Answers.Body: <p>The best way to see the intended usage of a part is to look at its name, or to find the sets the part appears in and check the instructions where and how it is used.</p>
  
  <p>For your particular examples:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/v1T0T.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/v1T0T.png" alt="changeover catch"></a></p>
  
  <p>This is called <a href="https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=6641#T=C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Technic Changeover Catch</a> and it is used mainly to engage the transmission driving ring to the clutch gears.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/gha7m.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/gha7m.png" alt="gear with clutch"></a></p>
  
  <p>This part is the previously mentioned gear with clutch, which is used to connect the driving and driven axles in transmissions.</p>
  
  <p>Their combined usage is for example illustrated in <a href="https://www.lego.com/biassets/bi/6117421.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the instructions</a> for <a href="https://brickset.com/sets/42039" rel="nofollow noreferrer">42039</a>:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/s1iww.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/s1iww.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/PgPSp.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/PgPSp.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>Here, depending on the position of the changeover catch, the thick gray driving ring is either connected to the red gear with clutch or not, thereby making or breaking the connection between the parallel black axles.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-02-11T09:51:22.113Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-02-11T09:51:22.113Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: zovits
Answers.Body: <p>In general, the best strategy would be to look up instructions for a set in which the piece is used. 
  Also a good strategy: ask here ;)</p>
  
  <p>For the specific parts you mentioned, this picture might be helpful:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/FGhvK.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/FGhvK.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>The 6641 element switches a driving ring in three positions, either engaging the left clutch gear (18946), the right clutch gear or neutral position in which neither is engaged... </p>
  
  <p>My favorite set these elements are used in is is 8043:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/o3nmE.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/o3nmE.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>This set has 4 motors, however one of the motors is used to turn switches consisting out of the discussed elements to ultimately provide 6 functions: left &amp; right driving and turning the upper part on one position of the switch, while operating the digger (bucket, middle arm, lower arm) on the other position.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-02-11T10:05:02.663Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-02-11T10:05:02.663Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Michael Verschaeve
Body: <p>I just came out of my "Dark Age" inspired by my kids growing up and getting more and more out of Duplo and into Lego. I bought a mixed lot of Technic parts and man, there are a lot of new parts!</p>
  
  <p>So the question is: Are there any resources on how a part is typically used? </p>
  
  <p>E.g. how are this 2 parts used?</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=6641" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://img.bricklink.com/ItemImage/PN/9/6641.png" alt=""></a></p>
  
  <p><a href="https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=18946" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://img.bricklink.com/ItemImage/PN/5/18946.png" alt=""></a></p>
  
Tags: <piece-information><technic>
Title: Overview on how to use special Technic parts?
UserDisplayName: Tobias Hertkorn
ThreadText: # Overview on how to use special Technic parts?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2020-02-11)
  
  I just came out of my "Dark Age" inspired by my kids growing up and getting more and more out of Duplo and into Lego. I bought a mixed lot of Technic parts and man, there are a lot of new parts!
  
  So the question is: Are there any resources on how a part is typically used?
  
  E.g. how are this 2 parts used?
  
  [![](https://img.bricklink.com/ItemImage/PN/9/6641.png)](https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=6641)
  
  [![](https://img.bricklink.com/ItemImage/PN/5/18946.png)](https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=18946)
  
  **Tags:** piece-information, technic
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2020-02-11. Score: 6
  
  In general, the best strategy would be to look up instructions for a set in which the piece is used.
  Also a good strategy: ask here ;)
  
  For the specific parts you mentioned, this picture might be helpful:
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/FGhvK.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/FGhvK.png)
  
  The 6641 element switches a driving ring in three positions, either engaging the left clutch gear (18946), the right clutch gear or neutral position in which neither is engaged...
  
  My favorite set these elements are used in is is 8043:
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/o3nmE.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/o3nmE.png)
  
  This set has 4 motors, however one of the motors is used to turn switches consisting out of the discussed elements to ultimately provide 6 functions: left & right driving and turning the upper part on one position of the switch, while operating the digger (bucket, middle arm, lower arm) on the other position.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2020-02-11. Score: 4
  
  The best way to see the intended usage of a part is to look at its name, or to find the sets the part appears in and check the instructions where and how it is used.
  
  For your particular examples:
  
  [![changeover catch](https://i.sstatic.net/v1T0T.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/v1T0T.png)
  
  This is called [Technic Changeover Catch](https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=6641#T=C) and it is used mainly to engage the transmission driving ring to the clutch gears.
  
  [![gear with clutch](https://i.sstatic.net/gha7m.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/gha7m.png)
  
  This part is the previously mentioned gear with clutch, which is used to connect the driving and driven axles in transmissions.
  
  Their combined usage is for example illustrated in [the instructions](https://www.lego.com/biassets/bi/6117421.pdf) for [42039](https://brickset.com/sets/42039):
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/s1iww.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/s1iww.png)
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/PgPSp.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/PgPSp.jpg)
  
  Here, depending on the position of the changeover catch, the thick gray driving ring is either connected to the red gear with clutch or not, thereby making or breaking the connection between the parallel black axles.
  
  
  ---
  
  