(old) 2161 Aquaraiders Aquadozer, Part mistake?

[xenologer]

Not sure if this should go here (since its AquaRaiders) or in general discussion (cause its a parts question)

Anyhow, I bought 2161 AquaDozer misb off ebay; and Well the way it goes is they use these:

chains to connect the bulldozer blade to a lever in the tail for a action feature....

The wierd thing is... the ends of my chains (where the stud is) are Taller than 1 plate. So, while the instructions indicate that the chain ends get sandwiched between some plates to anchor them... mine don't fit.

The stud ends almost look like... instead of being 1 plate tall they're around 1.5 or 1.25 plates tall. Like they are as tall as a technic half-beam is wide.

So I'm wondering if mine are some kind of moulding error, or a similar part "substitution"(due to low stock in the normal one) or ...what?... peeron doesnt seem to show any variant chain pieces....

Seeing as how this set is 10 years old... think customer service will send me 2 replacement chains? (seems a long shot to me, since its Old, theyre in discontinued olddkgray color, and chains are expensive, and its not 1 but 2 of them....)

[Norrington]

Hmm... that chain in the pictue looks to long, but that's not the point. Maybe the seller replaced the chains with chains from, say, Brick Block toys, wicha re rip offs of lego.

[xenologer]

Nope, the box was sealed along with the baggies inside.

The chains look good, like any other lego; just that the ends are taller than usual.

They don't look like a broken mould either, smooth, clean edges...

The fact that they almost the same dimension as a technic half beam makes me wonder if maybe there's a System vs Technic variation on chain pieces... but I've never heard of any such thing.

[Norrington]

Hhmmmmm..... I'd try out that theory. (I think a type of brown chain like that was in rock raiders)

[Brainbox]

The fact that they almost the same dimension as a technic half beam makes me wonder if maybe there's a System vs Technic variation on chain pieces... but I've never heard of any such thing.

I doubt that. All my chains have had normal, right-height studs, and I've Dark Grey, New Brown and Black. They're all fine, and all fit between plates, so it could just be yours. Like you said, it could be a moulding error. Although, you said two chains are affected, which to be honest is a bit unlikely.

Are the chains affected at both ends? Cos if not, you could always just swap them round, so the unaffected end goes between the plates.

[xenologer]

Yup

both ends on both chains

its very consistent looking on each of them

Which is why I'm so curious, it Really doesnt look like a broken mould; there are no cracks or jagged egdes or plastic leaks at the edges....

i wish my camera wasnt dead... im sure pics of these would be useful...

I have a chain that came in one of the newer vikings sets, and that ones definetly normal height when comparing....

[3D LEGO]

I have that set, well that is I got it a long time ago, and now its part of my collection. I never had any troubles with it. I would suspect faultly pieces.

[xenologer]

Thanks for the info

now the tough one is going to be convincing TLC to send me replacements for a 10yr old set... :-P

Ya know, this situation makes me wonder

Just how many people own Mint unopened old sets (the kind you keep as investments, not to play) and have no idea if theres a mistake inside or not? and probly will Never know cause they'll just keep it mint :-D

[Brainbox]

Yup

both ends on both chains

its very consistent looking on each of them

Which is why I'm so curious, it Really doesnt look like a broken mould; there are no cracks or jagged egdes or plastic leaks at the edges....

Strange!? I really can't answer that. Unless these chains were cast from an old mold or something. You know, like an old version of the chains, where the end studs were taller. How odd *wacko* .