Random set of the day: Universal Set with Flex System
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 8074 Universal Set with Flex System, released during 1991. It's one of 6 Technic sets produced that year. It contains 313 pieces.
It's owned by 1,131 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
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28 comments on this article
Weird flex, but okay.
I was just about to say, who doesn't love a good flex?
@Huw should make an article on the Flex System
@Norikins said:
" @Huw should make an article on the Flex System"
I’d be all for this since I’d never heard of it until just now and am very curious…
Behold! Flexible construction vehicles (and a crane) of the future!
@OptimShi said:
" @Norikins said:
" @Huw should make an article on the Flex System"
I’d be all for this since I’d never heard of it until just now and am very curious…"
The flex cables worked very well until you tried to remove them from a connector at which point they would shed the end inside it. I darent check my sets that have it to see how many cables have broken and need replacing
@OptimShi:
You've absolutely heard of part of it, if not the whole thing. It's a system that basically works like bicycle brake and shifter cables. An outer sheath is fixed in place at both ends, and an inner cable slides through the sheath. As it's pushed in from one direction, it extends out the other end and pushes whatever it's connected to. And if it's pulled, it retracts at the other end.
The overall system has seen a moderate amount of use, but the outer cable, often referred to as "flex tube", happens to be the same diameter as a bar. It has seen extensive use across many themes, in both System and Technic sets.
Who needs a Bowflex to build muscles when you can have a universal flex system building set?
A thing of beauty. A really nice 'universal' set with very nice models. I sorely miss the 'Flex system. I truly believe Lego should revisit this and try to improve it. While I never had any problem with mine, I can understand that they might be fairly easy to break (the end bit is probably less than one mm thick).
Flex system would allow for 'proper' Technic plane (i.e. built the way a plane is built), a much more simplified 42145. It would allow for 'brakes in Lego Technic vehicles. In general it would greatly simplify most designs that need a push/pull action without demanding too much force.
I like old Technic sets, except these universal sets. They have this unfinished/unpolished look to them. I have cople of Technic sets like 8412 and 8440 which uses this system that looks nice.
@Lego_lord said:
"I like old Technic sets, except these universal sets. They have this unfinished/unpolished look to them. I have cople of Technic sets like 8412 and 8440 which uses this system that looks nice."
8412: Lego Technic greatness in less than 300 parts. I also believe the flex system is shinning in set 8479.
@AndyB1:
If you're trying to pull them out of the clamp on the ends, then it's no wonder they break. It's not designed to be removed that way. You have to pop open the clamp to release the. It'd be a bit like trying to yank a wire off of the terminal screw on an outlet or light switch instead of loosening the screw first. You _may_ get lucky, or you may just break the end off the wire.
So since they made Clutch Power an actual character should Flex System be his sidekick or his rival?
Loved how Flex System worked in 8856 . You had to be careful not to mix up the grey and black connectors though, from memory one was designed for pin connectors and not ball joints, but if you forced a ball joint in then removing it again needed a lot of care.
And no clamps on these earlier parts - the cables just clipped in from the sides, at an angle. I never had any problems even after nearly 30 years, but I can see how applying force in the wrong direction would render them broken and useless.
It's early morning here in Europe so I read the name as: Universal Sex with Flex System...
Great technic set BTW, focused on FUNCTIONS rather than looks.
As a kid I thought the flex system was brilliant. Remember getting 8412 Nighthawk heli with it
I'm not which set I got the parts from, but I remember using the Flex System in 8855 to replace some of the rods it used to operate the control surfaces, and which tended to work loose.
Technic could use more universal sets. There's more to it than just building cars and motorcycles and the occasional other vehicle you know?
And the flex system. My only experience with it is with the flex tubes, seeing some parts of it on 8002 and seeing it in use in instructions. And I've heard it was notorious for cracking. Although from what I've heard it wasn't so much the cables as it was the cable holders.
Back then it was like functionality was king in Technic. Now it's more about looks than anything?
Never had the Flex system myself, it arrived just around the start of my dark ages, but I've nevertheless always been intrigued by it.
And those universal sets, they never should have stopped with those. Perfect start with Technic for any kid, just a bunch of rather generic but very useful parts, and a number of builds that helped you to grasp the basics of building with Technic. Don't just follow instructions, but understand what you're doing and build on from there. And if you needed some more inspiration, just get an Idea book....
I wonder if the huge variety of colors now used played a role in the disappearance of universal sets. Back in the day, I had two universal sets, one with mostly yellow ( 8020 ), and another with mostly red ( 8055 ). And as a result, I tried to focus on those two colors with my additional sets, and stay away from blue. Rather have a lot of a few colors than a bit of many colors. That wouldn't really work nowadays....
Love the flex system. I only had 8856 that featured it, but that's one of my all time favorite Technic sets anyway.
Don’t think Technic has ever had a helicopter cyclic that worked as well as those using the flex system
I came across the shorter versions in the steering rods of 8437, where the rod kept detaching from the end connector when you try to steer due to the force required to move the wheel too much. But for push pull applications I could see this being useful especially when the ends are not aligned so axles with universal joints are not possible. A clear view of the inner and outer cables are shown at 5118.
@MeisterDad said:
"Who needs a Bowflex to build muscles when you can have a universal flex system building set?"
Ok, ok, ok. I get the hint. Time to put the phone down and start stretching. It's Go Time!!
Seriously, this gives me some major Dad's Erector Set vibes.
Love these good old Universal sets! Several simple but effective models in a convenient package.
However, this one fails at showing the best use of the Flex system, that being going around corners: only one of the models does that, the others could easily use rigid linkage.
The Flex system itself was nice but too weak: cables will detach from the first gen connectors easily, and even snap. Trying to remove them in the wrong way (seems like a lot of people has trouble figuring out the correct way) will bend them to the point of becoming unuseable.
Cool, a set that's the same age as me! And a Technic set as well, stuffed with different models. Nice choice!
Stop flexing!
I regret never getting a set with the Flex System. It always looked so cool.
Adored this set. Still have it. Learnt ever so much from the engineering of this variety of builds