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POLL: 8043 Motorized Excavator Trouble-Shooting

1. Please evaluate your 8043's PERFORMANCE (select one or more answers):
- It performs all of its operations fine, and I'm satisfied.
  
  4
- It has some problems with raising the main arm with its two Linear Actuators (like moving your entire arm at the shoulder).
  
  12
- It has problems "slewing" (moving the entire arm sideways on the excavator's turntable).
  
  2
- It has problems "curling" the bucket up and down (similar to moving your cupped hand at the wrist).
  
  1
- It has problems moving the upper arm in and out (like moving your lower arm only at the elbow).
  
  3
- It has problems rolling forwards and backwards on its Technic Treads ("tracks").
  
  6
- The two Linear Actuators at the base of the arm don't seem to be balanced.
  
  4
- The two Linear Actuators at the base of the arm seem to be flexing too much when fully extended.
  
  2
- The two Linear Actuators at the base of the arm are making unusual scraping noises.
  
  2
- The two Linear Actuators at the base of the arm are producing visible plastic dust.
  
  0
- The Power Functions Medium motors don't seem to be balanced (don't operate evenly).
  
  3
- The Power Functions Medium motors are straining to lift the main arm, even with fresh batteries.
  
  10
- I am using fresh 6 ea. AA alkaline batteries.
  
  11
- I am using Rechargeable AA batteries.
  
  4
- I am using the small, Rechargeable Power Functions 8878 Battery Box (instead of the larger, stock PF Battery Box that came with the set).
  
  1
- The bevel gears at the base of the main arm are producing visible plastic dust.
  
  0
- At the base of the arm, it makes no difference in performance when I move the Gray Idler Gears to the SAME SIDE of the two Linear Actuators.
  
  2
- Moving the Gray Idler Gears to the SAME SIDE of the Linear Actuators improved performance.
  
  3
2. What do you SUSPECT is the problem (if any)? (Select one or more answers)
- The Linear Actuators are defective.
  
  3
- The Linear Actuators are missing lubrication entirely, or need additional lubrication.
  
  3
- The Power Functions Medium motors are not all built the same.
  
  6
- The DESIGN of the model uses a bucket that is too big and too heavy to lift.
  
  3
- The DESIGN of the model has reached the limits of Power Functions Medium motors and Linear Actuators.
  
  14
- Incorrect building by the purchaser, who may have failed to follow the Building Instructions correctly.
  
  4
- A design flaw that could be improved with a "Fix", similar to what The Lego Group issued for the 8275 Motorized Excavator set.
  
  5
- Abuse by the owner of the model.
  
  0
3. How much TIME did you play with your model before problems arose?
- 1-15 minutes
  
  7
- 15-30 minutes
  
  1
- 30-45 minutes
  
  2
- 45-60 minutes
  
  2
- 1-2 hours
  
  1
- 2-3 hours
  
  1
- 3-4 hours
  
  0
- 4-5 hours
  
  0
- More than 5 hours
  
  4
4. I bought my model from this country [NOTE: I used the results of the "TECHNIC Forum User Demographics" poll; I can only list 40 countries maximum):
- Australia
  
  0
- Belgium
  
  0
- Canada
  
  2
- Czech Republic
  
  0
- Denmark
  
  3
- Estonia
  
  0
- Finland
  
  0
- France
  
  1
- Germany
  
  0
- Hungary
  
  0
- Israel
  
  1
- Malaysia
  
  0
- New Zealand
  
  0
- Norway
  
  1
- Poland
  
  1
- Portugal
  
  0
- Romania
  
  0
- Serbia
  
  0
- Slovenia
  
  1
- South Africa
  
  0
- Spain
  
  0
- Switzerland
  
  0
- The Netherlands
  
  3
- United Kingdom (UK)
  
  2
- United States of America (USA)
  
  3
5. My follow-up actions (select one or more answers)
- I will contact Lego Customer Service to get replacement Linear Actuators.
  
  2
- I will contactLego Customer Service to get replacement Power Functions Medium motors.
  
  3
- I will contact Lego Customer Service to report my 8043's problems.
  
  3
- I will be taking the main "A-Model" apart and building the alternate, "B-Model" instead.
  
  2
- I will be placing the model on a shelf and not playing with it anymore.
  
  3
- I want to keep my 8043 set in original, "stock" condition and don't want to make any alterations or modifications.
  
  5
- I am willing to make some modifications to my 8043, in order to make it perform better.
  
  11
- I am willing to permanently attach a rubber band to the base of the main arm, in order to take some load off of the two bottom Linear Actuators.
  
  5
- I am willing to add lubrication (such as Olive Oil) to the Linear Actuators to reduce friction.
  
  1
- I have taken care of my model, and have not "abused" it by playing in a sandbox or lifting unnaturally-heavy objects in the bucket.
  
  14
- I may have "abused" my model, and thus caused it to start having problems.
  
  0

Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.

Posted August 12, 201014 yr

In order to possibly locate the extent of problems that SOME AFOLs are having with their Lego 8043 Motorized Excavator set, please answer the various questions below. The poll results may help indicate where the problems (and possible solutions) may exist. As you evaluate your 8043 over time, you may (of course) DELETE your answers and start over. As the data comes in, one can see how your 8043 ranks with others worldwide. Select one or more answers to the 4 questions below. Thank you for your assistance.

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August 12, 201014 yr

I voted more than 5 hours to the question when problems arose during playing, but I haven´t had any real problems. IMO the model performs as expected. I do believe that the M-motors and LA´s are ate the maximum of their performance. I do think the bucket is too big and I've modified it om my model.

I suspect most of the problems to be caused by unprecise building, but not by failing to follow the instructions properly. The instructions are correct and clear, but during building the builder has to be absolutely sure that all the drivetrains move smoothly.

This picture say exactly what I mean:

I did some modifications already to improve looks & performance. If you're interested, you can read all about it here.

Edited August 12, 201014 yr by Jurgen Krooshoop

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August 12, 201014 yr

I voted more than 5 hours to the question when problems arose during playing, but I haven´t had any real problems. IMO the model performs as expected. I do believe that the M-motors and LA´s are ate the maximum of their performance. I do think the bucket is too big and I've modified it om my model.

I suspect most of the problems to be caused by unprecise building, but not by failing to follow the instructions properly. The instructions are correct and clear, but during building the builder has to be absolutely sure that all the drivetrains move smoothly.

This picture say exactly what I mean:

I did some modifications already to improve looks & performance. If you're interested, you can read all about it here.

I agree

Quote

August 12, 201014 yr

actually i bought it from the NL , no lego in israel

secondly mine started working bad - slewing great moving and raising arm weakly

after i modified it( 4 lego technic rubber bands, bucket replace

it works great except for the right track which is very weak (maybe need to replace motor)

Edited August 12, 201014 yr by shimon

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August 12, 201014 yr

@ DLuders:

Nice poll!

But:

You forgot the "rubberband sollution" :laugh:

Like i said before:

* Moving the two idle gears in synchronised position and allingning the LA's reduces the tension on the LA's a lot. So that works for me.

* The rubberband-sollution has the highest impact on the model and gives the best result.

* One shall always have some minor differences in performence between motors. That shouldn't be a problem.

* Due to the turntable problem you always will have some problems in that area. (Note: As you can see its always happening on the righthand side ..)

And Jurgen is right.

All parts should be running freely!

And another tips for building: test your build during the buildingprocess!

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August 13, 201014 yr

I've had issues with mine, but I've never built it "stock". I've added 2 extra motors to the boom, so even with my LAs aligned properly it's still got a bit more to lift than a stock model. I've also replaced the PF battery pack with a 9.6V NiMH RC car battery pack, which provides more than enough grunt to work all the functions with few problems. It still struggles a bit to raise the boom, but it works well enough for me, and it can lift a respectable load in the bucket.

If the machine is on a relatively steep angle and I try to slew it so the rear of the machine is swinging uphill, the motor just stalls out. I might try swapping that motor out with a known good spare I have and see if that improves the performance. On level ground it does the spinning in place maneuver (with the tracks spinning under the machine while the superstructure stays in place) just fine, so it could be a design flaw in the model due to the imbalance between the boom and the battery pack.

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August 13, 201014 yr

I decided to just build my own pneumatic version, works great, can lift massive loads :tongue:

It's annoying that you have to double the pneumatics up to make them a usable length in this scale model :hmpf_bad: but still much more satisfying, realisitic, authentic, reliable and cool :wink: