Yo. I recently got 8295 Telescopic Handler and it's a pretty good model! My review for it can be found here: http://www.brickset....views/?ID=46289

However, the MdStone 16-toothed gears used in the gear system to raise and lower the vehicle's boom seem to be giving off powder, and there's strain marks on the teeth. I've read a couple of articles and I think it's the sheer pressure they're under; the 8295's gear system does have a lot of weight to lift, and could it simply be the strain wearing down the gears? You do need to crank the living daylights out of the rear knob to get the boom up and down.

I would like some advice on the subject, so that's why I've posted this topic. Thanks to anyone who can help.

-maaboo35

Edited June 5, 201311 yr by Maaboo35

You are quite correct about this model. There is tremendous strain on the gear train when first starting to raise the boom. This is when the largest weight needs to be lifted and also when the actuator has its worst mechanical advantage. You are at the limits of LEGO parts here. "Gear dust" is a well known problem with loaded LEGO gears and there is not much you can do about it. If you were actually breaking gears, there is now a stronger version of the 16 tooth gear, but this won't help you with dust.

Thanks Blakbird! I was actually thinking about using the newer 2011-era gears, but if there's nothing I can do about it then I'll leave it and put up with the dust.

Does the B-model have the same gear strain problem?

Most if not all telehandlers have small hydraulic rams at the back of the arm,maybe there is room to add two small rams at the back of the 8295?

Edited June 5, 201311 yr by Alasdair Ryan

That's a blizzard idea! I'm not really into modifying my store-bought models, but I could look into it.

I don't own this set any more but when I did I also noticed the same problem. I pulled all the gears out and gave them a good clean every now and then,

Guess I'll just do that.

Maybe add a couple of shock absorbers where the rear rams go? That way the arm compresses them when it is at its lowest position and they help raise it back up.

What part?

@ Maaboo35: This Bricklink catalog webpage contains all of the Lego Technic shock absorbers -- pick out one that will fit your model.

Thanks DLuders.

Most if not all telehandlers have small hydraulic rams at the back of the arm,maybe there is room to add two small rams at the back of the 8295?

You will notice in this picture of a real telehandler that the actuators have their best mechanical advantage when the boom is down, and the advantage decreases as you lift. This is exactly what you want (which is why they are designed that way). The Lego telehandler is the opposite and therefore is mechanically inefficient. At the time it was released, the mini linear actuators did not yet exist. You could attempt a modification which uses two of them as shown in the photo. The large versions won't work because their size and stroke don't match what you would need at that location. Given the limitations of being forced to use a single large LA, the LEGO designers did what they had to do which is center the actuator under the boom, and this forced them into the geometry they used.

Note that the actuators in the photo are VERY close to the hinge line so they have to be very powerful to lift the boom. mLA's may not be able to handle it.

Good luck with the modifications!

I drove both the telehandlers at my old work....cool machines,but I prefer operating diggers.

I also have a model manitou,so it should be easy to understand how to go about such a mod.

I just hope there is enough room to add two small La's and the required gearing.....

Blakbird do you know of a cad file for the 8295 telehander?

I can't seem to find one either in MLcad or LDD.

Edited June 6, 201311 yr by Alasdair Ryan

@ Alasdair Ryan: Widetent made an LDraw file of the Lego Technic 8295 Telehandler set -- download it here via SkyDrive.

Thank you David.