A sprinkler apparatus comprises a sprinkler motor configured to rotate an output gear and a sprinkler tube configured to move in a repeating pattern in response to rotation of the output gear. The sprinkler apparatus further comprises a tube adapter interposed between the output gear and the sprinkler tube. The tube adapter is fixed in relation to the sprinkler tube. The tube adapter includes a first set of teeth and the output gear has a plurality of extending flexible fingers defining a second set of teeth which engage the first set of teeth. The output gear and the tube adaptor include water passages through which water advances from the sprinkler motor to the sprinkler tube. The flexible fingers on the output gear allow the second set of teeth to slide over the first set of teeth and provide a torque limiting relationship between the output gear and the tube adaptor.