Poi

Gears are a collectible needed by the Mechanic to fix her airship, depicted with a lot of steam pouring out of it. Once you meet with her, gears will be available in areas the next time you visit them - including the same zone she is in, The Sky. With each multiple of 5 you collect, you can talk to the Mechanic to obtain a new medal, up to 10 total. After obtaining a gear, a ghost gear will appear in its location the next time you visit, showing where it was. You can verify which gears you have obtained, and where, under the "gear" icon in your Explorer Book.

Upgrade-wise, the Magnet seems to increase the distance you can collect gears from, similar to coins, but the Compass does not show their locations. However, with the list of locations below and with some compass directions, you should be able to find all 50 gears.


Gear locations:

[Sky]
NOTE: New content appears as you play, likely tied to the # of medals you have earned so far.
1) On the Desert island with Sand Maze mini-game.
2) Magnet dangling under the 'Challenges' cannon float.
3) On the Rocket island, right behind the rocket itself.
4) On the Ice island, under an arch next to the frozen lake.
5) Museum Island for 'Crystal' section - requires obtaining one fossil from Crystal Cavern.


[Forest]
NOTE: This is the first area, but you can only re-enter it once another small ship with a Rooty Boy appears in The Sky.
1) Head east to where the very first medal was, with the small pond. It's on a small stump to the southeast.
2) Near the start is a waterfall by gear #4. There's a tunnel hidden by the waterfall that leads to another section. This gear is up on the high tightropes, towards the south.
3) In the area past the waterfall tunnel (near #2, past #4), in the northwest section on the lower ground.
4) Right by the start of the level, go down to the water by the waterfall instead of jumping over the gap leading to the first medal/first gear
5) Head to your ship, towards the east. Before crossing the dock to the ship, turn to the north to see the gear right by a tree.


[Cozy Cove]
1) Near the start by the ground, headed towards the turtles and the waters.
2) Near the start, high above the waterwheel, on the three 'ledges' that slide in and out of the wall.
3) Second area of the stage (lighthouse and rocket ship), right above the arch leading to the open water area.
4) In the Second area to the North-East, atop the high tightrope with the roaming rotating blades.
5) North-east side of Lighthouse, small ledge between main platform and the water below. Close and likely visible from #4.


[Mount Magma]
1) West of the Archaeologist is a large green-gas geyser against the wall containing the gear.
2) There's a tunnel north of the start (right by Gear #1) that leads to the obstacle course. In the tunnel, it's on the platform between a rock-tossing mole and a snake.
3) Near the Northeast tower, but down in the lava, is a small black hole surrounded by grey rocks. This "Lava Tube" location leads to a slide that ends at a gear and a small plank leading up over a fence. "Dead End" is on the other side.
NOTE: If you come from the obstacle course side, you can do a wall jump to make it up and over the fence, getting this earlier.
4) At the Northeast tower, climb up to the very summit (new location) using the tightropes and paths through the middle of the tower. On the direct east side of the tower, one level down, a gear is hiding on a ledge
5) During "Mount Bucket Head" (Medal #6), you can climb up the northern platforms to the top of the volcano for a boss fight. Past the first set of five pipes shooting spiked balls as you head east, the gear is on the platform where you turn around to head up to the west.


[Sinking Sands]
1) On a small floating platform in the Northeast side of town, above the "Singing Crystals" location.
2) East side (Town), the back side of the tower with the crane. Close to the Clock at the edge of the level but against the building.
3) Far to the southwest, by the sandpit with the archaeologist, on the mesa with the yellow symbol on it. It's right in front of a fake wall on said mesa.
4) Southeast part of the map by the rocket and Radio Tower, up between the "Backside Ladder" and the "Lonely Cactus" locations
5) On the ledge of the middle sandpit area, the south-western side has a bunch of red-tipped pillar outcroppings jutting at various angles. Amongst them is a gear.


[Snowland]
NOTE:Land is divided into two halves, each accessed by a separate snowflake warp
Lower/Northwest warp (Wooden obstacle Course)
1) Southeast corner, in a hollowed portion near the ground/ice
2) North side, in a hollowed portion when facing up in the air and to the west. Right under a plank bridge.
Upper/East Warp (Gondola area with circular platforms)
3) North side, under a rotating ice platform and right by an igloo with the "Blue Outfit"
4) Southwest, around the back of a pair of wooden cylinders, right next to the snowman
5) Close to #3, near the top of the tallest tower with a Medal. Look over the North edge from the top of the tower for it.


[Crystal Caverns]
1) To free the spy, you have to climb up several ledges that fall down to reach a button that opens a shutter door. The gear is along the path to the button, in the south-western part of the Yellow Ghoulies area.
2) In the 'Forgotten Mine Shaft' to the West, at the bottom of a ladder along the bottom-most part of the path.
3) By Crystal Climb / the Green Ghoulies area, on the tightrope path near the "Bridge Out" sign.
4) Near the start of the Yellow Ghoulies area, on the horizontal climbing grid to the west.
5) In "The Pit" after dropping down and searching a bit (forgive the lack of a map or clearer directions for this one).


[SECRET]
1) In the "Super Soaring Course" minigame area, in the plant immediately next to the warp panel you arrive on.
2) In the "Fossil Hunter" minigame area, the underside of the arch directly in front of you.
3) In the "Mole-Iseum" minigame area, between the ladder and the wall.
4) In the "Mystery Maze" minigame area, behind the pillar to the South of the starting point.
5) Enter the rocketship to go to the moon area. Go directly south of the rocketship when you land. You'll pass by a spring to the east, a signpost to the west, and a green-gas geyser to your west. To the east of the geyser, and slightly to the south, is a crater with the gear.


[Challenge Levels]
NOTE: There is one gear per challenge level.
1) Puzzle Tower - Climb the starting ladder, then across the short gap to the east. Turn south, and wait for a ladder to turn right next to you. Climb up it, then wait until you're facing south (not towards another ladder). The gear is right upon the pillar, a double-jump-length high in the air.
2) Super Slide - at the split on the second half, take the easier, straight route without the early hopping. The gear is above a tree right before you have to jump over a small chasm, close to the end of the level.
3) Sky Grid - In the middle of the grid, up in the air.
4) Climbing Course - At the end of the level, there is a grid wall that passes back and forth through a bunch of spiked walls. You need to jump up onto the rail above to find the gear. Jumping must be done while the grid moves towards the end, rather than back from it. It may also be useful to double-jump on top of a spiked wall, and then onto the rail.
5) Quake Run - Close to the end, there's a little side spot to the west with the gear.
6) Lava Run - Northern-most platform, halfway between east and west.
7) Tightrope Tango - Immediately behind you at the very start, to the south.
8) Spike Roller - At the very end is an island past the medal. The gear is behind the tree.
9) Snowball Scramble - Before the second arch, on the north side right by one of the snowball pipes.
10) Conveyor Chaos - Between the second and third conveyor squares, on the south side.


With that, you should have all 50 gears, and can obtain another 10 medals towards fully completing the game.