Technic Flex Cable

[dolittle]

Hi,

Has anyone used this particular item in anything beside the original chopper it comes with? (items: 6643, 6642, bb08c06L)

It looks pretty unique, but has quite nice features, especially if you are looking to build a flight slim of some sort, I know there was a thread about that a few days ago.

Thanks,

Noam

Edited November 7, 2010 by dolittle

[allanp]

Which particular part do you mean? You have shown 3.

[dolittle]

Hi,

The parts are combination, I don't believe you can use any of them without the other 2, or at least you need two of this set, as they are the connectors :)

Thanks,

Noam

[dhc6twinotter]

I used the flex cables on some airplanes and helicopters that I built years ago. I have also used them on some Technic dogs I tried building but never completed. They are definitely some cool pieces, and I really wish Lego would bring them back in a set.

[DLuders]

The 8839 Supply Ship set used quite a few of the Technic Flex Cables. They were used as the "rigging" to keep the ship's mast upright:

[dhc6twinotter]

The 8485 Control Center II probably had the most flex cables. It had many different lengths and connectors.

8856 Whirlwind Rescue used flex cables on the tail boom. They didn't do anything other than add a cool factor to the set.

8412 Nighthawk has two flex cables to control the rotor head and swash plate. This is the set I got my flex cables in.

8074 Universal Set also came with a lot of flex cables. Uses range from steering to crane tower supports.

[Edit] 8479 Barcode Multi Set uses the flex cables to open and close the dumpster grabber.

I want to say there was an airplane set with the flex system, but I can't say for sure. Maybe the 8425 black hawk?

Anyways, I'm sure there are others, but those are the sets I can remember. I really wish Lego would re-release the flex system.

Edited November 7, 2010 by dhc6twinotter

[allanp]

8856 whirlwind rescue also used two flex cables to control the tilting rotor blades.

I think there has been more than one plane to use the flex system but I could be wrong.

The flex system, specifically the double sided connector, has also been used in various mid scale fl car, like the 8445 (I think that number is right) to control the steering.

[roamingstop]

And quite a few people use the flex system for rods on steam engine wheels..

[CP5670]

There were a bunch of sets in the 1990s that used the flex system, but only a few of them used it in a truly essential way. The best example showing what it's capable of is easily the 8485 dinosaur, and some other good ones are 8856, 8412, 8479 and 8002. On the other hand, many early 90s sets used them as regular liftarms or structural supports, where the "flex" aspect wasn't needed at all. TLG was probably just trying to promote the system more back then.

I think the last set to use flex cables was 8457 (used for steering, although its implementation is terrible and barely works), but the flex hoses have become widespread for other purposes.

[Tobbe Arnesson]

The last set (to date) to use the Flex-system was the 7471 Mars Exploration Rover that came 2003, but the connectors (but no cable) are also found in the Bionicle Supplemental 8715 Ultimate Creatures Accessory Set from 2005.

I have what I presume is an above normal collection of these parts but have never used them in a MOC, yet. The main problem is that they are pretty flexy. They did come in many lengths though (in studs): 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 23 and 33

The 8457 Power Puller from 2000 had some pretty bad steering alright!

I like the use of them in the 8479 Barcode Multi-Set where they first close the grabber and then lifts the arms, that is a nice solution to a two stage movement!

[jonwil]

The flex system was used in the 8444 Air Enforcer helicopter also.

[Tobbe Arnesson]

According to Bricklink inventories these 17 sets (5118 is not a set and 8482 & 8483 are basically the same set) used both connectors and cables:

(5118 Flex System Service Pack 1991)

7471 Mars Exploration Rover 2003

8002 Destroyer Droid 2000

8074 Universal Set with Flex System 1991

8412 Nighthawk 1995

8437 Future Car 1997

8440 Formula Flash 1995

8444 Air Enforcer 1999

8445 Indy Storm 1999

8457 Power Puller 2000

8479 Barcode Multi-Set 1997

8482 CyberMaster 1998

(8483 CyberMaster with Storage Case 1998)

8485 Control Center II 1995

8828 Front End Loader 1992

8836 Sky Ranger 1992

8839 Supply Ship 1992

8856 Whirlwind Rescue 1991

9748 Droid Developer Kit 1999

I have to rebuild the 8002 Destroyer Droid one of these days, it's quite clever.

Edit: And here's the number of sets per year:

1991 x 3

1992 x 3

1995 x 3

1997 x 2

1998 x 1 (but in two different packages)

1999 x 3

2000 x 2

2003 x 1

Edited November 8, 2010 by Tobbe Arnesson

[allanp]

The flex system is great, i've used it many times in MOCs including this one:

This would have been somewhat tricky without the flex cables due to the nature of how the cyclic/collective control works.

[jantjeuh]

Bit offtopic but that is one sexy helicopter.. you made instructions/a parts lists for it by any chance?

[allanp]

Bit offtopic but that is one sexy helicopter.. you made instructions/a parts lists for it by any chance?

Unfortunately no, not for the whole thing anyway. Right now I only have the main mechanism for the rotor cyclic/collective control, which is probably the most interesting part anyway.

This was for the technic challenge (it's now one of my subbmissions in the final 20 that can be voted on). Since I only had two weeks to design and build this baby that is as far as I got on the computer before I got impacient and just started building the thing for real. The colour coded arrows are meant to sybolise the functions shown on the main picture and how SOME of the linkages move. It has had some minor alterations since then (for instance, as you can see in the photo, the steering linkages are longer now). If I have time i'll have a go at making the whole thing in MLcad, but that could take me a while. If you want, and also if somebody tells me how, I could send you the MLcad file to this part and you could rebuild it better from that I would think.

If you're interested here's the original thread. Perhaps it would be best to revive that one to dicuss this MOC further in order to keep this thread on topic

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=38729&st=0

[jantjeuh]

Thanks for the link, I'll check out the other thread.

Back on topic now!

[2LegoOrNot2Lego...]

I have used Flex Calbes my self too. As it is used in Lego sets I also used it for steering. The pictures are clear, the movie isn't. It is my first movie ever made, I am sorry. Please jump to 3 minute 50 to see the steering system with Flex Cables in actions...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXzEe6hgp-A

[Pet-Lego]

I have the Whirlwind Rescue set and both long flex cables (15L and 20L) have snapped like uncooked spaghetti.

Is this common when the set is build and the cables are in a bend state for a couple of years?

I might have lubricated the cables at some point but I don't remember, if no one else has broken flex cables from the same era

I guess I must have used some lubricant and the wrong one at that. I'm looking to replace the broken cables, thinking about

creating my own from some other material like steel wire or some plastic.

Any comments?

[DLuders]

@ Pet-Lego: I don't think that lubricant would have caused your flex cable to snap; it was probably kinked and had a weak spot. You can get replacement 16L and 20L Technic Flex Cables available from Bricklink:

[Blakbird]

Is this common when the set is build and the cables are in a bend state for a couple of years?

Yes, it is very common for these to break but it has nothing to do with sitting for a couple of years. The material used to make them is very brittle so extreme care must be taken when attaching the end fitting or they snap. You also have to be careful not to flex them too far. I'm sure this fact was a big part of why the flex system was discontinued.

[allanp]

It is also very possible that the lubrication you used made the plasic brittle, making it very intolerant to flexing. Do you remember what lubrication you used?

The whirlwind rescue was fairly well designed in terms of it's flex system (unlike the powerpuller). However it is common for some adhesive to be left on the cables from the paper tape used to hold them together in the box. This can put alot of strain on the cables.

Edited November 15, 2010 by allanp

[Pet-Lego]

It is also very possible that the lubrication you used made the plasic brittle, making it very intolerant to flexing. Do you remember what lubrication you used?

That's what I'm afraid of that in my childhood innocence I used an oil based lubricant instead of a silicon based one.

When I buy replacement cables from bricklink they'll most likely be quite old as well, is there a likely chance they've become more brittle with old age as well?

If so I guess I'll make some cables myself from the sides of a big tie-rip, it will take some work but then I at least know it will last a while and that I can

replace them again if needed after a few years.

[allanp]

That's what I'm afraid of that in my childhood innocence I used an oil based lubricant instead of a silicon based one.

When I buy replacement cables from bricklink they'll most likely be quite old as well, is there a likely chance they've become more brittle with old age as well?

If so I guess I'll make some cables myself from the sides of a big tie-rip, it will take some work but then I at least know it will last a while and that I can

replace them again if needed after a few years.

I really would not like to say, I can only give you my own personal experience which is that I have only had a cable become weaker due to poor design (once again I refere to the steering of the powerpuller). None of my flex cables seem to have become weaker due to any other reason such as age or lots of being used properly. I personally have no problem with buying old flex cables from bricklink if they have not been miss treaded.

In my youth (when I wasn't bothered about using non lego parts), I once used a bottom E guitar string with surprisingly good results. However this method does require that you perfect the design of the system otherwise excessive wear of the rigid plastic tube and poor performance may result.

[Toastie]

That's what I'm afraid of that in my childhood innocence I used an oil based lubricant instead of a silicon based one.

When I buy replacement cables from bricklink they'll most likely be quite old as well, is there a likely chance they've become more brittle with old age as well?

It seems that the flex cables are made from a rather flexible plastic material that has a comparably strong tensile strength; unfortunately that usually translates into some sleeping remaining "chemical activity" in the plastic: It hates sun-light (the blue/near UV components of it) and it might very well "react" with some of the components of oil based lubricants (silicone based lubricants are much less active in this regard). What usually happens is that when exposed to either or both - over time - the plastic for sure keeps it's tensile strength (may even become stronger) but really looses it's flexibility - so it "snaps" rather easily (Never thought I could use that chemistry stuff for this ... )

I lived for sometime in Southern California; the dinosaur from the "control center II" set 8485 was standing tall and mighty in one of the windows of the house. Well, it basically fell apart. The flex cables had become very brittle where they were exposed to the sun-light but they were still "soft" at the covered stretches.

So I guess it is not age but more or less "exposure" to light or some lubricant components. It will be hard to tell when ordering from BrickLink in what shape they will be. But it should not be "age" causing this.

Regards,

Thorsten

[Ultimario]

You should avoid keeping any kind of Lego in direct sunlight. Sunlight is the cryptonite to any plastic, even car tires start cracking up from sunlight and lego parts it makes their color fade and makes them brittle. The best place to store them would be a dark closet i guess, where you just turn on the lights when you want to look at your grand lego collection.