TIPS ON HOW TO BUILD AN EXCAVATOR
I just built an excavator. Here is how I did it. Here are some tips on how to build a LEGO excavator.
THE CAB
The cab needs to be pretty strong so it does not fall apart. One thing you could watch out for is that if the arm is fully extended it will tip the cab over or rip it out of its’ base.
Reinforce the base and put weights on the back to keep it up right. (NOTE: I don’t have weights on my excavator because its’ bucket is to small to hold any thing that will knock it over.) One more thing is that I thought was useful is that my base has connectors on both sides so it is extra strong.
THE TRACKS
All good excavators need tracks. I used LEGO TECHNIC tracks, (this is the set mine are from) but if you don’t have tracks you can use a line of wheels. The tracks are connected by a pin that goes through the bottom part of the truck in a piece like this.
THE BUCKET AND ARM
The arm is made of LEGO TECHNIC pieces that are connected and have the ability to bend. Then you put this piece in there.
Connect it like this, so it can move but very slowly. These pieces are very important, because they make the arm stay up so it can lift things that are heavy.
The bucket I use is from a LEGO mining set (click here to see it). It has a LEGO adapter, so it can be put into the rest of the system. I hope this helps you if you build an excavator.