First post in this thread. Hoping your experience can give me some insight

So i just bought my first Technic set, the 42009. Must say I'm very happy with the purchase and I've enjoyed the build so far.

However I have a problem; I just finished booklet 5 ( just before starting the crane arm ) and i attached the rotating part to the base of the crane. Once i operated it, the outriggers deployed properly, but the feet won't lower. The gears start turning but get stuck after about 2 seconds. I noticed that when i finished the bags marked as"1" i had some extra parts left, including one red gear.

Can someone suggest anything as I really do not wish to start building part 1 from scratch. Any things i should be looking for, or is it all down to the red gear?

Thanks a lot

Red gear is supposed to stay as spare. Outrigger vertical movement is most problematic function in 42009. You probably did not leave enoug slack on wheel. You could try and "help" with turning proper axles with hand to see if it got stuck somewhere.

Are the gears in the mini LAs the right way round? If some of them are on the wrong side they will try going against the gears on the other mini LAs (i.e. the opposite direction), and the gears will stop turning because these LAs will be trying to retract rather than extend.

When I finished mine, I experienced the problem that the outriggers would not move at all. Neither in/out or up/down. I wonder if the connection through the turntable didn't get correctly assembled.

I didn't attempt to find out as I was going to disassemble it anyway.

Are the gears in the mini LAs the right way round? If some of them are on the wrong side they will try going against the gears on the other mini LAs (i.e. the opposite direction), and the gears will stop turning because these LAs will be trying to retract rather than extend.

+1

G'day. I had the same problem as well but found a simple solution. By changing the Blue axle pin with the tan axle pin to reduce friction which allows them to go up and down. As an example, the blue axle pins in book 2, page 18 and step 1 and 8 change to the tan ones. Hope this helps. Another way to help the power of the motor is to swap the AA batteries to rechargeable 1.2V 1,900mAh ones they are fairly cheap and good power without over doing it.

It sounds like the little tan gears on the outriggers are the wrong way round.

Try turning them around to see if that fixes it.

When I built mine, I accidently put one of the tan half bevel gears the wrong way on the 16L axle where the actuator is mounted, resultin in exaxtly the same. I could turn the axle for 1 or 2 turns and the it stopped because on actuator want to retract rather than extend.

When I built mine, I accidently put one of the tan half bevel gears the wrong way on the 16L axle where the actuator is mounted, resultin in exaxtly the same. I could turn the axle for 1 or 2 turns and the it stopped because on actuator want to retract rather than extend.

That's exactly what is happening to me. It starts turning then it gets stuck... So how exactly do you suggest I proceed? And do I have to dismantle the whole chassis to fix it? This would solve my problem :)

Thanks

No. You just have to pull out the 16L axles that turn the gears for the actuator. Take a look at the building instructions to see which ones are the wrong way, pull the axle, place the half bevel gear correctly and insert the 16L axle again. The axle will go hard though, so take care.

See:

Book 2 Step 93 & 94

Book 3 Step 106 & 107

Basically, the bevel gear needs to be on the left side of all 4 actuators when looking at the model from the top in the direction of driving.

No. You just have to pull out the 16L axles that turn the gears for the actuator. Take a look at the building instructions to see which ones are the wrong way, pull the axle, place the half bevel gear correctly and insert the 16L axle again. The axle will go hard though, so take care.

See:

Book 2 Step 93 & 94

Book 3 Step 106 & 107

Basically, the bevel gear needs to be on the left side of all 4 actuators when looking at the model from the top in the direction of driving.

I'll try, but since this is my first build I am not too confident

Ok, I think I'm getting closer... I forced the gears by hand, and now the front set lowers when the rear set goes up and vice versa. Which gear is the culprit? Any ideas?

Edited November 11, 201311 yr by Dr3

Sounds like something is binding.

Remove roating part of crane and try again its easier to see the drive to the legs that way.

Suggest you remove all four small bevel gears from out rigger actuators then try drive train again - if OK replace small bevel gears one at a time until either its OK or a leg jams.

If that fails remove gears from front legs and see if rear legs deploy - if not disconnect rear legs and see if front legs deploy.

I found during building this set as per Lego instructions and for re-build for Ultimate version it paid to check and recheck each stage before moving on to next stage.

For a first time Tecnic builder its a challanging build.

It's challenging indeed Doug72, but rewarding as you move along :)

I found the problem. Turns out I placed the half gear as shown on Books 2 Page 36 Step 4 on the wrong side. Now the legs are going up and down. Although not as smooth as one might think, even though it seems lot of people complain about it.

Thanks to everyone for the help :)

It's challenging indeed Doug72, but rewarding as you move along :)

I found the problem. Turns out I placed the half gear as shown on Books 2 Page 36 Step 4 on the wrong side. Now the legs are going up and down. Although not as smooth as one might think, even though it seems lot of people complain about it.

Thanks to everyone for the help :)

Good, that you got it sorted out.

There is too much friction caused by the BLUE cross axle pins in each out rigger leg - I changed them to low friction TAN cross axle pins and legs deploy smoothly now.

On my crane I replaced the L motor with an xl one and there was no problem with friction.

Dear All,

I've just done page 68 of book 2 and the problem arises at step 100. When I want to extend one pair of 'legs' the other pair does the reverse movement. Front legs in => back legs go outwards, and the other way aound; Can somebody please help?

thanks,Tom

You have one of the planetary gears (little tan ones) on the wrong side of its carrier, causing the front and rear jacks to try going in opposite directions. Flip one of them to the other side of its carrier.

Thankks tskyyc,

That could not be it. the left and right leg of each pair move correctly. It's when the relation between front and back that is the problem (inverse movement)....

thx for the help

It seems to be a general issue placing the gears on wrong side. I had the same problem too. Really must look in the instructions. But if you don't know, you automatically place the gears in all same place.

The friction can be solved by using tan pins, so it doesn't need stronger motors.

Greetings

Alex

..The friction can be solved by using tan pins, so it doesn't need stronger motors...

Greetings

Alex

Sorry for being a noob.. Do you mean the Two Blue 3-segment pin connectors on the feet, or the blue 2 segment pin (with cross) at the top of the "L"?

Sorry for being a noob.. Do you mean the Two Blue 3-segment pin connectors on the feet, or the blue 2 segment pin (with cross) at the top of the "L"?

both

Are the gears in the mini LAs the right way round? If some of them are on the wrong side they will try going against the gears on the other mini LAs (i.e. the opposite direction), and the gears will stop turning because these LAs will be trying to retract rather than extend.

+2

I find it helpful to check each moving part as I go by winding the gear train by hand. - you can find mistakes quite easy if you do it that way

both

So you are saying the Tan color makes a difference in friction?

(Swapping tan colored parts below for original blue ones)