Objects Relocate

This is a platform I built with three prefab cogs that are for looks only, so no colliders only animations to make them spin. They are not coded to spin, I instead used controllers. The Platform its self is also a prefab with a box collider and an animator. I am wanting to use these throughout the level and can do so but it feels dirty using them as they are. When I place them I have to keep tweaking them out of play mode to get them exactly where I want them but it should be as easy as saying "this on goes here" but that is not the case. Anyone see what I am missing here?