Yet ANOTHER 8043 Excavator problem

[SheepEater]

Yeah, funny how 8043 was the 'flagship' set of 2010 when the 8053 mobile crane has 164 more parts.

[redryder]

Yeah, funny how 8043 was the 'flagship' set of 2010 when the 8053 mobile crane has 164 more parts.

I just assembled my 8043 2 days ago for the first time. The turntable worked initially, but after a day something's gone wrong and the turning is extremely slow and sometimes stop like the OP says. I changed fresh batteries and the same problem happens. My turntable is oriented correctly too, the black side is at the bottom. My set is not modded. If I turn the excavator upside down, the turntable rotates perfectly fine, but it slows down and stops once right side up and there is weight on it.

Looks like I may have to dismantle the thing and redo it again. Sigh...

If I rebuild the model, is there anything I should avoid doing?

Edited July 18, 2012 by redryder

[DLuders]

If you could pry the two halves of the large Technic Turntable apart (with the blunt side of a butterknife), you could add some Mineral Oil or Silicon Oil (for RC shock absorbers) to lubricate the parts and reduce friction. Do not use WD-40 -- it eats plastic.

[allanp]

So was it the wrong way up afterall?

[skylinedan]

Alright Dan - you got me, lol, I don't have tons, maybe about a dozen or so... I like a bit humor, breaks up the real serious stuff...I was getting about ready to smash this thing into 1300+ pcs last week, or however many it has, I think its 1200-1300...think you might have hit reply a couple too many times...

Eric LOl, I just now saw that. I must have got happy with the reply button. You guys need to lighten up on here, I read a lot. LOL, no buddy has a sense of hummor on here. I was moving things around and counted 11 turn tables in my invintory. I,ve built my 8043 atleast twice and then did the ultimate one, never seemed to have any problems, but I know I never had it upside down either, so that might be the problem.

Dan

[DarkShadow73]

1123, to be exact.

Oops, guess I was bit off to be exact...

Probably was the flagship due to full RC and largest of 2010...it seems the the lower piece count is mainly because it contains many specialized features...I was looking at the 9398 Rock Crawler and it has less pieces, but many features, and RC too...

I just assembled my 8043 2 days ago for the first time. The turntable worked initially, but after a day something's gone wrong and the turning is extremely slow and sometimes stop like the OP says. I changed fresh batteries and the same problem happens. My turntable is oriented correctly too, the black side is at the bottom. My set is not modded. If I turn the excavator upside down, the turntable rotates perfectly fine, but it slows down and stops once right side up and there is weight on it.

Looks like I may have to dismantle the thing and redo it again. Sigh...

If I rebuild the model, is there anything I should avoid doing?

Guess I'm not the only one with problems with the rotation, I did change it to the gray side up(turntable) and same issues, works fine if no weight on it from the superstructure, set it down and it slows down and stops...I'm kind of giving up on this one. Kinda sucks as it is meant to be USED as RC, unlike most large Technic models, I am thinking the weight is the issue and actually the mod I did installing the smaller bucket should actually have put less weight on as opposed to the larger, wrong scale bucket, also did the saggy butt mod, but its only a couple extra pieces and they can't weigh much of anything, probably less than an average 15L beam...

I rather agree Dan, seems like you get a lot of criticism, some topics you post never replied to, I have noticed this in the nearly 2 years I've been on the forum. I do add replies to some, and occasionally post a new topic, but man some can be really critical. I suck at MOC's, but I do read about mods, mainly the Excavator and the Unimog ones and have implemented them. I did get some good advice on this topic I started, but sometimes it feels like you get ignored cause you aren't as good as the MOC builders. I did create a semi flatbed trailer based somewhat off the 8063's trailer, just without the ugly green panels, but shoot if I didn't dismantle it a year or so ago and have forgotten how I did it, the kingpin worked perfectly for the 8436's fifth wheel, now am going to try to create a trailer for the 9397, building it without the crane arm and log holders, just have to figure out to add the fifth wheel. I live in the US, so all of our tractor-trailer semis use the snout-nosed style of tractor, like Kenworths, Freightliners, Volvos, etc.

[skylinedan]

If I had time to build it, I,d like to se if mine would do this. I have 2 in my stock, a first eddition and the new one with the better liniers.

Dan

[allanp]

"I did get some good advice on this topic I started, but sometimes it feels like you get ignored cause you aren't as good as the MOC builders."

I think that in this case nobody wants to own up and say I have no idea what the hell the problem is! We really need some pictures with as many of the irrelevant parts removed as possible so we can see whats going on.

[skylinedan]

I built mine maybe 3 times, and the second one never like the stock one. That one was built into the ultimate,and it seemed to work fine. I built a crawler a couple months ago and it was horrible, didnt turn good at all. I think it was a good example of being to heavy at the tail

Dan

[DarkShadow73]

I built mine maybe 3 times, and the second one never like the stock one. That one was built into the ultimate,and it seemed to work fine. I built a crawler a couple months ago and it was horrible, didnt turn good at all. I think it was a good example of being to heavy at the tail

Dan

When you built a crawler, what do you mean exactly?

[skylinedan]

LOL, crawler crane. I had it just about built, but I wasnt happy with the turn table set up. The mian body was built with lift arms, large enough I have all the motors inside the frame work. there were the different motors for functions, by the time I had it all together, the tail was too heavy for the turn table. What I need to do is come up with a rotaion point similar to the 8421, use lift arms inconjuction with the table so it has a bigger foot print. All together I had 4 motors, one for rotation, boom up n down, and 2 for lifting cables. The plan was to have 2 one for the main boom and one for a jib, much like the ones you see here in the states.

[davidmull]

8043 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, old news :)

[DarkShadow73]

LOL, crawler crane. I had it just about built, but I wasnt happy with the turn table set up. The mian body was built with lift arms, large enough I have all the motors inside the frame work. there were the different motors for functions, by the time I had it all together, the tail was too heavy for the turn table. What I need to do is come up with a rotaion point similar to the 8421, use lift arms inconjuction with the table so it has a bigger foot print. All together I had 4 motors, one for rotation, boom up n down, and 2 for lifting cables. The plan was to have 2 one for the main boom and one for a jib, much like the ones you see here in the states.

Can't quite picture it, but did you try boat weights that are on the 8288 Crawler Crane?

8043 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, old news :)

Not sure what you mean, that you or others have had this same problem? But it is an old model, yes, by now...I would imagine this issue was brought up before in the 2 years it is been out on the market, if the turntable turns when their is no weight from the superstructure on it, it rotates fast and smooth, put it back on the table, bam, there goes the rotation, it may start ok, but then slows down or stops...another poster said he had similar problems with this. Could be I'm tightening the gearing too much, but I did try to give this one some play, enough so all the gears meshed, but not enough they skipped a tooth...

When you built a crawler, what do you mean exactly?

I have tried modding just the undercarriage boost, hardly any weight there, just a few thin liftarms and a couple 2L axles and did the mod for the smaller bucket, which actually lightens the model a bit as opposed to the original oversized bucket...heck maybe I'll try building it stock and see what happens...

[skylinedan]

Can't quite picture it, but did you try boat weights that are on the 8288 Crawler Crane?

Not sure what you mean, that you or others have had this same problem? But it is an old model, yes, by now...I would imagine this issue was brought up before in the 2 years it is been out on the market, if the turntable turns when their is no weight from the superstructure on it, it rotates fast and smooth, put it back on the table, bam, there goes the rotation, it may start ok, but then slows down or stops...another poster said he had similar problems with this. Could be I'm tightening the gearing too much, but I did try to give this one some play, enough so all the gears meshed, but not enough they skipped a tooth...

I have tried modding just the undercarriage boost, hardly any weight there, just a few thin liftarms and a couple 2L axles and did the mod for the smaller bucket, which actually lightens the model a bit as opposed to the original oversized bucket...heck maybe I'll try building it stock and see what happens...

Sorry that was not what I wanted, LOl. I dont have any boat weights. I had the under carrage done and the super structure if you will. I get some things done, I,ll try to get back on it and build another one. Get some pics on here once I figure out how to do that, LOL

[DarkShadow73]

Once I get my head wrapped around something, I tend not to quit, so 3 turntables later (7 out of my 12 extras did not spin freely, maybe they get way after a while?) and lots of mineral oil as one suggested,and 3rd time it worked. I really did not want to disassemble and rebuild again, and even getting the turntable off looked to be impossible without disassembling a lot around it, so just pried it up and wiped lots of the oil on, snapped it back together and I'll be damned it worked, I was in awe. Only thing when releasing the superstructure from the undercarriage that axle with the all the stuff on it is a pain to get it all realigned. Only issue now is when I do the rotation the axles for the tracks tend to move a little too, but just a tiny bit. Can't really figure out why as they are all independent components on separate assemblies, but at least the bloody thing rotates now and is functional as an RC model and not just a $200 shelf piece.

Thanks to those who offered usable input, I did try everything offered...and the one guy who did experience the same problem. I am still using the same mods for smaller bucket and the undercarriage raise for the butt sag, but it almost seems like you need a raise lift in the back too, it isn't 100% level when looking at it, but I don't see any way from the opposite end to do the same raise lift, too many gears and no way to pin on the assembly between the crossbeams...

And to allanp, sorry I couldn't get my camera phone stills to upload to the computer, I'm not all that great with computers or my camera phone jpgs aren't compatible w/ a computer, otherwise I definitely would have sent them along.

Edited July 21, 2012 by TechnicFreak

[Costas]

How easy [difficult?] was it to pry the actual turntable apart?

I have not tried to pull mine apart as yet as I did not want to damage it on disassembly.

I recently purchased an 8043 set plus some extras as I would like to build Jurgen's excellent 'Ultimate' version.

The turntable looks like it needs to support quite a bit of weight on this model and I was thinking of lubricating mine with some silicone spray before I start assembly ie. to reduce friction for this component.

Edited July 21, 2012 by Costas

[allanp]

No need to say sorry, just glad you got it to work

I think the tracks turning as the superstructure turns is normal. Looking at the design, as it turns it rotates the axles going through the turntable that turn the tracks so that's normal.

[DLuders]

@ Costas: If you don't want to use the blunt side of a butterknife (like I did) to pry apart the Lego Technic Turntable halves, you could just use your fingernails and some pressure (in this

by CarterandCarterProducts):

[DarkShadow73]

How easy [difficult?] was it to pry the actual turntable apart?

I have not tried to pull mine apart as yet as I did not want to damage it on disassembly.

I recently purchased an 8043 set plus some extras as I would like to build Jurgen's excellent 'Ultimate' version.

The turntable looks like it needs to support quite a bit of weight on this model and I was thinking of lubricating mine with some silicone spray before I start assembly ie. to reduce friction for this component.

I just used a very thin flat blade screwdriver, just a tiny gouge, hardly even noticeable, it just popped apart. I greased both sides with just plain old mineral oil (black and gray), I got this idea long ago about lubing dry LA's from another topic and it works great and doesn't break down like most oils after a while, cheap stuff you buy in the pharmacy section of any store. I snapped it back together, and to my delight it when I turned on the battery box and used the remote it turned instantly. I noticed with the 12 extra turntables I have that many didn't spin freely, but this being the only RC product I have with the turntable I am not going through the hassle of lubing them all.

No need to say sorry, just glad you got it to work

I think the tracks turning as the superstructure turns is normal. Looking at the design, as it turns it rotates the axles going through the turntable that turn the tracks so that's normal.

Glad to know that is normal, thanks allanp...

How easy [difficult?] was it to pry the actual turntable apart?

I have not tried to pull mine apart as yet as I did not want to damage it on disassembly.

I recently purchased an 8043 set plus some extras as I would like to build Jurgen's excellent 'Ultimate' version.

The turntable looks like it needs to support quite a bit of weight on this model and I was thinking of lubricating mine with some silicone spray before I start assembly ie. to reduce friction for this component.

I am going to do Jurgen's ultimate version, can it be reposted so I know how to assemble the remotes?

Thanks in advance, Eric

[DLuders]

@ TechnicFreak: See this Eurobricks topic about Jurgen Krooshoop's Ultimate 8043 Motorized Excavator. The downloadable Building Instructions show how to assemble the three PF Remote Control units.

[Costas]

Thanks for the video DLuders.

Looks all too easy.. I was initially reluctant to apply too much force just in case I would damage it in any way but the video highlights that I should have not been concerned in any way.

I'll apply some silicone lubricant to mine and see how much friction is reduced.

OK - I just pulled one of mine apart and added some silicone oil. Once reassembled, I found that I can now press the two turntable halves together with a substantial amount of force yet the turntable will still rotate with very little effort required.

Before adding lubricant - you only need little pressure on the turntable to prevent it from rotating relatively freely.

This should make a substantial difference to any model utilising a turntable.

Edited July 22, 2012 by Costas

[DarkShadow73]

@ TechnicFreak: See this Eurobricks topic about Jurgen Krooshoop's Ultimate 8043 Motorized Excavator. The downloadable Building Instructions show how to assemble the three PF Remote Control units.

Thanks DLuders, appreciate the repost...

Thanks for the video DLuders.

Looks all too easy.. I was initially reluctant to apply too much force just in case I would damage it in any way but the video highlights that I should have not been concerned in any way.

I'll apply some silicone lubricant to mine and see how much friction is reduced.

OK - I just pulled one of mine apart and added some silicone oil. Once reassembled, I found that I can now press the two turntable halves together with a substantial amount of force yet the turntable will still rotate with very little effort required.

Before adding lubricant - you only need little pressure on the turntable to prevent it from rotating relatively freely.

This should make a substantial difference to any model utilising a turntable.

I was thinking the same thing Costas...though this is the only model except the 8275 Bulldozer I have that is full RC, well I might get the 9398 too, but that is just a driving RC. I was still thinking of taking apart all of my turntables and wiping on mineral oil, I just put a paper towel on the open bottle, upended it, then wiped both halves of the turntable twice then snapped it back together, what a difference. The other cranes I have utilize some of the same turntables even if not RC, but figured might as well just oil them all. I found with the 2nd one and so on, just enough finger force was enough to separate the halves without damage from a screwdriver or other prying device. Kind of nice they made them so easy to separate.