Well I don't know about perfectionist since it's all but impossible to achieve, but in fairness I do like it to be right. Because of where I photographed it, it looks like brass but is in fact ali. I could turn a 1mm ring and epoxy it in, I'll sleep on that.
I'm far from an expert on gears, but if I hadn't had to dismantle it all to put the new wheels in I doubt I would have done anything mechanical to it, it's very much overengineered for any requirements I would have, it's original use dictated the way it was made. Beyond that helical gears are more efficient than worm and wheels and thus more motor power ends up at the road wheels I've no great understanding of the technical benefits and deficiencies of one versus the other. I've no doubt the internet could answer this but even now life is too short.
Brian
Thanks for that piece of info, as I have got this far I'm inclined to finish it as is and see whether further works might be justified. The way the motor is connected to the pinion shafts via sliding dog clutches eliminates end thrust on the motor bearings, and the gear ratio is fairly low anyway so it shouldn't be an issue. I am pondering whether to reinstate flywheels. I have to use what I have, which does include another complete set of gears, I can't but think that a set of these would be rather expensive.
Regards
Martin