Vehicle Pin and Gear Variations

[Tyco Trucking]

Early 3901 with brown gear and brown guide blades. This is also the lighter green version as that body was only molded in color and not painted. Oddly, this truck does not use the windshield insert, even though it has the early chassis.

Mid 3901 with brown gear and steel guide pins. Also the lighter green version. These trucks are known to both have and not have a center bed stop. It's a mystery why these trucks even exist, having the lighter pale green color.

If it was a mistake with a different color accidently being used, I don't think they would be as prevelant as they are. And that they also have and don't have the bed stop. That can be resolved that Tyco knew of the mis-coloration and continued to produce them. I don't think these were ever used in sets, so it may have just been an early failed attempt to distinguish a set truck from a carded truck.

Late 3901 molded in color with white gear and steel guide pins. Plain mud flaps.

Early 3903 with painted body, note the white edge on the body. Has brown gear and brown guide blades. The 5th wheel weight has a hole.

Late 3903 with molded in color body, white gear and steel guide pins. The 5th wheel weight is solid with no hole.

Early 3904 with painted body, brown gear and brown guide blades. These early painted trucks also all used a black windshield insert, with accompanying slotted grill.

These variations only affect the first ten vehicles in the 1981 initial offerings. Only the very earliest ones will have the brown guide blades. By 1982, all the newly released vehicles had the white gear and steel pins.

 

[biddle]

Also worth noting, a lot of people report that the brown gears are not as prone to cracking as the white gears.

I've not seen a NOC Smith's Tire Truck with a white gear, they all have the brown gear, but some had the brown plastic guides and other have metal.

 

[Tyco Trucking]

Also worth noting, a lot of people report that the brown gears are not as prone to cracking as the white gears.

Yes, I've never had an issue with a brown set of gears. Those white gears on the other hand.. I've disassembled and junked probably 20-25, if not 30, vehicles because of them. Even a sealed Wrecker set the truck was broken right out of the box. I changed the gears then, and I just ran it the other day, and it's messing up again now. I'm thinking of switching it to a brown set.

I've not seen a NOC Smith's Tire Truck with a white gear, they all have the brown gear, but some had the brown plastic guides and other have metal.

I think the first Smith's I got had a white gear set and steel pins. Doesn't mean anything though cause it was loose. It may have been an '82 or just had the chassis swapped. Can't tell off the body either cause almost all of them are painted regardless of year.

One thing I do know is I put the brown/brown under both of mine, LOL. Same with my Taxi's. My Firebird is also originally a brown/brown. I have a mixed bag between the Fed-Ex, Ambulance, and Police. I think I have at least one of each brown/brown though.

Did you check out that painted 3911 Fire Truck? Man I want one so much!