doug72

Work on this module ceased as I cannot get it to reliably raise and lower the ball hopper carrier & has got much larger than invisaged. Module now disassembled.

Good to hear you have fixed the problem & train now running OK. You missed my earlier posts on Page 8 for August 20th & 22nd about this problem & the solution. Doug72.

Done

Have you done the mod to the axle between the two wheel axles ? The Akiyuki version can suffer from high friction on the axle between the two train wheels axles. Replace the 4L & 5L axles with stops & the 2L connector with a plain 9L axle. Can you post an image of the underside of the train unit ? Ensure you that the train wheels with discs are not rubbing on the frame. With train removed from reverser , rotate the 24T gear, that the 8T gear engages with by hand to check if any friction.

Still having problems with the follower roller sticking as it passes over the depression between the end of various beams on the profile beam. I replaced the lift follower wheel, for a Red 3L beam on a friction free pin. It works smoothly and bridges the dips at the beam ends and around the bends in the profile beam structure OK. Added bonus the the lifting frame stays in the correct raised position until it hits the stop & when lift frame lowers to the ball loading point. Just have to sort out a stop / trip for the train reverser end so that lift does not lower the hopper until located above the train unit.

Progress Report: After prolonged testing & observation I finally discovered what was causing the jamming. The mount for the follower roller was flexing on the lifting frame allowing the back of roller to foul the support beams on the profiled moving beam. Support now improved and runs freely. Arrangement of the lower support wheels had to be altered to allow space for these changes. Next stage: Locate correct position for the train reverser and loading point. Arrange trips to position ball hopper correctly at these two locations.

Time to have something other than super cars and have something that is in the spirt of Technic i.e. engineering, be that GBC or maybe replicate a early steam engine from bygone ages, such as a Crorther engine. An Atmospheric Engine would be a real challenge

@rskamen Thanks I will be happy if and when I can get it to work - there's a long way to go yet.

Hope this is what you want. Front view Lifting frame from rear Main structure with traversing components removed. Red beams added to stop traversing carriage from tipping forward.

Yes have tried swapping the lift arms around but still sticking as lift lowered at same location. Runs OK with a light counterweight without hopper. Now increased CW to max & OK with hopper and now sticks at another location at the horizontal 5L beam as lift rises. Its going to be trial & error to get correct weight. Just tried with 15 & 30 balls in hopper and max CW but sticks and releases with a jerk as lift rises. I think a bigger diameter wheel is required so it won't jam meaning the moving frame would have to be re-built.

Thanks, I think the counterweight is too light. The cord to the counterweight is directly connected to the lift frame and almost vertical. I will alter so the position of the guide wheel so counterweight cord is vertical. When the ball hopper is in the lifting frame the small wheel with tire that runs inside the shaped frame catches in the slight dip between the ends of two adjacent beams. Will try replacing them with a studded beam so that the roller runs along the underside. See image

Progress at last - I was almost at the point of abandoning this project !! Finally have the traversing carriages sorted, had to add a extra carriage linked to the one driven by the chain system so that adequate support and bracing could be made the the profile frame that lifts & lowers the ball hopper. See video Tried without the ball hopper and runs smoothly but when add train ball hopper its jerky, the counterweight needs adjusting to balance the load. The module is getting rather large and consuming a lot of parts !! Next step - arrange trips & stops to get correct positions for the ball hoper at the loading & train. Video at full speed with fresh batteries.

I can add the mod for the train unit with L motor, the other Type 1 modules are available on page 1 of the Akiyuki Project Forum. I will add a link to them. Who do I give credit to, You or Akiyuki ? Are there any instructions for this mod ? i can use your image & re-size it. Re Crane Loader: Do you have any tips on getting this to function, I am trying to make a simplified Studdless version using a Type 2 train unit. Having difficulty in getting the profiled beam that moves the lift cradle up & down - keeps snagging and twisting. Problem solved !

Index on page 1 updated with @Berthil PDF instructions for Re-chargable Train unit and Passing loop module.

@Berthil instructions look good - if its OK with you I will put the direct links to the pdf instructions for both modiules on the index page.

While testing my latest train GBC module I needed a fresh battery - so I selected a spare one from my stock that already contained batteries. I found all the batteries were leaking as shown on image. I used Alkaline batteries in the past but now use re-chargables. IMG_6574 by Doug Ridgway, on Flickr Now checked all my display models and found others that also showed signs of leaking. Now removing all batteries from my display models to prevent any damage to them.

Slowly progressing. The problem with jamming was caused by the front top track distorting downwards under load and allowing the lifting frame to lean inwards and foul the carriage driven by the chain. The lifting frame traversing carriage has now been rebuilt and is now more rigid. Additional support now provided by a pair of wheels on a guide rail at base plate level. It took quite awhile to get the height of lifting forks correct when at loading point and at the train unit. Counterweight now balances the load better. The correct vertical position of the moving frame that raises & lowers the lifting frame has yet to be established. Still trying to determine how this frame connects to the lifting frame. The pdf instructions ( for Akiyuki build ) are not very clear about this. Now found how the the lifting frame is connected to the moving frame. Moving frame shape has to be altered to suit my build arrangement.

Definitely nothing that has vehicle wheels of any description !!!!

A self contained GBC loop on a 32 x 32 base plate using only one PF motor, with a height constraint of 16L with 3 or 4 stages.

@Jonas Welcome back to Train GBC - a lot of improvements have been made to various modules making them reliable.

Crane Unloader MOD - (WNIP) !! Progress has stalled as I cannot get the lifting frame to rise and fall without it jamming in the profiled moving frame when moved by the chain drive. Took a while to stop the lifting frame from tipping forward when ball hopper in place, even with a counterweight. A separate guide rail on the base plate installed help prevent this. Guide rail installed for profile beam to stop it drooping. Cannot determine from the PDF instructions how to connect the lifting frame to the profiled beam that moves hopper up & down. Can someone post a close up image of how this connection is made ? Any help would be appreciated. Therefore I have decided to go back to step 1 and start again but this time following the Akiyuki pdf instructions but use stud less parts instead for the brick built supports. Once main part is built I will then see if the system can be simplified. Photo showing construction at point where building work ceased: PS, the red “H” is not a heli pad, it locates the train reverser.

Thanks for clearing up my error, found some on Brickowl at 20 p each. Can you give a rough idea of the cost of parts from Bricklink ?

Thanks - that was quick Cost is £6.12 UK I have all the parts except the LEGO Gear Wheel Z12 with Hole / Crossaxle (24014) which are the robot hands

Can somebody post the link to purchase instructions for the Catch & Spin robots - can't find them !!

Type 1 train and module instructions can be found here: https://www.bricksafe.com/files/blakbird/Renders/MOCs/crane-loader/Akiyuki Train Module.pdf NOTE:- Type 1 trains will NOT work with type 2 modules. Type 1 was not very reliable hence reason why type 2 was developed by Akiyuki.