[C-model] 42054 Sub-soil Ripper/tillage for Xerion 5000

[thor_64]

Let me start with saying how impressed I was with the A-model overall when I built it.  I grew up on a farm, so between being a realistic tractor and the tires I knew I had to get this set even though I wasn't convinced that the features would be that great.  It has turned out that the features are better than expected and that the play-ability is really impressive.  My two sons have had a lot of fun with it and the functions played well too.  Sets like the 8258 or 8110 they can hardly play with because of the complexity of controls, etc. On the other hand, they have tons of fun with the 8043 (both A and B model) and the 42054 A-model (haven't built the B model yet).  I also like the fact that they didn't feel compelled to put an engine in it.  Plenty of sets have those and everything fits so nicely in this set without one.

With the positive impression stated, I was rather confused/disappointed with TLG choice for the A-model.  As I think I read in the "....what will the 2017 sets be..." thread, it seems like everything gets a crane arm.  I can understand that on something like the 8110 or AROCS that makes sense, but on this set a crane is a seldom used attachment compared to others.  Also, I think it is odd how the real tractor is designed to have the cab facing "forward" towards the hood and both the A and B models should really be operated with the cab in the secondary position turned away from the hood.  With that in mind, I set out to use the pieces for the attachment to make a deep tillage tool, which would be a very common implement for this tractor with the cab in the "forward" position.  I also liked how it pays homage to a the classic 8859 that was a bit before my Technic days. 

The result is a 5 shank sub-soil ripper that uses the "Power Take Off" drive to both raise and lower the hitch and raise and lower the wings.  It uses most of the parts.  It could have used a few more black pins, so I used some grays where the least effect would be had.  Feel free to provide suggestions or take this idea and see how an experienced MOC'er could improve it.   I think TLG could have really had a nice looking tillage tool and made a very similar B-model as the original blade and had a even better set.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 20, 2017 by thor_64
Change pictures to host site

[mocbuild101]

Welcome to Eurobricks! @thor_64

Nice MOC, but you might want to move some of your introduction to a topic in the "Hello! My name is..." forum .

[Jeroen Ottens]

Welcome to EB!

I take it you have a gearbox inside the deep tillage tool to switch the functions. I really like the fact that you made the raising & lowering electrically operated. Do you have any issue with gears slipping at that connection, or is the structure rigid enough to prevent that?

[BusterHaus]

Hello and welcome! Great job reusing the attachment parts to build a new one, it looks robust and very functional. I like the linkage mechanism for lifting the side blades. Keep up the good work! 

[thor_64]

No issues with the implement raising or lowering gears slipping.  I seems quite solid. 

One problem it does have is the wings are a little bit fast and therefore are at the limit of the PTO driveline clutch gear.  When first built it would slip some and I needed make sure all the friction points on the tractor driveline  were loose to avoid slippage; it is ok now.  It would be nice to use the 8 & 24 gears vs. the 12 & 20 that are driving the wing linkages, but there was no space in the current design.   I really wanted to add them as a second set of gear reduction, but didn't come up with a way to do it. 

There are two gear selectors that are stacked vertically above where the power enters from the tractor and are operated by the dark gray bushing/axle pieces (6553) via an axle directly or a linkage.  The bottom one operates the wings; the top one operates the implement lift.

Here are more pictures.  You may notice I narrowed the design of the three rear shanks while keeping the design relatively symmetric.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 20, 2017 by thor_64
corrected image links

[Globemaster8]

Great MOC! I too love this set and it's great to see a good variation to it!