Pictorial Review: 8284 Tractor

[Lost_In_Noise]

8284 Tractor was released in 2006, the year before 8274 which uses the same color theme. It features front wheel steering via a HOG, front wheel pendular suspension, inline 4-cylinder engine driven by rear differential, and tilting and spinning the cutter attachment in the back. The mower can be disconnected from the drive axle by a lever located in the driver's cabin.

According to Brickset, it was 60$ on release. I paid 75$ for mine. Not bad for 872 pieces.

This set uses 54120 tires, which was also used in this years 4 x 4 crawler, 8118, 8297, and 8063.

Comparison tires from 8466 and 8081.

Despite it's overall greenish look, only 17 of its 872 pieces are green.

A total of 38 gears are included in this set, if you count the differential.

The build stats with the tractor, and the cutter has its own separate instructions. The instruction booklets are 63 and 38 pages long, and contains 62 steps for the tractor, and 15 for the cutter. The overall parts per step equals 14 for this set. Sub-assemblies are not counted.

We start off with the bottom of the chassis. The driving ring engages the cutter when the driveshaft turns.

The second axle is for the PTO.

A 12T db gear and a worm gear will lift the PTO when its not in use.

You can see here how the worm gear will turn the Crown gear with the PTO axle.

The changeover catch it placed on some thin liftarms, and an axle connector acts as a handle.

The second axle for the HOG is placed with a meshing knobwheel.

This 16T clutched wheel provides input to the fake engine without interfering with the steering axle.

The seats uses Bionicle tooths to make a nice curved shape.

The dash features a instruments sticker.

The differential sits on the rear axle. You can see how it will drive the set of 12T DB gears.

A set of wheelhubs are placed on each side, and locked with some liftarms.

The engine is an inline 4-cylinder, constructed on standard Technic principle. A 16T gear on the input axle gives a 2:1 final drive ratio.

It's placed in the front, and locked with a 3 axle.

The front axle has rack and pinion steering, and pendular suspension.

This rack is placed on top.

Finished. The second 8T gear isn't really necessary, because the steering angle is already limited by the 3L pins with bush.

The front grille is made of thin liftarms.

Front lights and hood in place.

The entry steps.

The same for the opposite side.

The HOG gear setup uses a 20T DB gear. Some flex axles suggests the windshield.

The cocpit starts taking shape.

Rear mudguards

Rear floodlights in place. Note the 10 axle protruding from the universal joint. That is the source of power to the rear attachment.

Rear lights next.

And the exhaust pipe.

Front mudguard. The mudguards are made the same way as 8295, meaning

they follow the wheels as they turn.

The warning light on top doesn't serve as a HOG in this model.

Rear wheelwells are made of flex axles.

Next the front weights (thanks hoeij), made of thin liftarms.

The rear attachment is initially driven by a 24T gear which axle is connected to The PTO of the tractor. This meshes with another 24T gear, which is connected to a 20T bevel gear.

One of these goes on each side. You can see how the 12T bevel gears meshes with the 20T bevel gear. This forces them to spin in opposite directions, at a ratio of 1:2.5 of the input axle. That fits with the red axle connector at the bottom.

Lastly, the spinner blades are made of Umbrella Stands and thin liftarms.

Finished!

Lifting cutter:

Engine is driven by the rear differential:

The gear selector which turns the cutter on or off. If you look closely, you can spot the driving ring underneath it.

Size comparison with 8274, 8049, 8281.

Overall I think this is a great set. It's big size, combined with the genuine feel of the functions makes it, in my opinion, the best Technic tractor there is. The steering is very smooth, and the engine moves at a reasonable rate. Also, the green/white color scheme makes it stand out in my collection. The only cons I see about this set is the absence of a working steering wheel, and some form of doors for the cabin.

Thanks for reading/watching. Vote on the poll, and feel free to comment and ask anything.

As always, I'm uploading the source images @ Brickshelf.

Edited September 17, 2012 by Lost_In_Noise

[LegoGBC]

I like your reviews , keep up the good work

[Lost_In_Noise]

I like your reviews , keep up the good work

Thanks, Its fun to do also. I always read other reviews before I buy certain sets, so it makes sense that more people will do the same. EuroBricks reviews of Technic sets are also a rariety, something I'd like to change.

[bord4kop]

I like your reviews , keep up the good work

Same here

The reviews are very good and an excellent source if planning on buying something.

I agree with your opinion, this is a very good set.

I picked up mine (together with the combine (8274)) for about €70, second hand.

The tractor operates the right way, is good looking and has some neat functions. The swing axle, on/off PTO clutch. Also the cutter itself is truly very nice; the way it turns on/off by moving the sides up and down, is simple but very effective.

The set has some very nice, handy "thingies". And these are just the features I like best in a set and/or building a set. The sort of thing one can combine/use in one 's own MOC.

A well, great review! Keep em comimg

Edited September 15, 2012 by bord4kop

[skylinedan]

Your reviews are very informitive, and I agree we need more like this. Be nice to read up on a set , learn about the pros n cons of it before you go out n spend the coin on one. One of the things I,ve been doing is going too bricklink and looking at the invintory . I,d like to see a review on the new back hoe loader( dont know the set number) Really like the set, and the parts invintory looks good for the money spent.

Dan

[href]

Great review! I really enjoy this set as well AND was able to add a working steering wheel by connecting a universal joint to the bottom of the wheel. Then, place a 12t bevel gear onto one end of a 3l? axle and connect the other end to the joint. Secure this structure in such a way that the 12t gear meshes perpendicularly with the 16t gear directly below on the floor of the cabin.

It isn't the most elegant solution, but does work!

Edited September 15, 2012 by href

[Lost_In_Noise]

Your reviews are very informitive, and I agree we need more like this. Be nice to read up on a set , learn about the pros n cons of it before you go out n spend the coin on one. One of the things I,ve been doing is going too bricklink and looking at the invintory . I,d like to see a review on the new back hoe loader( dont know the set number) Really like the set, and the parts invintory looks good for the money spent.

Dan

Is that the 8069? That's better than the rest of the backhoe's imho, but 8455 is my favourite.

Edited September 15, 2012 by Lost_In_Noise

[Edwin Korstanje]

Thanks for all the work you put into it and this is the best tractor Technic have ever make

[skylinedan]

Is that the 8069? That's better than the rest of the backhoe's imho, but 8455 is my favourite.

Yeah, had to go too Bricklink and see what number it was, LOL. It looks like a good set, I like the phumatic one too. Its on my want list, seen a few on ebay, but the prices are a bit high. Ofcorse if I dint buy two 8421,s I,d have the money for it, LOL. I know the 8066 is going for around 55 to 60 with free shipping. I do have 8284, like it a lot. built it a few times, but never made any mods to it.

Dan

Is that the 8069? That's better than the rest of the backhoe's imho, but 8455 is my favourite.

Yeah, had to go too Bricklink and see what number it was, LOL. It looks like a good set, I like the phumatic one too. Its on my want list, seen a few on ebay, but the prices are a bit high. Ofcorse if I dint buy two 8421,s I,d have the money for it, LOL. I know the 8066 is going for around 55 to 60 with free shipping. I do have 8284, like it a lot. built it a few times, but never made any mods to it.

Dan

[OzBen]

Great review

I got one from Ebay for $50, gotta pick it up from the post office tomorrow, im glad i won it now after reading your review

[Lost_In_Noise]

Yeah, had to go too Bricklink and see what number it was, LOL. It looks like a good set, I like the phumatic one too. Its on my want list, seen a few on ebay, but the prices are a bit high. Ofcorse if I dint buy two 8421,s I,d have the money for it, LOL. I know the 8066 is going for around 55 to 60 with free shipping. I do have 8284, like it a lot. built it a few times, but never made any mods to it.

Dan

I paid about 130 Euro for my 8455 in great condition with box. About the same as the 9397 Log loader.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Lost_In_Noise

[Samanen]

I too really like these pictoral reviews! Every set should have it's own. Keep up the good work.

If possible, the reviews could have their own section here at the forum. or what do you think?

[Lost_In_Noise]

I too really like these pictoral reviews! Every set should have it's own. Keep up the good work.

If possible, the reviews could have their own section here at the forum. or what do you think?

They have. But I can't see any Technic reviews there.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Lost_In_Noise

[hoeij]

Next the front bumper, made of thin liftarms.

That's not a bumper. Those are front weights.

( you can hang weights in front of a tractor to balance the weight, you can find some pictures on:

http://www.everythingattachments.com/tractor-weights-s/8408.htm )

Great review, this looks like a really nice tractor.

[legolijntje]

I have such a good memories with this set

It was my first time in a Lego store, and I bought this one together with the Technic Combine Harvester. They were both on sale, so I had both for less than the original price of one of them.

When put together, this set (and the combine) was so much more than I had expected from a tractor

[Samanen]

They have. But I can't see any Technic reviews there.

Ok, but I meant like a pinned topic in this forum, like the The Technic and Model Team MOC index and Lego TECHNIC Index that are pinned at the top now.

[Siegfried]

Ok, but I meant like a pinned topic in this forum, like the The Technic and Model Team MOC index and Lego TECHNIC Index that are pinned at the top now.

That index is dead, use the Set Index. Pick "Technic" and do a search for nothing...

[Samanen]

That index is dead, use the Set Index. Pick "Technic" and do a search for nothing...

This is getting seriously off-topic now, but that's not what I meant. I would like to see a pinned topic at the top of the page where all the pictorial reviews would be collected. Official pictures can be found pretty much anywhere, it's the pictures from the build that are interesting. But hey, that's just my opinion!

[Lost_In_Noise]

This is getting seriously off-topic now, but that's not what I meant. I would like to see a pinned topic at the top of the page where all the pictorial reviews would be collected. Official pictures can be found pretty much anywhere, it's the pictures from the build that are interesting. But hey, that's just my opinion!

I've asked around in the Reviewers Academy forum, hoping for some clarity. There are (almost) no Technic reviews to be found over there:S