General Part Discussion

[Erik Leppen]

I also wonder whether it's different for people who let their models assembled for years on end, compared to people (like me) who disassemble everything right away after it's finished and photographed.

4 hours ago, Johnny1360 said:

Should I stock up on certain pieces to prepare for the inevitable catastrophe?

Except if you use pieces that are already out of production, I don't see any of the parts mentioned to be prone to getting out of production any time soon.

I am a bit worried though about the outer axle holes on the 11x11 quarter gear rings, as these are also only half-width and therefore prone to breaking as well, and those are rare and expensive pieces. (That's also why I'm so happy that pneumatic cylinders have only pinholes.)

@I_Igor Your question seem to fall a bit in the middle of a discussion, so it might tend to be forgotten a bit. I think what you need really depends on what you're wanting to do. It may be a good idea to create a new topic to ask for help on what you want to achieve. I'm tempted to point you to the existence of 8x8 round tiles with 4 studs in the center: https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=6177#T=C, as wel as various qurater-round sloped wedges, such as https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=58846&idColor=59#T=C&C=59, or https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=95188&idColor=59#T=C&C=59, but I have no idea if these are of any use for you.

[Bublehead]

My experience-

Age and temperature variations are the culprits. I have a large collection in storage back east that was not temperature controlled and now there are a lot of cracked and breaking parts on the models.  Biggest problem is the plastic compound for axles has a different rate of expansion and contraction than the other parts which causes over stressing when temperature swings from hot summer to freezing cold winter and back.  These cycles of over stress causes the plastic to fatigue crack over time.  If I pull a set out of storage that was left built up when it went in, I can shake the model and the little half bushes just fall out on the floor in tiny sad half circles along with the cracked off cross axle ends of half beams and even thick LA cross axle ends can break off.

my recommendations are don’t store your Lego built up, take it apart before storing it in non temperature controlled storage, and keep it in a humidity and temperature controlled environment to preserve its longevity.

I have only been doing this for 50 years, so your mileage may vary.

[zux]

@Johnny1360 most of my sets are from recent years, and seem like there was some issues with connectors I've mentioned earlier several years ago. While disassembling my copy of 8297, which has been assembled for a few years, I found 55 cracked parts (54 connectors + 1 bush). Luckily got a replacement from LEGO.

Newer sets doesn't seem to be impacted this much. Might be because I didn't keep them assembled for long now.

[1gor]

Thanks @Erik Leppen for paying attention and for your honest intentions. What I want to do is to make CLAAS tire wider. I have managed to make it 10mm bigger in diameter (now is some 117mm in comparison to original 107mm) by putting two fabuland ferris wheels inside, but it is to narrow and treads are not placed properly. If you want I'll upload image of current status and send you a pm. The main reason is lack of LEGO tractor tires with other dimensions...and to make (at least some) tractors that could fit the same scale for my mocs I need some other tractor tires so I'm trying to find some solutions. So far the biggest diameter that I have achieved is some 111mm by maintaing the same shape as original on affordable 56mm wheel

The idea was to make something like I have allready made with powerpuller tire, but this time with CLAAS tire

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=535390

Edited May 14, 2018 by I_Igor
Missing link...

[sirslayer]

 

I found this link that shows some chemistry of Lego. Claims Lego are built to with stand the cold temperatures and even a high melting temperature. Never melted any Lego's before but it toxic!!!  

In fact, according to Fatherly editorial director Micah Abrams, "a single Lego can bear up to 4,240 Newtons of force, or weights in excess of 953 pounds, before it starts to deform."

https://jameskennedymonash.wordpress.com/2014/07/15/how-are-lego-bricks-made-the-chemistry-of-lego/

Edited May 15, 2018 by sirslayer

[Johnny1360]

1 hour ago, sirslayer said:

 

I found this link that shows some chemistry of Lego. Claims Lego are built to with stand the cold temperatures and even a high melting temperature. Never melted any Lego's before but it toxic!!!  

In fact, according to Fatherly editorial director Micah Abrams, "a single Lego can bear up to 4,240 Newtons of force, or weights in excess of 953 pounds, before it starts to deform."

https://jameskennedymonash.wordpress.com/2014/07/15/how-are-lego-bricks-made-the-chemistry-of-lego/

Maybe so but that is an actual brick, not so much with a thin walled bush designed to flex, which are the parts I am more concerned with. 

I know some people say put your bricks in the oven to increase their clutch power. I imagine there isn't much difference between an oven and a shipping container rolling through the Arizona desert. I also imagine LEGO doesn't respond well to sitting on the tarmac waiting for a truck at O'Hara in January. 

[zux]

2 hours ago, Johnny1360 said:

I know some people say put your bricks in the oven to increase their clutch power. I imagine there isn't much difference between an oven and a shipping container rolling through the Arizona desert. I also imagine LEGO doesn't respond well to sitting on the tarmac waiting for a truck at O'Hara in January. 

Putting bricks into the oven... yeah, right. These are the same people suggesting quick charging iPhones in microwave probably.

[sirslayer]

@Johnny1360 The friction less half size bushing is one of Lego Technic lightest elements, @ 0.005 grams. I seen many break and how would a bushing break unless crushed?   hummmm 

update: never mind an u joint would be a bushing!! 

Edited May 15, 2018 by sirslayer

[LucyCol]

My 8480, is slowly disintegrating due to the old style half bushes spitting whilst the model is on display.

[1gor]

On 5/14/2018 at 6:21 PM, Erik Leppen said:

 

@I_Igor Your question seem to fall a bit in the middle of a discussion, so it might tend to be forgotten a bit. I think what you need really depends on what you're wanting to do. It may be a good idea to create a new topic to ask for help on what you want to achieve. I'm tempted to point you to the https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=95188&idColor=59#T=C&C=59, but I have no idea if these are of any use for you.

I think I'll try with those, but need 8 for one tire and here in Croatia are available 12. I'll think of something. thank you very much 

[pagicence]

I have a question; what would happen if instead of normal gears, in lego portal hub, are put a normal gear and a clutch gear? How is that going to affect driving of model and possible getting stuck?

Edited May 18, 2018 by pagicence

[Void_S]

24 minutes ago, pagicence said:

I have a question; what would happen if instead of normal gears, in lego portal hub, are put a normal gear and a clutch gear? How is that going to affect driving of model and possible getting stuck?

In general, this clutch gear (I suppose that you mean the white one that can slip) will start slipping when the torque exceeds some limit. The result will remain the wheels with a very low-traction tires: a motor will be trying to rotate that gear that slips easily. So yes, the model will get stuck over obstacles.

I don't think that it's a great idea to use them, as the portal hubs are for torque increasing, but those gears will just ruin the result.

[pagicence]

Thank you @Void_S

[Bublehead]

I am posting this here as it seams appropriate and applies to all sets these day, not just the 42080.

 

What does it take to get people to understand TLG’s reasoning on the color vomit?  The colors make finding parts easier during the build process, they remove confusion between similar parts and ensure THE CHILD has a better construction experience. Which, in turn, makes THE PARENTS’s have a better experience with their TOY purchase.

When a CHILD fails to complete a model due to using the wrong parts early in the build, the frustration and disappointment affects the overall acceptance of the TOY.  This translates back through the PARENTS as a poor TOY choice, limiting further SALES, which means TLG fails, and Technic Lego, as we know it, goes away.  

And remember, the vomit did not come from the designer. It comes from the Instructions and assembly group long after the designer hands over the final model for production.  The actual color scheme can be changed by the Marketing group which does play testing and focus groups to determine what appeals to the target age group.

If you fail to purchase a certain set due to it being ugly, just remember that all the sets you passed on were just another nail in the coffin when either Technic as a theme or TLG itself go out of business.

Now before all the trolls crawl out from under their keyboards to say they are not going to let TLG off the hook for crappy models and the color vomit, that all this seems to be not in their best interests if they are trying to sell models to YOU, but the truth is they are not trying to sell to AFOLs. They are selling to the parents of their target demographic, which just happens to be kids ages 9 to 16.

I have bought so many models that I hate, loath, or just simply scratch my head at, but I still bought them because parts is parts. If you don’t like a set, for whatever reason, I feel this is great fuel to feed the fire of rebuilding it to suit yourself. 

[aminnich]

I have my own opinions on this topic, but this is not the place to talk about it.  If the conversation is to continue, I would recommend a separate topic.

[Bublehead]

4 minutes ago, aminnich said:

recommend a separate topic.

I have been blasted in the past for starting a topic on something just to be told it should go in the general parts discussion thread.

Feel free to start one, I am a bit gun shy when it comes to starting threads these days, so I try and put things were they ruffle the least feathers.

[pagicence]

I really wish that Lego would produce this new part. You have no idea how many time i needed it. Is there a way to get their attention somehow for this?

[Bublehead]

@pagicence, +1 for this part... needed it 20 times over 

[Erik Leppen]

I have needed the same part many times. I say yes. But whether that will help? I believe TLC don't take fan designs for legal reasons, but some of the existing parts have been drawn by @barman years ago, so it's possible. But suggesting a part to TLC isn't going to speed things up.

[N-4K0]

That would be useful, and it's not that different from the existing ones.

[pagicence]

@Error404 Well, it's a longer version of 15100.

+=

It will be very useful when building something compact, maybe you just didn't have a need for it. Just ask other builders, how many times we had to compromise with a bigger connections. This will save space, like 2x or more, when in need.

Hey, maybe @efferman can 3D print it? I looked at some 3D printed parts of his, (mostly wheels) but I haven't bothered to look if he has made this already. Although I'm not a fan of 3D printed Lego parts.

[efferman]

A simple piece, should be online this evening

[pagicence]

2 minutes ago, efferman said:

A simple piece, should be online this evening

Maaaaan!!! You work quicker than DHL, UPS and FEDEX combined.

[efferman]

Done, if you want multiple pieces i could make a meshbox with the pieces in it. then it will be much cheaper per part

[Ngoc Nguyen]

Red may look like a common color, but it is a big surprise for me to find out that panel 5x11 in red has only appeared in 3 technic sets thus far: 8258, 42029, and 42068.  The next big red thing 42082 doesn't seem to have this piece.