Technic Pins 4459 Vs 2780

[Costas]

Ok guys - being a bit of a modern studless Technic noob, what is the main function of the centre slot in the version with the centre slot?

I see that in some databases that the 4459 and 2780 versions are interchangeable but the version without the slot does not seem to be as common.

Thanks

[le60head]

Hello!

The black technic pin without slots is the oldest one. Having no slots in the middle, it's stiffer than its modern counterpart. The only reason i'd use them instead of the newer part is when i need to have an extra-strong connection between two parts. It is harder to insert and pull out of bricks, liftarms (and other parts) compared to the newer technic pin.

The newer black technic pin with slots has a bit of elasticity, thus making it easier to insert into brick, liftarms etc. It has a "clicky" feel when you insert it.

Hope this information helps.

Regards,

legohead

Edited July 18, 2012 by le60head

[DLuders]

To help visualize the parts involve, here they are:

4459 "Technic, Pin with Friction Ridges Lengthwise WITHOUT Center Slots":

2780 "Technic, Pin with Friction Ridges Lengthwise WITH Center Slots":

[RohanBeckett]

Ugh.. I can't stand those old 4459 pins.. after 20 years, they are VERY stiff to use

last year, I bought a 2ndhand http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=8865-1 Test car, which came assembled, but very dirty/dusty

My fingers nearly bled, after an hour of pulling the whole thing apart.. the set was in good condition, so the pieces were nice and sharp.. but those pins...!!

Some were so tight, that neither fingers, axle-tools, or TEETH would get them out! I had to use a pair of pliers to finally extract them

I've had Wisdom Teeth that came out easier that these things!!

So I have a small tub of them now.. sitting VERY separate from my main collection of billions of 2780 pins

I'm not that much of a purist that I save them for the old models! :)

RB

[Alasdair Ryan]

A pair of long nosed pliers normaly does it,then you can get it into the 'hole/gap'.

[Blakbird]

Up until 1982 there were no friction pins at all, only gray pins. The 4459 pins offered a much sturdier construction but at the expense of ease of disassembly. They were used up until 1990 when they were replaced with the grooved part, so you'll find that a lot of the old 8800 series Technic set use them.

A pair of long nosed pliers normaly does it,then you can get it into the 'hole/gap'.

I discuss a tool that can be made to help extract them here: It works great and saves your fingerprints from coming off.

[jadedomg]

The new brick separator is pretty good for removing pins as well. It has been in so many sets this year but not a single one of them technic sets.

[jacobkristensen]

The problem is also a bit similar to the differences between,

4265a - Technic Bush 1/2 Toothed Type I

and

4265c - Technic Bush 1/2 Smooth

And honestly I sometimes misses the old hard to disassemble part, it is usefull if what to make something really sturdy.But I agree for "everyday" moc the smooth bush is much easier to handle.

Edited July 18, 2012 by jacobkristensen

[Costas]

Thanks for the history lesson guys.

Now I'm up to speed with these parts and it also throws some light on some other components which were present in some of my early sets which seem to have been revised over the years.

[Philo]

I discuss a tool that can be made to help extract them here: It works great and saves your fingerprints from coming off.

There is another method described here that works well:

• Put a half beam on the pin free end
  
• Push any 3.2mm element in the hole of the pin (antenna, bar, screwdriver...)
  
• Pull the half beam. The element in pin hole prevent it to go through half beam hole so the pin comes out attached to half beam.
  

After that you only have to remove half beam and element from the pin, that's easy.

[le60head]

You're welcome, Costas!

[CP5670]

Those old pins are really annoying. They actually discolor any brick they're placed in over time due to their extremely strong grip, and every method I know of for removing them also has the effect of wearing away the brick's plastic. I just use them as rocks or other granulated material.

[Blakbird]

Those old pins are really annoying. They actually discolor any brick they're placed in over time due to their extremely strong grip, and every method I know of for removing them also has the effect of wearing away the brick's plastic. I just use them as rocks or other granulated material.

They make excellent "dirt" for LEGO excavators to dig!

[timslegos]

I too hate those old pins! Sometime ago I ordered about 150 of those old pins not knowing the difference, and now I am stuck with useless parts. They are way too hard to remove the pins from beams without damaging them.

tim

[wolfgang0524]

I too hate those old pins! Sometime ago I ordered about 150 of those old pins not knowing the difference, and now I am stuck with useless parts. They are way too hard to remove the pins from beams without damaging them.

tim

I'm a coach of a lego robotics team and I'm interested in trying out some of the old, 4459, pins. I don't have enough posts to IM. Does anyone have any they would like to sell?

Thanks.

[DLuders]

@ wolfgang0524: Welcome to Eurobricks! You can find plenty of the black 4459 "Part 4459 Technic, Pin with Friction Ridges Lengthwise WITHOUT Center Slots" parts on Bricklink.

[Whiskey7]

Greetings all.

First post

Briefly I am an AFOL with a love for Technic and now with time to thoroughly enjoy.

I bump an old topic but I just had to say a big thanks for the post. Recently I was very lucky to pick up set 8865, The Test Car (1988) yes, second hand but complete with instruction(no box).. After days admiring I decided to pull it down to clean as it was somewhat dusty. Like Rohan Beckett, I had some difficulty removing the friction pins and asked Google to discover this 2012 topic. Very informative and appreciated Off now to check out this place.