doug72

Just received the Lego service pack for 8043 mods. Includes - 4 linear actuators, some parts to fix the track drive problem and new instructions for book 1 pages 41 & 45. re Actuators: at first glance they look identical to existing ones but on close look the serial number is different 36X0 - located on end which attaches to yoke. I have marked all the new rams with permanent maker so not to get them mixed up - also applied some yellow sticky back plastic around body of the ram - which makes them look much better on the model. New rams should have been made with a yellow body. Re RH track drive mod; this consist of a black connector block with 2 X holes and 1 plain hole / 2 x blue pins with 1L cross axle / 3L tan pin with stop. This is fine if you are building the model from the start but if you have a completed model it is almost impossible to fit in place and no instructions given by Lego on how to fit this mod to an assembled model. In the end I detached the track unit at the turntable and carefully removed the co-axial drive cones, then inserted connector block in place BUT without blue pins - instead I pushed 2 x 3L pins with stops from the other side to hold connector in place which stops the 12T idler gear from slipping down out of mesh. This is quite a tricky task. The excavator now much smoother & faster when lifting the main boom and track drive OK. My model was working OK before the mod but has now improved performance. Doug72