LEGO 8858 Gears clicking

[RNRS001]

I was gifted this set for my birthday the year the set was released, all the way back in 1994. Every time after I build it the car would work. The rear engines make the pistons go up and down, much like every other technic set with a working engine. However, after just a few weeks the gears would start clicking, blocking the wheels. As a kid I rebuild the set many times and could never find a fault.

It's now 2023. I own well over 300 sets and have build this set a year ago. It worked, and was put on the shelf with my other sets. My 3 year old is occasionally allowed to play with my LEGO sets while sitting next to me. He picked the 8588 and, yes, the gears are clicking. AGAIN. I just can't find out what I'm doing wrong. At first I thought the problem was somewhere in the truck itself but even when I disconnect everything but 2 gears it just isn't working like the instructions say it's supposed to work.

I've added a page of the instructions and have included a video showing the clicking gears. I've a feeling I'm overlooking something because I rebuild this set over and over again but just can't find out where. Anyone able to help over here?

Instructions: https://www.toysperiod.com/img/cache/f6/0x0/d4e4o5g414f4w5w5n4z5m44426a4k4l4y5v2c423a433x224x2u254v2f4o4f4q244m2s2.jpg

Youtube video: 

 

[msk6003]

Looks like 24t crown is touching shock end. Can you move gear little left?

[Toastie]

9 hours ago, msk6003 said:

Looks like 24t crown is touching shock end. Can you move gear little left?

I also believe so - the 1x2 technic brick seems also to be very close. The two bushes on this axle are also a bit "loose". I had similar issues of such "play" resulting in not optimum behavior. I used thin metal washers to get rid of that play and having to "readjust" when running the setup for some time. Nothing for purists, though.

Best,
Thorsten 

[RNRS001]

20 hours ago, msk6003 said:

Looks like 24t crown is touching shock end. Can you move gear little left?

It does look like it, but even when I push the shock end to the chassis so the gear has room to spin around freely it's still clicking.

I just read something about parts changing slightly. When looking on bricklink it shows 3 variants for the same part, all with subtle changes. Maybe I've just the wrong variant?

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3650a#T=C

I can't tell however which one I've used?

Edited April 27 by RNRS001

[Zerobricks]

How about taking the rear axle apart and rebuilding it?

[GoldVillage]

The 24t gear has a lose poor contact with the small 8t gear, they want to skip apart during load. I suggest you replacing the grey 6x1 plate with a 8x1 

[RNRS001]

On 4/27/2023 at 1:36 PM, Zerobricks said:

How about taking the rear axle apart and rebuilding it?

I've done that plenty of times already. The issue shows up every time I build this set, but only after a couple of weeks. After building, everything works.

 

On 4/27/2023 at 7:17 PM, GoldVillage said:

The 24t gear has a lose poor contact with the small 8t gear, they want to skip apart during load. I suggest you replacing the grey 6x1 plate with a 8x1 

I've done that as well. It doesn't help things. Yes, it can't escape, but it also still blocks and clicks.