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How to Add Power Functions to LEGO Set 8288

The LEGO Crawler Crane, labeled 8288 in the product line's numbering system, is a massive and powerful-looking crane which has three different points of articulation. The crane, as it arrives, only works manually. You have to physically turn the handles attached to the crane to power the device. However, with a little ingenuity and some spare Technic pieces, you can easily attach some powered motors to add power functions to the device. This lets you automate your crane and gives you a new dimension of play.

Things You'll Need

3 red Technic minimotors
Assorted Technic bricks
3 Technic battery packs and cables

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the three handles from the side of the crane. These are the handles you turn to lift and lower the crane.
- 2
  Plug one motor onto the exposed arm on the upper beam to replace the removed handle.
- 3
  Attach a Technic wire to the bottom of the motor.
- 4
  Attach the motor to the beam using the Technic pieces. Use pins and bricks to clip the motor to the side of the crane.
- 5
  Repeat with the remaining two motors on the exposed rods. These are the rods which were used for the handles initially.
- 6
  Attach the wire from the first motor to one battery pack. Attach a single 1-by-4-stud plate to top of the battery pack. Connect the other two battery packs to the other two wires, and label them with two and three 1-by-4 plates respectively.
- 7
  Press the buttons on the battery packs to move the crane.

Construction Toys