Originally Posted by Bubonic-X

Maybe overthinking it. The only difference I can see with the 3 gear is the pinion is driving the spur from the front of it rather than the back of it which does not change the rotation from clockwise to counter clockwise. Guys correct me if Im wrong. I would think you would always want the rotation driving down which engages traction in its simplest terms.
If I recall correctly the 4g mid still drives the rotation down not up.