Question 153 of 200

What is the main purpose of an idler gear placed between a drive gear and a driven gear of the same size?

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to double the speed of the driven gear
to reduce the torque delivered to the driven gear
to make the driven gear turn the same direction as the drive gear, without changing speed
to lock the gear train so nothing can rotate

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Correct answer to question 153 (Mechanical Comprehension): to make the driven gear turn the same direction as the drive gear, without changing speed

Method

An idler gear reverses direction twice, restoring the original rotation direction, while its own size does not change the overall speed ratio.

Updated: November 2026

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What is the main purpose of an idler gear placed between a drive gear and a driven gear of the same size?

Method

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