41999 and small child warning

[JGW3000]

Posting this warning for those with small children:

Last night my six year old managed to get his finger stuck in or near the rear differential of my 41999 - he is really fascinated by gears and wanted to see or make them spin. At the same time, he disconnected the corresponding L-motor from the IR receiver and attached it to the winch's power connector, and of course the battery was on, spinning the gears, wheels, etc.. After about five agonizing minutes, I managed to free his finger, but not before much wailing and tears. He is fine now, and lesson learned about machines and proper lock-out / tag-out procedures, related to his level of course.

Please watch your smaller children when they are playing with PF equipped models! Certainly in my house he will need to be supervised, I am planning to get a simpler model he can build to help him learn about gears and rotating devices.

[Saberwing40k]

Luckily, I have neither children nor pets. On the other hand, some of my models self destruct.

Edited November 22, 2013 by Saberwing40k

[z3_2drive]

Every child has some painful learning experiences Even when not intentional accidents happen...I had a XL with some strong gearing and while testing I accidentally got my finger in...took a tiny piece of my finger out and it hurt like hell but it makes you more cautious for the future

[biobacon]

In a different but to my mind related story my 2 year old become Godzilla to my lego city this afternoon.

[dr_spock]

The 41999 box says ages 11 to 16. Definitely do supervise young children around moving parts like paper shredders, engine fan belts, etc.

[AKM_76]

All this motors talk reminded me the The Counselor (2013) movie, the ending. Some MOC's anybody? Or maybe even official set (education-dacta)?

Edited November 22, 2013 by AKM_76

[zux]

Look on it from a different side. The boy is interested in machinery, gears and technology and he tested his curiosity on LEGO rather on real life machinery, which could cause serious injuries. Well, you know, everyone tastes soap, sooner or later

[MrNumbskull13]

Look on it from a different side. The boy is interested in machinery, gears and technology and he tested his curiosity on LEGO rather on real life machinery, which could cause serious injuries. Well, you know, everyone tastes soap, sooner or later

I have has less injuries with real machinery! xD I remember my first taste of soap too...

[TinkerBrick]

Learning through pain and frustration.

Fortunately my girls (aged 2 and 4) didn't accomplished something like this yet. But they are highly interested in Lego. The younger in Duplo and the older in Friends and Basic/Creator.

[Balrog]

That's what I would really call "learning through pain". A lesson that every child should learn at some point.

Now lapidate me

[kevman]

Reminds me of a time my son caught his hand in a large mouse trap in the garage. No matter how much sense things make to an adult, you can never forget to warn your kids about things. I still cannot forgive myself for that incident, even though he came out of it just fine, and didn't cry much.

[Jim]

Is the 41999 all right?!?!?!

Great to see your boy is interested in mechanics etc. Reminds of a kid I knew; he wasn't interested in merry go rounds and stuff, instead he was looking underneath to see how it worked

[JGW3000]

Tim er Jed, the 41999 is now a "41996.5" , thanks for asking - I'll get it back together this weekend, hopefully only a few pins got bent - this is one very well constructed machine and seems no wear for the worse.

Considering the TLG has designated that most Technic sets are appropriate for older children (and AFOLs), I am thinking of a new concept for the younger ones, and anyone can feel free to take it further, a new Cuusoo project based on the concept of: Duplo-Technic!!!!!

[Paul Boratko]

I did a Kidsfest last December(and a few other shows since) and I had this 1:6 scale engine running full speed during the shows and just about every kid(ages 4 through about 12) that walked past it would stared mesmorized at it and then stick their finger directly into the spinning fan blade... At Kidsfest I would say out of 500 kids that stuck their finger into it only one young boy recognized potential danger and smacked his friends hand and said "Don't, that could hurt you!"

[Jim]

...that wasn't JWG3000's kid

[Paul Boratko]

...that wasn't JWG3000's kid

LOL.. Apparently not...

I even had some fathers of the kids stick their fingers into the spinning blade....

[Rockbrick]

I must admit I nearly lost a finger when I was raising a heavy weight with my 8421 crane.... I had my finger under the boom clearing some dust bunnies when - I accidentally hit the pneumatic switch to the down position and

the boom sliced down....!

I am extra careful around my kids when they use that one now....

[JGW3000]

My kid would ask me to hold him so he can reach into the spinning parts better!

[Jim]

My kid would ask me to hold him so he can reach into the spinning parts better!

[Zerobricks]

Yeah nothing like XL motors and some 24 ot 40 tooth gears for the best...skin ripping experience....I cant think what would happen if I gor my finger my newest truck with 4 XL motors...

Anyway yeah its may hurt, but I doubt you can really pernamently damage your fingers? Maybe a child yes....but adult...I doubt....Plastic is simply too soft IMO.

[Alasdair Ryan]

I always do a daily risk assessment while building my mocs and while playing with them,that might explain the lack of productivity.....

[Lipko]

Duplo-Technic!!!!!

Toolo maybe?

[DrJB]

... At Kidsfest I would say out of 500 kids that stuck their finger into it only one young boy recognized potential danger and smacked his friends hand and said "Don't, that could hurt you!"

Not as bad as a tropical fish store I visited once in Toronto years ago. They had a tank of piranhas and a note that said: Establishment is not responsible for lost fingers ... but that's another hobby ...

Edited November 22, 2013 by DrJB

[torso]

I am thinking of a new concept for the younger ones, and anyone can feel free to take it further, a new Cuusoo project based on the concept of: Duplo-Technic!!!!!

http://www.brickset....ail/?Set=9656-1

[Technyk32231]

I had an XL motor hooked directly up to a pair of perpendicular knob wheels...

Let's just say it bled for a while and was a weird purplish color for about a week.