8853 Front Loader (Excavator)

[DarkShadow73]

I order some Lego through Bricklink at a store I trust and I found an item through the same seller (MISB) I have wanted for quite some time, the 8853 Front Loader(Excavator) from 1988. What I am wondering with the main model is the bucket tilt. I see there are 2 wheels on top of the back portion and 1 wheel on the very back of the model, also there is the usual, or what looks like the HOG turning system via the 2x2" trans-yellow brick on the top of the cab. I know it operates just the rear wheels, which is strange since most front loaders are articulated in the center via a gear that connects the front and back sections. I found many pdf files of instructions for this model but since these older models utilize many bricks within one step I can't tell if there is gearing going to the bucket tilt. The hingepoint in this model is whether one of those rear wheels operates bucket tilt. I can tell one controls the raise/lower of the bucket, but I don't want a setup like on the small 8453 Front Loader where you have to tilt the bucket by hand mainly because of the high cost due to its age.

I'm sure many of you might own this set, so could you fill me in on this detail.

Thanks, Eric

Edited September 25, 2012 by TechnicFreak

[Blakbird]

I'm sure many of you might own this set, so could you fill me in on this detail.

If you want to know how 8853 works, just look here. One wheel controls lift and one wheel controls tilt.

[DarkShadow73]

If you want to know how 8853 works, just look here. One wheel controls lift and one wheel controls tilt.

Ah hello Blakbird - saw you were looking at my post and being such a huge Technic fan and MOC'er I thought you might know so I stayed on the topic. Thanks for clearing it up for me, I appreciate the animation. I just deleted the animation link, I know the drill about replying to a topic and including jpg images or animations.

Edited September 25, 2012 by TechnicFreak

[D3K]

As far as I can recall, both functions go via worm drives..

This is a great little set, actually my very first Lego Technic set! Remember getting it while on vacation the summer of -89, me being only 4 at the time! Ahh, the memories:-D

[Erik Leppen]

As far as I can recall, both functions go via worm drives..

This is a great little set, actually my very first Lego Technic set! Remember getting it while on vacation the summer of -89, me being only 4 at the time! Ahh, the memories:-D

Same here! It was my first Technic set as well. If only my parents knew what they started

And yes, they're both worm driven. It's a great set, I like how the tilt and lift are independent - if the bucket is horizontal, it stays horizontal because of the linkage. It's trivial today, but it wasn't when I was a kid

[DarkShadow73]

Same here! It was my first Technic set as well. If only my parents knew what they started

And yes, they're both worm driven. It's a great set, I like how the tilt and lift are independent - if the bucket is horizontal, it stays horizontal because of the linkage. It's trivial today, but it wasn't when I was a kid

Got you two beat by about 12 years, but like most pre-teen and teens, Lego kind of took a backseat to girls and sports. Was into it a lot as a youngster, my brother and I beat the crap out of my Legos, then I got back into briefly in 1996 with the Exploriens space series (best one after Classic Space, IMO anyway), then got rid of it all, biggest mistake I ever made, its worth a lot nowadays. About 1999 I just happened to get a catalog from Lego S@H and saw the King, the 8448 Supercar. Had to have it and was not disappointed one bit, it is a true classic and rivals the 8880 Black Supercar in many ways, at least I think so. Recently sold it just for shipping to another BL'er, it left my hands after 12 years but went another good home with a guy who would take take great care of it, maybe bring to even higher life than it was stock out of the box. Haven't heard from that guy, Camaro 365, in a long time, but I am sure right now it is hopped up in some way. Anyway, got the 8464 Pneumatic Front End Loader in 2001, didn't take very good care of it at all, let it sit in the sun, parts cracked, faded, hoses got brittle, basically it is trash now, but I learned a good lesson when I finally came out of the Dark Ages never to return, treat your coveted models well and they will last you a lifetime, maybe even teach our kids what we had as a kid. Most might say, blah, there's better out there. Its kind of like buying an original Playstation in 1995 and then buying a PS3 or Xbox 360, and looking at the PS1's games and subpar graphics compared to the PS3's are many years later, one would say, that sucks...well when the PS1 came out in 1995 it was the latest, greatest system and had the best graphics out there, at the time. Funny thing is though, I own all the newer Technic sets, but now I am going retro, paying some, and getting the older sets out there. Picked up a used, but looks like new 8837 Pneumatic Excavator last week, an often ridiculed but really futuristic looking crane truck, #8446 the week before, then the 8853 this week, used but the seller on Bricklink said it is just dusty, but parts are in perfect condition. Trying to get some of the age old, vintage models that came out while I was in high school and college (guess I'm getting to be vintage then too, eh?)