Amt0571

Yes, I know that. In fact I have one of the connectors wired to a 9v wall transformer, from when I got tired of replacing batteries. The problem is that the polarity reverser switches don't work either. I have 4 of them from 8480 and 8082 and 3 of them don't work at all and the 4th works partially, only in a specific position. The 8082 battery box doesn't work either. Someday maybe I'll try to disassemble them to see what can be done... I suppose the internals are corroded.

8880 is probably my favourite set and it has a lot of sentimental value to me. I wanted it so much when I was a kid... I think I waited a couple of years for it, and when it finally arrived on christmas it was such a great moment! It's the only "old" technic I keep assembled on a shelf. I also really loved 8082 because I played so much with the motors but, unfortunately, like with 8480, which was also a great set, multi controls no longer work and the cables insulation has desintegrated leaving only the exposed wires. On the modern ones I built after my dark ages, I love 42082: it's huge and the functions work great which makes it really fun to play with. Someone has told me that this year, Santa is coming with 42043 which I always regretted buying when it was new... we'll see if it surpasses 42082.

Yes, that was my thought exactly, as I saw a bunch of them on bricklink that said that they didn't pump in the description, so I suspected they end up failing the same way. I wanted to build the excavator with original parts, but I have made an exception on the pump and cylinder for this reason.

Following your instructions I have cleaned the rod and the cylinder is now smoother. It still leaks air around the seal when retracting though, and it doesn't retract unless there's some weight on it, which is not much of a problem as the excavator arm weight seems enough to lower it. I've been unable to save the pump though. There's no way to make it pump consistently. In the end, and since they were relatively cheap, I bought a clone cylinder and pump on Aliexpress and also ordered some parts on Bricklink to replace a few missing and broken ones so I can finish building it. I hope the aliexpress parts quality is good enough.

I'm trying to rebuild my old 8837 excavator after 30 years of storage and I noticed that the pump mostly doesn't work. For every 20 pumps, maybe one works and the others don't add any pressure (and in fact leak any pressure already in the circuit). I also noticed that the big piston leaks on the shaft seal (it retracts, but it doesn't hold pressure), and the metal shaft is blackened from what seems corrosion or residue of a rubber seal. It holds pressure normally in extension though. I tried to open them to see what's happening but felt that if I pushed harder I would damage them. I checked on bricklink and both parts are available but, being old parts, I fear they'll end up the same. I also checked aliexpress and it seems there are chinese clones available. Is there a way to repair those parts? or is the best option to buy a working or a cloned part?

I'll check it out! thanks!

Thanks. I've just bought 2m of grey, black and blue tubes. The ones in the package seem to work well, but look quite ugly, so I'm going to assemble it with the new ones.

I just received a used Arocs 42043. Everything seem OK and seems in good shape (have not assembled it yet, but pneumatic controls, cylinders, and pump work perfectly, as well as the motor), but one pneumatic hose seems to be replaced as its matte instead of shiny like the others. The matte hose seems to be ok, but the others that seem original have clearly lost flexibility and they seem to me they're deformed and keeping the shape they had on the assembled model. Is there a way to restore the original flexibility of the tubes? Also, the original set stickers, which are applied, are cracking and peeling on several places. The seller included a new, non original, sticker sheet (which I appreciate), but it's print quality is not as good as the original. Is there any place that I can buy a sticker set with the original print quality at a reasonable price?

I'll try it then. I just want to try to avoid having to partially disassemble it to get to the gears... So far I had only had issues with 42110 gearbox, that as soon as it gets dusty, it stops working in low gears. I've throwed the towel on that one though, as it's known to have issues anyway and I rarely play with it.

I have had this set assembled and exposed on a shelf for 5 years. From time to time, maybe 2 or 3 times a year, my son asks to play with it and it had always worked fine. Today though, I noticed that the superstructure only turned counterclockwise, with the clutch gear slipping when turning clockwise. I tried to turn it by hand and when turning counterclockwise it feels notchy. After I force it past a notch, it feels smooth until the next one. It's on these "notches" that the clutch gear slips. I looked at the turntable ring wheels and, despite the set having collected dust during the years, everything looks fine. After further investigation, it seems the "notchiness" comes from some gear on the turntable drivetrain, but I have been unable to figure out which one and why it only happens in one direction. Has someone had a similar issue?

Then why are there some Chinese Lego clone manufacturers doing exactly what Technic fans want? They don't know anything about market analysis?

I'm not against "Display Technic" (I myself display most of my sets nowadays, although I like them being technical). I'm not against lots of Formula 1 cars. I'm not against licensed sets. It's just that I don't get why they don't create a separate lines for this type of buyer, and they keep Technic technical, with the expected functions and complexity, for the "traditional" audience. They could create a "cars" line... we always had "supercars", but there was mostly one at a time. It makes no sense having a Ferrari, a Bugatti, a Lambo and a McLaren with the same functionalities in the Technic line, especially if there's no way to see how they work after assembly. I also don't get how it's possible that a TECHNIC line vehicle has an engine with fake "pistons", without connecting rods when it's supposed to show you how things work... 42110 is a great offender: 4x4, one of the most complex gearboxes ever made in Lego (so complex it mostly doesn't work if there's a bit of dust), a decent winch, and a 6L engine made of loose axles? really? They know how to make decent sets at decent pricepoints. They can do it. And that doesn't exclude making lots of cars. 42043, 42042, 42082, 8043, 42054, 42053 and even 42144 are all decent sets. They could have kept selling them instead of retiring. There's plenty of market for them, especially considering the prices of some of the in the used market... with the Airbus Helicopter and the John Deere skidder out of stock, there's no serious "big" set being sold right now.

Probably there's an audience that likes studless licensed and realistic cars with few if any functions. They could create a new line for them... "Technic racers", or something like that... I don't care. But doing what they're doing to the Technic line is awful. There's no heavy machinery, no cranes, no nothing except lots of cars with similar gearboxes. The new F1 cars with 2 speed gearboxes at 225€ seem offensive to me. Just a correction: there's heavy machinery: the liebherr crane. While I don't agree with the smartphone approach, it's probably a nice set, but at +600€ I'll never know. It's beyond unreasonable. 42043 retail price was 199€. 42082 was 249€ if I'm not mistaken and both include lots of functions, they're a big model and pricing was reasonable. They don't even need such a big sets to have a good technic line. I have 8082 from when I was a kid and it was a great set: with only 459 pieces it included 4 models, with a very clever skid steer model that had many functions with only a motor and a mini-motor and without using modern gearbox parts. I played years and years with that set and built lots of things using those motors. I still have it, but unfortunately the multi controls no longer work as they're probably corroded inside.

Oh... I didn't read it's missing the digging arm. I'd like something like 8455, but they're too expensive used.

Where do you get it?

And it was relatively cheap... I paid 150€ for it. I don't understand who wants licenses... I don't care about them, especially if they increase the price.

We need a proper backhoe, a telehandler and a forklift that don't cost more than 250€ and have proper pneumatic/motor functions. We don't need more cars with barely any function, or 450€ cars with a gearbox that can't be seen. It's that easy. I don't get what they're doing.

Maybe because it's all that there was when I was a kid, but old technic without panels was great. Maybe it doesn't look that good, but when I was 15 I understood how gearboxes work watching the gears move in 8880. In any modern set most of this things are buried so deep inside that you can't see them. Even in what I consider great sets like the 42082, it's quite difficult to see what is happening inside it. If you don't have it, try to get hold of 42082. I'm not sure if it's Arocs level as I don't have it on my hands yet, but I it's great and really well thought out, with a single motor powering everything through multiple gearboxes. It's also huge and functions work much better than expected considering the size.

I already have 42110. I like it aesthetically but I don't like engines with fake pistons and whatever I do, the stock gearbox ends up cracking like there's no tomorrow, especially if dust gets on it (which it happens, since I have it on a shelf. Strangely enough, I have 8880 at it's side, gathering the same dust, and that always works perfectly. I also have 42144 material handler, which frankly, I think it's an underrated set. It may be ugly, but the functions are nice and work well. Once I finish the Arocs I'm planning to rebuild 8837 pneumatic excavator that has been disassembled for the last 25 years, and it also would be great to rebuild the 8480 space shuttle, but unfortunately I have to repair all cables and the multi-controls no longer work. I'm missing old technics a lot... and past years I have been building only non-technic sets: Saturn V, Discovery and Eagle Lander for my "space shelf", and the viking ship, which looks nice but I only purchased because it seemed appropiate to buy a viking ship during a holidays on Denmark. Well... the Arocs MSRP was 199€ which seems insane now. At the time I saw it for around 160€. Thats almost a hundred euros below of what I have just paid for the set + shipping, used. I've seen not a single Arocs in good condition approaching the MSRP. Even at this price, it seems better than current lego lineup and prices which seem to me very expensive. At its day, I paid 150€ for the 42082 on Amazon during black friday, including shipping from UK to Spain... Regarding point nº 2: there's nothing for people who don't like cars... or don't like them that much. It's nice having a sportscar with a gazillion gears and suspension, but frankly, they've been doing the same since 8880, except that it now costs 450€. Well... and 8880 at least was 4x4 and 4 wheel steering. I just happen to love heavy machinery. Especially motorized or with pneumatics... speaking of motorized: I hate the new sets which require a smartphone. What are they going to do when the app is obsolete? And I don't want my kid to mess with a smartphone, especially if it's just to play lego.

After a few years of not purchasing technic legos (only ninjago's for my son), I was looking at the Technic catalog for this christmas and it's abysmal... there are only licensed cars with almost no functions and playability. The only things that somewhat interested me: the airbus helicopter and the john deere skidder are out of stock... the other really nice sets, like the Liebherr crane are ourageously expensive. I've looked at the expected january sets and... more overpriced cars? I instead ended up purchasing a used but disassembled and cleaned Arocs 42043 with box, instructions and a new sticker sheet... the price was not terrible (240€) for the conditions, and although it was more expensive than when it was new, it seems cheap compared to bricklink offers and it has 2700+ pieces with motor, pneumatics, 12 tires... seems cheap compared to current legos, and hell... I always regretted not buying it when they were available. I miss old unlicensed legos which cared little about the aesthetics and were all functionality. Last technic that I really loved was 42082: lots of functionality, big, and reasonably cheap. My kid still loves playing with it I love legos, but definitely not what they're doing with it. Sorry (/RANT OFF)

I'm not sure I understand what you're looking for. If you look at the "units" tab, in the "more" link there are the lesson plans (open this link and click on "view lesson plan" https://spike.legoeducation.com/#/prime/unit-plans/bltdfae10d779620d2b/lesson-detail/blt770a2bd5553064de). These are clearly meant for a teacher, but I see no reason why they can't be used at home.

If I found it at 200€ I would buy it right away. I've looked at used sets and have been unable to find anything below 340€. Considering that I can find it new for 395€, I think it's not worth it to get it used. I have installed the spike app in my computer and I liked what I saw... If I don't find a good offer before christmas, I'll probably end getting it.

I can help him with robotics as I know how to program and build things out of lego. I definitely can't help him with music as I'm definitely terrible at it. I know the set is expensive but so far I've been unable to find anything comparable in ease of use. He will definitely loose interest if the progress is too slow. Otherwise I could do the same using arduinos or an Rpi. I've been looking around and I've found a couple of used Robot Inventor sets at a decent price... maybe I'll try that first.

Agree, but I think the extra sensors may be cool. And maybe when I want to buy them they have discontinued this system. But powered up doesn't seem so focused in robotics. Maybe it can be done, but Spike Prime seems to have everything you need in one box. I don't think I need a book... I've tinkered with Arduinos and RPis, but I was looking for something more accessible for my son. I have looked around and have not found anything as kid friendly. We already have several of "old" Power Functions motors, servos and remotes, but he's more interested in the robotics aspect which obviously can't be done with it. Spike Prime seems to include 45 minutes lessons to learn step by step and that seems also useful to me. If we try to do something that requires hours of work to get to a result, he gets tired. I suppose this will improve as he grows up.

I have a 6y/o kid that likes both robotics and music. Next year though, he has to choose which one to go to, as they do both the same day at the same time. I was thinking about "steering" him to choose music and asking Santa for a robotics kit which we can use together. I've seen the spike prime legos and they seem great for learning (and he also loves Legos), but they seem quite expensive (600€ for the Spike Prime + expansion), so I'm not totally sure about it. I'm not considering the 350€ essential kit as I think he will outgrow it too fast. It seems to me it's just an expensive Arduino + sensors, although being lego makes things really friendly for kids and that's a huge plus. What are your thoughts on Spike Prime? I found surprisingly little information on this forum.