your design is just that! Consider me inspired! Now If I could just figure a way to utilize one motor instead of three, got some grave grabbers that need a source of animation too and dont want to throw all my motors into one basket.

I would just install one motor, and attach a pully to the motor instead of a driveshaft. Then mount two additional pullies where the other motors would be, and make sure they're all aligned.

Take a piece of string and tie it around all the pullys as if it were a drive belt. Once you have it tight, cut it off, which will give you the length a drive belt needs to be. Then go to the auto parts store and tell them you need a serpentine belt that's about two inches longer than the length of your string.

The last thing you would need is to mount a tensioner arm to keep tension on the belt. Dryers use these, so if you have someone in town who repairs dryers, they should be able to sell you one for a couple of bucks.

Mount the levers to the center bolt on the pulleys, and you should be in business.

This is a great idea... I may get the vent motors and make a mini FLG right on the front door.

Great job, may have to use that idea.

Made my second one yesterday while watching my Pirates get trashed again by the Padres. The game sucked but it's nice to be able to start a mechanical ghost prop when a baseball game starts and have it up and running before the game ends.

Originally Posted by Bruzilla

Made my second one yesterday while watching my Pirates get trashed again by the Padres. The game sucked but it's nice to be able to start a mechanical ghost prop when a baseball game starts and have it up and running before the game ends.

I planned on doing some prop-building while watching that game, but got distracted when my Padres trashed the Pirates again!

Just kidding. This is a fantastic idea you came up with, and many haunters for years to come will be greatful for the compact, simpler design you came up with.

You have really simplified this idea. It makes a novice like me ready to jump right in. Keep it up!!!

If you can't find a serpentine belt, I know there used to a how-to for an Axworthy Ghost Pulley system where the guy used three pullies all driven from one motor. He use some of that rubber string material (I forget the name of it) that you use to hold window screens on their frames. (You use the roller tool to push it in the groove.)
He had tied that rubber string tight around the pullies and it drove all of them. I have tried it before and it does work.

Dave, that's called rubber spline, and it comes in different lengths/diameters.