Jawa Sandcrawler 75059 Help

[susan96]

I bought the Lego Jawa Sandcrawler for my little boy as a birthday present, and we've been building it together. There has been much, much cursing involved, but we've gotten about halfway through before getting completely stuck on step 88.

We assembled the mechanism that has the hook on it and got that installed, however when we sent to put the hook in, we can't figure out how it is supposed to attach. The instructions appear to have us just slide it in - there are arrows pointing. But there is nothing for it to attach to, and it just falls down. I've goolged and googled for other instructions, solutions, hacks, what have you, and can't find any other solutions.

We even went to the local Lego store and looked at their model but still can't seem to determine how exactly the hook is staying up. It seems to be defying gravity at this point.

Please, please someone help me fix this thing before I smash it against the wall.

Thanks.

[Raskolnikov]

If I remember correctly, the front crane with the hook does just slide in a technic structure. That way, when you open the ramp, it has some playability. You can slide the crane forward or backward The technic structure that it slides into, though, shouldn't let it "fall down." It should hold it parallel to the ground. I would go over the previous directions again to make sure you built that structure correctly.

[susan96]

Grr - I have built and re built the technic structure 6-7 times now, and see no way to build it differently, so I'm not sure what I could be doing wrong or how the hook thing could slide in there, absent of anything to hold on it to it to be held parallel to the ground. So frustrating.

I wish these parts had written directions and not just pictures because this reminds me a lot of puttiing together ikea furniture.

[rollermonkey]

Like IKEA instructions, LEGO instructions are universal and require no translation.

:)

Can you take and post a picture?

If you don't usually build with Technic, it can sometimes be easy to put pins in the wrong holes... But if you post pictures, we can help troubleshoot, I don't remember having any issues with the forward crane in my Sandcrawler.

[cei]

Post up some pictures of your build. My sandcrawler is right next to my desk, so I can then show you the correct build method.

[GallardoLU]

I had the same issue when I first built mine, turns out I was building the lower part backwards. there is a small support that goes across the front of the structure, as can be seen in the attached picture from brickset.

75059 Sandcrawler by Brickset, on Flickr

[susan96]

I'll try to post some pictures, but the pictures GalardoLU linked to seem to suggest that I built it backwards, like he (she?) suggested. GRR! I'm going to rebuild it (again!) and see if I can fix the problem. I'm a pediatric intensive care RN - I can save someone's life, but apparently can't follow these instructions worth a darn. My 5 year old does a better job than I do. <sigh> Thanks for all the suggestions .... here's hoping I can come back saying I fixed the problem.