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Topic: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize

legomotive
Male

3 Bricks

Member Since: 05/17/09
Forum Posts: 219
Canada

Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 01/19/10 at 20:22:31 AST

Hey guys,

finally I have made the MODs to motorize the windmill
So far I have only the turbine. I put the pictures up, they are self explanatory (I hope)
PS: Pics were taken with the LEGO camera
You will need those pieces (from the original set + a few from your inventory):
Oops, there is no need of the 1x2 grey plate

Keep the 2 side panels and the rear panel to add at the end:

step1

step2

step3

step4 Add 2 1x1 round plates to prevent the turbine to rotate

step5

step6

step7

step8

step9

step10

step11

step12

step13

step14 panel assembly (same as original)

Life's so good!

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Marc
Brickinator

Member Since: 02/20/09
Forum Posts: 1133
Canada

Re: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 01/20/10 at 12:00:27 AST

Nice and simple, JM! Can't wait to see pics of the base and how you connect them all to one motor.

Thanks for the pictorial... Very very useful.

LEGO Lifer
Brickshelf / Flickr

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legomotive
Male

3 Bricks

Member Since: 05/17/09
Forum Posts: 219
Canada

Re: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 01/31/10 at 01:40:22 AST

Ok finally some more instructions

I want to keep it small, simple and efficient, so I built it on a 6x6 base. You will see that it has a centered input, both centered horizontal & vertical output, All that in the center of the baseplate.
It is elevated a bit, which is better for the look, because I find the tower to be way too short, but I don't have more tower pieces to make it taller.

Step one, take those pieces

step 2, stack the pieces as shown and center them on the baseplate 32x32

Step 3, take those pieces

Step 4, assemble the pieces as shown

step 5, then but them like this:

Step 6, take those pieces:

Step 7, Assembly

Step 8, Put down on the plates the assembly exactly as shown:

Step 9, takes those pieces:

Step 10, assembly

Step 11, place the assembly as shown:

That's it for the mechanism. The following is for the look and to hide the mechanism. It can be done in many different ways, but I show you this one:

Step 12, take those pieces:

Step 13, place them as shown

Step 14, take those pieces:

Step 15, place them as shown:

Step 16, take those pieces;

Step 17, place them as shown:

Step 18, take those pieces:

Step 19, place them as shown:

Step 20, take those pieces: (4 identical assemblies)

Step 21, Place them as shown on top:

Step 22, build the tower as shown on 7747 instructions, with the 32L axle in the middle:

Step 23, Finally place the tower on top of the base, making sure the axle goes into the vertical axle connector in the center of the base.

NOTE

If you desire to have tower at different heights, you can install a longer vertical axle inside the base and add layers of bricks or plates needed to fit the length of the axle. In any case, make sure that the mechanism always runs loose (freely)

NOTE

You can now install the turbine on top of the tower, making sure the connector from the turbine slide easily into the vertical 32L axle from the tower.

If you have some difficulties with instructions, please let me know and I will help you figure it out.

More instructions will follow to connect a PF motor and connectors to more windmills

Life's so good!

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legomotive
Male

3 Bricks

Member Since: 05/17/09
Forum Posts: 219
Canada

Re: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 01/31/10 at 13:33:11 AST

Hey gang

For those who don't want to go through the hassle of the construction above, I give you a KISS... version (Keep It So Simple)
How ever, you will have to down gear directly after the motor , before it reaches the tower base. The down gearing ratio should be at least 1:24 for best result.

Step 1, one layer of plates in the center

Step 2, a second layer of 1 x plate

Step 3, Take those pieces:

Step 4, assembly

Step 5, place as shown

Step 6, add the 2 1x2 bricks

Step 7, add a layer of bricks

Step 8, add a layer of 1 x plates

Step 9, add a layer of 1 x plates

Step 10, mount the tower upside down on the turbine with the 32L axle

Step 11, put the spacer and the beveled gear flush to the end of the 32L axle

Step 12, mount the tower on base

Voila! MUCH smaller, less work and less pieces. It is up to everyone to choose their favorite way. (visual or practical)
NOTE
I find a bit more gear lag in the small system.

NOTE
The base could be higher if desired by adding an axle joiner and a 2L axle or more and adding the bricks and/or plate as needed. AGAIN, make sure it runs freely

Life's so good!

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Chris

Brickinator

Member Since: 02/20/09
Forum Posts: 1366
Canada

Re: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 01/31/10 at 14:59:07 AST

Hey JM, I used the first model you put down and it works great! Built up around it with green brick to put it on a little hill and it works and looks great! Thanks!

Choo Choo, here come the trains!

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legomotive
Male

3 Bricks

Member Since: 05/17/09
Forum Posts: 219
Canada

Re: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 02/01/10 at 00:09:28 AST

Yeah, I prefer the first one as well, there is less stress on the axles. One motor could turn prolly 10 windmills. I'm glad you figured it out, and that you can improve it

Life's so good!

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DXTREME
Male

1 Brick

Member Since: 02/17/10
Forum Posts: 3
United States

Re: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 02/17/10 at 09:21:07 AST

I plan on getting the wind turbine set. I was looking through the pictures to see how to motorize it. You did a good job showing how to do this. I plan to do this to mine when I get it. I have a few questions though if anyone would be able to help me, it would be greatly appreciated. I know that legomotive said at the top of the post that the parts used were from the kit and also extras. I was wondering if the extra parts needer are sold in another kit or if I have to buy them at pick a brick? I ask because I do not have many loose lego parts of my own since I am just starting the collecting of them. Please if you could help me out by showing pictures or even brick number of the bricks I need that are not included in the 7747 kit, or are all of the bricks shown not included? Also, has anyone put up pics of the connection between the base and the motor and how to connect multiple wind turbines to one motor? I would like to know so I can figure out what else I need so when my kit gets here I will have all the parts together and can build right away instead of building the kit first then taking it apart and modding it so it is motorized. Thx! Just want to let you all know that I plan on going with option 1 for the base of the tower so if you have the numbers for the bricks you don't need to worry about the bricks for option 2. Thanks again!

Mess with the best, Die like the rest!

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legomotive
Male

3 Bricks

Member Since: 05/17/09
Forum Posts: 219
Canada

Re: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 02/21/10 at 12:14:17 AST

Hello there and welcome to this site,

There is just a few extra pieces needed for the turbine that I circled on the picture below

For the base you can use what ever you want for pieces, or color. I used BURPS for a better look. What is very important is the height of your base. You have to make sure that the tower snap good on the base and the the axle runs freely. All the piece I used for the base are not from the set.

On my layout, I connected 6 windmills on only 1 small PF motor, and did run for 2 1/2 days at the show. I suspect that I could run more windmills but they would be on a very sturdy surface.
6 is my limit.

I don't have pics made for the connection between towers yet. I hope I'll have some time to do so. There are pictures from Freddy that shows them.

I used regular axles and universal joints for the straight connections, and flex cables between the 2 lines of the straight. I had a table height problem so I'm glad that I did.

You will need a LOT of extra pieces for the base and connections. I have a total of 6 baseplates for the towers, and 5 baseplates just for the connections. that is a lot of baseplates, but it looks better with 1 base plate apart. Ideally would be more apart, but it would take WAY too much space on a layout, unless you place them individually with one motor each.... Choices, choices...

If you need more help, just ask

Life's so good!

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DXTREME
Male

1 Brick

Member Since: 02/17/10
Forum Posts: 3
United States

Re: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 02/23/10 at 15:12:57 AST

Thank you very much, I just got the set and built it now to see how much of a difference the build is compared to doing it in the book from doing it this way to motorize it. It is very easy now that you have explained and showed it all so thanks again. I just ordered the parts I will need to make this mod. Only question I have is you say to build the tower like it says in the instructions. What about the blue circle blocks that hold the long axle in place inside the tower? You wouldn't put them in cause that would keep the axle from spinning correct? Thanks again!

Mess with the best, Die like the rest!

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Chris

Brickinator

Member Since: 02/20/09
Forum Posts: 1366
Canada

Re: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 02/23/10 at 20:05:32 AST

Thats right, you do not put the blue circles in.

Choo Choo, here come the trains!

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DXTREME
Male

1 Brick

Member Since: 02/17/10
Forum Posts: 3
United States

Re: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 03/11/10 at 13:48:15 AST

I was wondering if you bought multiple sets of 7747 to get more wind turbines or if you found a place that sells the loose parts? I looked on lego.com and could only find the generic parts of the turbine not the parts like the blades or the white tower halves. I don't want to buy more sets and be stuck with more transport trucks if I could just get the loose parts to build the turbine. Let me know where you got your extra turbines or if you just bought more sets. Thanks!

Mess with the best, Die like the rest!

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Chris

Brickinator

Member Since: 02/20/09
Forum Posts: 1366
Canada

Re: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 03/11/10 at 17:25:06 AST

You can buy parts from www.bricklink.com

Choo Choo, here come the trains!

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legomotive
Male

3 Bricks

Member Since: 05/17/09
Forum Posts: 219
Canada

Re: Windmill 7747 tweak motorize
Posted on: 03/13/10 at 22:23:00 AST

I've seen the 7747 for sale at a LEGO outlet for US$48
Try to buy a few and sell the trucks on Bricklink or ebay, it might the cheapest way?

Good luck

Life's so good!

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Windmill 7747 tweak motorize

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