8053 Mobile Crane self edeploying outriggers

[D3K]

So I bought the 8053 Mobile Crane around six months ago, and was pretty stoked as this was my first larger Technic set in around 15 or more years (previous one was the Air Tech Claw Rig), and also the first big studless set for me. While I was blown away by the functions of this set (8 wheel steering, the gearbox for manipulation of the crane functions, and the clever outriggers), I felt some things could be better!

Problem was, while I had a LOT of Lego and Technic bricks, gears, axles and stuff, I found it kinda hard to implement the older studded (EVEN, not odd) bricks and parts into this ODD, new studless design.

I wanted to do something with the outriggers, and had a pretty good plan on how to do it, I just lacked the necessary parts!!

So, a couple of weeks ago, I bought the 8043 Motorized Excavator (and also a Power Functions set on the side) second hand, and all of a sudden I had all the motors, gears, axles, bells and whistles to do exactly what i wanted!

This is the result:

As you can see from the above images, some things had to be done to make room for the functionality I wanted to implement. Most notably I suppose, is I had to elevate the entire crane part by a full two studs. Also, there is some wiring poking out of the drivers' cabin.

This of course means I had to redesign the Crane/Chassis attachment a little.

Here you can see the mechanism.

It took me a lot of trial and error to come up with this working design. I probably was thinking a little too complicated in the beginning, using more bevel and double bevel gears from a lower position, and that caused a lot of slipping of the gears.

The solution came to me as an epiphany to me last night, lying half-asleep in my bed

And also the difference in height compared to the original model:

You can also see the axles for deployment cannot turn unless the outriggers are OUT

And a semi-close-up of the mechanism on the end of each outrigger

I first tried with the smaller 8 tooth gears, but ended up using the small double bevel gears, as the 8 tooth gears would slip on the worm drive, as there was some slack.

Here is an image of the outriggers deployed

And finally a video of the action (deploying and redeploying)

This has been bothering me for weeks and months, and now that I eventually made it, I can finally dismantle the Mobile Crane and built something else!

[Zerobricks]

Not bad, but the arms ahve to be deployed in order for legs to work, since u joints lock?

[D3K]

Correct, as noted below the number 5 image!

Edited September 6, 2012 by D3K

[Alasdair Ryan]

What about using this part and some bevel gears instead of the U-joint?

Edited September 6, 2012 by Alasdair Ryan

[D3K]

What is a U-joint?

But yeah, I have lots of those from the excavator, and I can see them being useful either at the end of the outriggers, or under the turntable somewhere!

That is one of those parts, that I didn't even think to use!

You probably remember in the early nineties, as far as I can remember, there was no piece even remotely similar to those new, more specialized pieces!

By the way I just realized there's no cabin for the crane operator on this model! I remember taking it off because I needed some of the parts for something!

Edited September 6, 2012 by D3K

[Alasdair Ryan]

What is a U-joint?

[D3K]

Ahh, I see!

But I don's see the practical benefits. Both aestethically, not to mention more parts, needing at least three times the space (vertically and horizontally) compared to the U-joints.

Besides; why would one extend them when the arms are retracted?

Maybe for a wheel change!

Edited September 6, 2012 by D3K

[Alasdair Ryan]

As long as your happy with it thats all that matters.

I dont think you would have room for it but what about adding a auto leveling device that levels the crane legs?

Edited September 6, 2012 by Alasdair Ryan

[D3K]

What about using this part and some bevel gears instead of the U-joint?

Well, I had to try;

I used the part you suggested (minus the attachment point for the actuator), and I must admit it looks kinda good, and gives that small added functionality!

If you compare it to the outrigger arm on the left, you'll see some things have been removed to make room for the new setup, and also the yellow 9L vertical beam inbetween had to go. This makes the overall structural rigidity of both the crane part, and the actual outriggers severely reduced.

Seeing as I wanted to keep the overall appearance of the original model, I would not go to steps to modify/rebuild this too much.

I really appreciate the input though!

[Alasdair Ryan]

I do not have this set so I don't know the limitations of the set.

Here is a link to self leveling legs.

[Erik Leppen]

I like this! This is a mod that should just have been in the original set

Only think I don't like is the combination of worm + 12t. It doesn't "fit", officially. But I assume that worm + 8t would slip?

I do prefer the gear setup to the universal joint setup by the way.

Also in that last picture there's something really wrong with the rigidity of the whole thing ;) And I'm sure there is some way to correct that, e.g. by replacing the black 2x4 liftarms by 3x3 T-shaped liftarms, to have a way to join them to the gray 15L beams that hold the turntable.

Also, purely aesthetically, I would use 12L axles instead of 5L + 7L on the outriggers.

[drdesignz]

That's pretty cool. This was also my first big Technic set in about two decades. Actually, the first Lego set of any sort in 20 years.

[z3_2drive]

wow, me too, it was my second technic set after the 8048 buggy

[skylinedan]

Pretty cool idea, this was one of my first sets after being out of it for about 25 years. sad part is, I sold it not long after I got it on Ebay, lol, but not to worry. I now have enough stuff I can build atleast two of them, Wish I could buy another one, but at 200 bucks now verses 100 is too hard to take.

Dan