
- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 22
- Set Year: 1979
- Set Number: 856
- Set Parts: 373
- Set Price: 69.50
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
During its year of introduction this set was priced 62.50 guilders.
Set 856 was released under the "Technical Set" series in 1979 in Europe and in the USA as 951, an "Expert Builder"set. This bulldozer features a bucket which raises and dumps via rack and pinion systems, and rides atop large tracks wound around 40 tooth gears. The body uses mostly traditional studded construction, with the exception of the linkage which makes the bucket functional. A large number of connectors are used to form tie rods.
This bulldozer has one of my favorite mechanisms of any Technic set. Rather than using the expected rotational controls to move the bucket, this model uses two ingenious, interconnected rack systems which translate within the structure. As if that wasn't enough, this model also introduces tracks, a variation on the new chain link parts included in 857. There are 106 tracks in this set and, for a long time, this was the only set in which you could get them. Only two other sets would ever be released which sit atop tracks, and they would be spaced out 10 years. This model also uses a specialized piece for the side of the bucket. This was unusual for 1979 since most parts still had many possible uses and were not highly specialized like this one.


- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 27
- Set Year: 1979
- Set Number: 857
- Set Parts: 410
- Set Price: 80.75
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
During its year of introduction this set was priced 72.50 guilders.
Set 857 was released under the "Technical Set" series in 1979 in Europe. It finally made it to the US in 1980 with the number 8857 as an "Expert Builder"set, the first set which used the now standard 4 digit identification number. This motorcycle featured a steerable fork and a chain driven 1 cylinder engine. Traditional studded construction is used almost exclusively with the exception of the frame.
Despite the fact that many LEGO® motorcycles have been released over the years, this one is unique in many ways. The parts list consists almost entirely of standard bricks, plates, and slopes. The fenders, especially the rear, have compound curvature, yet were made entirely of plates. All of the exterior design details were made in this way. The frame, however, was built from pinned beams, which allowed the unusual angles which could never have been produced with studded construction. This set is also unusual in that the primary functionality, the engine, is completely hidden when the model is completed.
Future motorcycles would usually use unique, narrow wheels, but this set used the same wheels as the auto chassis. It also marked a couple of firsts. The 16 tooth gear was used for the first time here, as was the chain link. Realistic motorcycle functionality really required a chain, so here the engine is driven off the rear wheel via a chain.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 26
- Set Year: 1979
- Set Number: 874
- Set Parts: 38
- Set Price: 7.85
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
This set was introduced with a set price of 7.10 guilders.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 28
- Set Year: 1979
- Set Number: 875
- Set Parts: 38
- Set Price: 7.85
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
This set was introduced with a set price of 7.10 guilders.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 34
- Set Year: 1979
- Set Number: 876
- Set Parts: 38
- Set Price: 7.85
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
This set was introduced with a set price of 7.10 guilders.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 29
- Set Year: 1979
- Set Number: 877
- Set Parts: 24
- Set Price: 7.85
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
This set was introduced with a set price of 7.10 guilders.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 21
- Set Year: 1979
- Set Number: 878
- Set Parts: 52
- Set Price: 7.85
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
This set was introduced with a set price of 7.10 guilders.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 22
- Set Year: 1979
- Set Number: 879
- Set Parts: 87
- Set Price: 7.85
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
This set was introduced with a set price of 7.10 guilders.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 22
- Set Year: 1979
- Set Number: 880
- Set Parts: 22
- Set Price: 39.50
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
This set was introduced with a set price of 37.00 guilders.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 21
- Set Year: 1979
- Set Number: 850
- Set Parts: 210
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: USD

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 23
- Set Year: 1979
- Set Number: 955
- Set Parts: 512
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: USD







- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 30
- Set Year: 1978
- Set Number: 854
- Set Parts: 206
- Set Price: 39.75
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
In its year of introduction this set was priced 39.75 guilders.
Set 854 was released under the "Technical Set" series in 1978 in Europe. It finally made it to the US in 1979 with the number 948 as an "Expert Builder"set. This go cart features steering using a rack and pinion system, a single cylinder reciprocating engine driven from one rear wheel, and dual rear wheels on each side. Traditional studded construction is used almost exclusively, with the steering wheel supported by axles and connectors.
This was the first of many go carts from LEGO®. Previously, the piston element had only been used in the biggest set, the 853 Auto Chassis, but now was available on a small, inexpensive set. This was the first set to feature hoses which, while not functional at this time, made the engine look more realistic. Later go carts would not really get much more complicated, but would use more specialized parts to achieve their functionality, and would put more emphasis on styling.
The front wheels can be steered using a wheel at the driver's position. The wheel drives an axle connected to an 8 tooth pinion gear via a universal joint. The pinion drives a rack. The steering mechanism itself uses 6 traditional 2x2 swivels with 2 pair allowing rotation of the wheels about the vertical axis and another pair acting as control arms attached to the rack gears. Simple axles allow the wheels to rotate freely.
The single cylinder engine uses the offset axle holes of the 24 tooth gears to make a crankshaft. Connectors placed end to end and clocked 90 degrees form rods which connect to a specialized 2x2 square piston. The "cylinder" is actually square.
The engine also has a number of aesthetic features such as cooling fins (suggesting this engine is air cooled) and new hose elements which could potentially represent water cooling lines, vacuum lines, or even spark plug wires.
The engine is driven off of a set of 24 and 8 tooth gears attached to the left rear wheel, giving the engine a ratio 3:1 with respect to the wheels.
This set uses six rubber 17x43 tires and standard old gray wheels.
By Technicopedia

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 19
- Set Year: 1978
- Set Number: 872
- Set Parts: 77
- Set Price: 37.50
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
This set was introduced with a set price of 34.50 guilders.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 21
- Set Year: 1950
- Set Number: 855
- Set Parts: 512
- Set Price: 89,50
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
{phocadownload view=file|id=363|text=Building Instruction|target=b}
During introduction year this set was priced 82.50 guilders.
Later its price was raised to 89.50 guilders even to 96.50 in 1981.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 19
- Set Year: 1977
- Set Number: 98959
- Set Parts: 40
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: na

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 21
- Set Year: 1977
- Set Number: 871
- Set Parts: 78
- Set Price: 16.25
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
This set was introduced with a set price of 16.25 guilders.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 22
- Set Year: 1950
- Set Number: 870
- Set Parts: 22
- Set Price: 42.50
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
This supplementary power pack was meant to bring some action in your sets. You could motorize the technic sets. The bigger sets were a number to big for the 4.5 volt motors.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 23
- Set Year: 1977
- Set Number: 851
- Set Parts: 340
- Set Price: 56.25
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
In its year of introduction this set was priced 50.75 guilders.
Set 851 was released under the "Technical Set" series in 1977 in Europe. It made it to the US in 1978 with the number 952 as an "Expert Builder"set. This tractor features rack and pinion steering, a PTO (Power Take Off) which can power various implements including the thresher of the primary model, and a linkage to raise and lower the implements. Traditional studded construction is used almost exclusively, with the exception of the implement lift. This was the only set released by LEGO® in the first year which used a four bar linkage. To this day, this is one of a very small number of sets which actually use the 40 tooth spur gear.
A number of tractors have been made over the years, but this one is the most elegant in many ways. I've seen old tractors which look very much like this one on many occasions while riding through the countryside in the Midwest of the USA (without the studs, of course). It is a very nostalgic design.
Steering
The front wheels can be steered using a wheel made from a 24 tooth gear at the driver's position. As can be seen in the computer generated image, the wheel drives an axle connected to a pair of 8 tooth pinion gears via a universal joint. The pinions drive a pair of racks. The steering mechanism itself uses 6 traditional 2x2 swivels with 2 pair allowing rotation of the wheels about the vertical axis and another pair acting as control arms attached to the rack gears. Simple axles allow the wheels to rotate freely. |
The right rear wheel of the tractor drives a PTO (Power Take Off) via a bevel set using an 8 tooth pinion and a 24 tooth crown gear. This gives the PTO a gear ratio of 3:1. The left rear wheel is not connected to this mechanism.
The implement for the primary model is a thresher. The PTO drives a 40 tooth spur gear on the thresher which, in turn, drives an 8 tooth spur gear. This final set of gear reduction drives a trio of 40 tooth gears acting as cutting wheels. Yellow bricks are inserted into some of the stud holes in the gear to act as cutters.
The final gear reduction at the cutters is 9:1 with respect to the rear wheels, so these turn very quickly when engaged (see animation). They turn so quickly that this creates a lot of drag on the tire and tends to make it slip.
The thresher can be raised and lowered via a lever at the driver's position on the right side. The lever pivots about the frame and drives a push-pull link made from connectors. This link pushes a four bar linkage which raises the implement, keeping it (almost) parallel to the ground during motion. The reason it is not quite parallel is that the vertical distance between the upper and lower links is not equal at the front and the back, so the links are not quite parallel.
As long as the model is right side up, the push-pull linkage is always in compression so it tends to stay together. If the model is inverted, this is in tension and can pop apart.
If the thresher is lowered too far, the 40 tooth gear will fall under the PTO and jam. There are wheels on the thresher to make it level and prevent this from happening.
The original mechanism (pictured) had a weak spot at the aft end of the connector link. Only the friction on the studs kept this together, so it tended to come apart often. In 1978, LEGO® changed the design to have a vertical 1x4 beam at this location to hold things together. This resulted in a slightly different parts list and count for this set.
This set uses two rubber 17x43 tires and standard old gray wheels on the front. The rear uses a foam 24x43 tire and wheel, the biggest foam tire that LEGO® made.
By Technicopedia

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 24
- Set Year: 1950
- Set Number: 852
- Set Parts: 364
- Set Price: 0
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: EURO
Set 852 was released under the "Technical Set"series in 1977 in Europe. It made it to the US in 1978 with the number 954 as an "Expert Builder"set. This helicopter features rotating main and tail rotors, and a collective pitch mechanism controlled at the pilot stations. Traditional studded construction is used throughout, with with a roughly equal amount of studless construction to accomplish the outer body shaping. This was the only Technic set released by LEGO® in the first year which did not have wheels on the main model, and remains one of the very few such to this day.
Helicopters have been a very popular Technic subject over the years, and a large number of them have been made. This first helicopter is still the only one to feature collective pitch and flybars with paddles. It also has the most realistic rotation speed ratio between the main and tail rotors. In these respects, it has never been improved upon. Some of the newer helicopters have more elaborate bodies and exteriors, but the simplicity of exterior design of real helicopters is one of the things which make them ideal Technic subjects.
The rotors' rotation is driven by an input crank on the left side. This crank drives a set of 24 tooth gears. The gears on the level above (see computer image) are actually on two separate axles and rotate at different rates. The forward torque passes through a set of 8 and 24 tooth gears and then on to the main rotor, resulting in a 3:1 final gear ratio. The aft torque passes through a reversed set of 8 and 24 tooth gears which results in a gear ratio of 1:3 as the axle heads back to the tail. Two universal joints shift the plane of the axles, and finally the tail rotor passes though another set of 8 and 24 tooth gears which results in a final gear ratio at the tail of 1:1.
Rotation of the twin blade main rotor is controlled by the input crank as described above. The main rotor is pitched down about 30 degrees at neutral. When the yellow drive block is translated upwards, the blue plate, acting somewhat like a swashplate, rises with it. A pair of links are connected to the blue plate and force the rotor blades to reverse pitch (see animation).
The main rotor head also features a pair of flybars and paddles, simulating a Bell-Hiller design. They are not functional. Ironically, it is these paddles which should really be driven by the collective, not the rotor blades themselves.
The tail rotor is a simple twin blade, fixed pitch design.
Both the main and tail rotors are constructed from standard plates.
The pilot controls move only forward and aft, and are bussed together at the floor. Under the floor, they attach to a pair of links which connect to a crank made of beams. When these beams rotate (see animation) it pushes another pair of links up. These links are attached to a translating block which controls the pitch of the main rotor blades, as described above.
There is no way to command the blades back to neutral. When the collective is moved back down, the yellow block moves away from the blue one, and the blue falls under its own weight. It sometimes sticks and will not return to neutral without some external force.
The landing skids are constructed from beams, axles, connectors, and pins. The geometry is such that all links are always in compression so the connectors do not tend to separate.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 26
- Set Year: 1977
- Set Number: 853
- Set Parts: 602
- Set Price: 97.00
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
How did Technic get started? We have been fortunate to talk to Jan Ryaa, one of the founding fathers of Technic back in the 1970s, where he worked with another designer, Erik Bach. At some point, these two stopped treating a brick as simply a brick, and they went to work with no more than their tool kit and some good ideas, and changed a few things.

- Details
- Category: Expert Builder Set
- Hits: 28
- Set Year: 1977
- Set Number: 850
- Set Parts: 207
- Set Price: 39,75
- Building Instruction: No
- Currency: Guilders
Set 850 was released under the "Technical Set" series in 1977 in Europe. It finally made it to the US in 1979 with set number 950 as an "Expert Builder"set.
Subcategories
Less Than 100pcs Sets
All technic sets consisting of 100 or less pieces.
Greater Than 1000pcs Sets
All technic setc consistimng of more than 1000 pieces.
Expert Builder Set
All sets belonging to the Expert Builder series from late 1970-ties and 1980-ties.