D11 42131 troubleshooting

[Micky505]

Hi,

Ive come here to get some help regarding building the D11. Im at step 198 at the calibration part and guess what, nothing seems to work properly. Ive rebuild the gearbox twice already and ive looked online for common faults but i can't get the damm thing to calibrate. Ive updated firmware, new set of batterys,... Even the motors that spin the wheels wont turn in any direction. Changing the wires on the battery box only gave me fault codes so that shouldnt be it.

 

Can anyone confirm this is what the gearbox should like look? i can't upload bigger pics then 0.1mb so sorry for the quality. Getting really frustrated here, ive built the mercedes Arocs and that was a breeze compared to this.

Thanks in advance!

[anyUser]

Hello,

the relative orientation of the orange gear selector and the stop (the orange 2L beam with "o" and "x" hole on the same axle to the right) seem to be OK.
Can you verify that the second dark grey shifter that is located "above" / at 90° is in neutral = middle position?
 

First action of the control software is always to activate the gear selecting motor. You should get a short "whining" tone until the end stop is reached. A movement can probably seen if the gearbox is viewed from the angle shown in the photos.

I assume that you have verified that the two motors of this gearbox (selector and drive) are connected to theier corresponding ports?

[Micky505]

Well im only allowed 20kb photos.... ill try and get some online

[anyUser]

(There is a strict size limit for uploading pictures to Eurobricks. However, you can upload bigger photos elsewhere and paste a link into your posting.)

I just checked the calibration sequence:

first action is on the gear selector.
If this can be set to the expected position the drive motor (= constant rotation) is activated.
I assume you don't get this far?

 

Edited September 2, 2023 by anyUser

[Micky505]

Ill try and youtube some

 

Edited September 2, 2023 by Micky505

[Micky505]

Ive got a second one with activating another functions of the gearbox
 

 

[anyUser]

OK - you are doing the installation check, not the calibration (which will determine the end-stop on the actuators).
I tried to compare with my bulldozer with is fully build build and therefore difficult to observe.

For both the "cogwheel" and the "gearbox" test first the gear selection motor is activated. After some (short) time the second motor will also be started. There are some small back-and-forth rotation before it is activated for longer time.

From your videos I can recognize:
- The gear selector is running longer time than with my setup
- There seems to be no action from the second = drive motor

You should check:
(If the motor is not recognised "found" the app should report at the beginning)

- Could it be that the calbles of the two motors for the functions are swapped over at the battery box?
- Is it possible that a 'drive' gear is actually connected to the gear selector?

I don't have any more advice for now.

 

[Micky505]

Thanks for your replies, ill try and check your remarks.

[Micky505]

Well i tried to change the cables and i can calibrate step one and step two. Afther that the blade actuators wont spin and the wheels still wont move. I think ive made some mistakes but i cant seem to resolve them without breaking down the gearbox for the third time... such a pain. I must say the instructions aren't that great either, is there a digital manual with better visuals? Could it be that i placed a motor upside down or something like that? 

[Mr Jos]

You can upload your pictures to an image hosting website, like Flickr.com , then click the 'share' button, copy the "BBCode" and paste it here. That way you can post bigger size photos.

About the model I can't help, as I don't have it, but the online building instructions can be found here; https://www.lego.com/nl-be/service/buildinginstructions/42131

[Lego Tom]

On 9/2/2023 at 1:14 PM, Micky505 said:

Well i tried to change the cables and i can calibrate step one and step two. Afther that the blade actuators wont spin and the wheels still wont move. I think ive made some mistakes but i cant seem to resolve them without breaking down the gearbox for the third time... such a pain. I must say the instructions aren't that great either, is there a digital manual with better visuals? Could it be that i placed a motor upside down or something like that? 

A motor upside down still turns in the same direction, so that shouldn't matter, per say. I have done the model and it is a complex build and easy to make a mistake on the build if you aren't paying close attention. One problem I've encountered is making the distinction between black parts and dark grey parts in the pictures. Another possible problem area is making sure you are using the proper gears by counting the teeth instead of just going by the color of the part. I keep a magnifying glass next to the instructions just for this reason.

You may need to go back to the instructions and start the build over, not physically but by comparing what you have with what the directions show, and pay attention to the drawings that indicate they have turned the assembly over to add a part, as missing this can cause you to put a part on backwards and screw up the drive sequence.

[Sestapul]

Hi @Micky505,

i had same issue as you are describing and I found out that if I do not run test option on mobile app but complete machine control instead it suddenly works all fine.

Seems like there is issue with test program only. Try that - hope this helps.

PS: English is not my first language so please excuse any mistakes.

[grum64]

I had problems when running the calibration test on my D11. The screen showed it was meant to be doing one thing, the D11 was doing another. I checked everything was OK with the build, checked for answers online, reinstalled the app, checked for updates and asked the good people here but could find no reason for it so just left it as it was and hoped for the best. I ran the calibration test again a couple of weeks ago, just out of curiosity really and this time everything did what it should. Don’t figure.

[williamyzfr1]

Hello, I am looking for some advice. I finished my build today  and I belivieved it had tested OK earlier in the build. On the default controls in the App when "Drive" (Forward) is highlighted it goes in reverse but when "Reverse" is highlighted  moving the throttle drives it forward.  

I am a bit baffled as I believe the two motors involved in driving the vehicle are directly linked to a drive hub on either side and linked by a diff in the centre.

So its as if the controls need reversing which doesn't seem possible?

So please, any clues from someone more knowledgable than me?

 

EDIT After a nights sleep I have solved the problem.

It was a misinterpretation of the default App controls on my part. Changed to the alternative controls (Joystick type) and tthe direction control is perfect.

 

Edited November 29, 2023 by williamyzfr1

[Zerobricks]

Maybe you misswired the left and right motors.

[williamyzfr1]

19 minutes ago, Zerobricks said:

Maybe you misswired the left and right motors.

They are not meant to cross, the fixed wiring of the left motor goes to the left side of the control box and the right to the right side.

As both motors are linked by a central differential I am mystified, but thanks for the comment.

Edited November 28, 2023 by williamyzfr1

[Brickthus]

The motors are identical and independent.  The differential is only a drive to the engine.  The drive motors have to turn in opposite directions to go forward or backwards; this can only be done by a command of that sort from the hub.

At step 198 I found that the tests were inconsistent in what they did to drive the motors.  Test 1 drove the gear both ways sometimes and only one way at other times.  Test 4 drove that drive motor in the reverse direction to what was prescribed, yet it would not fit into the model in a flipped orientation.  I tested the drive motors with a battery unit and both are correctly wired, so it's either a bad hub or bad software.  I'm persevering with the build in the hope that it was bad test software and that, when it calibrates (needing the model to be finished in order to hit all the end stops at the right times) it will work OK.

This all puts more nails in the coffin of confidence in PU hubs and software.

Mark

[Ngoc Nguyen]

Ditch C+, go PF!

 

[williamyzfr1]

With reference to my earlier (edited) app problem I also contacted Lego.

After a little troubleshooting which centred around did I have the latest App and Firmware revisions I received a final reply yesterday:

Hi William,

I'm glad you were able to get this set working, even if it's not the ideal control method.  I have been advised by our Digital Product Support team that this is a known issue and the developers are working to correct this.  Thank you for your feedback and troubleshooting on it, your info has been passed on!

If I can help you further, please let me know!

 

So it seems the App interface for the default controls does indeed have a direction issue!

[Lego Tom]

7 minutes ago, williamyzfr1 said:

With reference to my earlier (edited) app problem I also contacted Lego.

After a little troubleshooting which centred around did I have the latest App and Firmware revisions I received a final reply yesterday:

Hi William,

I'm glad you were able to get this set working, even if it's not the ideal control method.  I have been advised by our Digital Product Support team that this is a known issue and the developers are working to correct this.  Thank you for your feedback and troubleshooting on it, your info has been passed on!

If I can help you further, please let me know!

 

So it seems the App interface for the default controls does indeed have a direction issue!

Mine operates backwards meaning you push forward to go in reverse and reverse to go forward. I'm used to it now so if they change the app I'll have to learn to drive over again.

[williamyzfr1]

I have become increasingly frustrated with this model.

I initially could only get this CAT D11 to fully calibrate if i reinstalled my existing Control+ App and double checked all my Linear actuators were all at the printed instructions desired extended length. This was accompanied my much gear clicking but it all ended fine.

However, my ladder eventually ceased extending fully but there is no way I can get this model to recalibrate again past the front blade calibration which never completes.

This is the worst implementation of a Control+ model that I have encountered so far, all others works flawlessly even with recalibration.

I have resorted to performing my own "calibration" just to get things working properply and this is ironically most troublesome with the ladder.

I now have all the functions moving so that the acuators don't quite bottom out but still allows a full range of movement.

But this doesn't apply to the ladder which incorporates a clutch thus its more troublesome.

Edited January 1, 2024 by williamyzfr1

[Brickthus]

59 minutes ago, williamyzfr1 said:

I have become increasingly frustrated with this model.

I initially could only get this CAT D11 to fully calibrate if i reinstalled my existing Control+ App and double checked all my Linear actuators were all at the printed instructions desired extended length. This was accompanied my much gear clicking but it all ended fine.

However, my ladder eventually ceased extending fully but there is no way I can get this model to recalibrate again past the front blade calibration which never completes.

This is the worst implementation of a Control+ model that I have encountered so far, all others works flawlessly even with recalibration.

I have resorted to performing my own "calibration" just to get things working properply and this is ironically most troublesome with the ladder.

I now have all the functions moving so that the acuators don't quite bottom out but still allows a full range of movement.

But this doesn't apply to the ladder which incorporates a clutch thus its more troublesome.

I agree on "worst".

Having had the same problem with the 42131 front blade calibration and having reinstalled the app, I had more success when I repeated the individual function tests until each one rotated its function in both directions during the respective test, ignoring the times when they moved incorrectly.  It seemed to be random but maybe it records the movements that were made during each test and takes those forward to the calibration stage.

You could remove the ladder and wind the gears manually through the clutch to give it an offset.  Then do it every so often when it falls out of calibration.

Have owners of 42146 crane found that to be any better?  I imagine a command to wind in fully would be subjective, based on how the strings wind on each spool.  Or are all its 6 functions variable, without specific distance calibration?
If that were so, it might lead to avoidance of Control+ sets with linear actuators but greater ease for sets without that combination.

Mark

[williamyzfr1]

Thank you for your reply which seems to confirm my findings.

I was relieved to find this set before it became retired but in some ways I am very disppointed that I paid a lot of money for a flawed Lego set.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

Since you folks already paid a lot of money, why not spend another amount of money to get the PF components 

[Jurss]

I did not buy this set, just parts I was missing from it, built it, everything worked as expected :D