New tow ball and socket too stiff?

mwerle

I just ordered a bunch of new tow ball parts (14417, 15456, 14704)  to build some MOCs for my classic LEGO space, and discovered that these new parts are way too stiff when snapped together.  The friction is so strong that the parts can only be moved/rotated by manual force.

The old tow ball parts 3730 (socket) and 3731 (ball) were lose after being snapped together, so that one could "drive" a vehicle with a trailer.

Is the behaviour of these new parts by design?  How else do people make (small) vehicles with trailers nowadays?

For example, similar to Set 894 or 897.

560Heliport

Your problem is the socket 14704: it's meant as a joint for Mixels, etc. so has friction. You need 42478.

Marshallmario

   wow! You're like a Lego whisperer or something!

mwerle

560Heliport said:

Your problem is the socket 14704: it's meant as a joint for Mixels, etc. so has friction. You need 42478.

Thanks. I'll try it if I can source it here in Japan.  Wish it was somehow more obvious from the part name, but the description for 14704 is simply "Light Bluish Gray Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with Small Tow Ball Socket on Side".

So.. who wants a bunch of Mixel parts? ;)

560Heliport

@mwerle if you can find it, polybag #30584 Winter Holiday Train has two black 42478 (and three of the counterpart ball pieces.) Or #11021 90 Years of Play has four pairs of the ball and socket parts, two black and two grey- if the rest of that set would be useful to you.