LEGO produced a standalone wind-up motor in the 1980s that is now a vintage, retired product, available primarily through third-party sellers as a collector's item. Current LEGO products primarily use battery-powered electric motors.
Classic Wind-Up Motors The original LEGO wind-up motors were popular accessories in the 1980s, primarily for the basic and early Technic lines.
Product Name: The primary sets were the LEGO 890 Wind-Up Motor and LEGO 895 Wind-Up Motor, which were the same product released in different years. The motor part itself has a design ID of 384 or 61100c01 depending on the specific variant and color.
Mechanism: They featured an internal spring mechanism that was wound using a red or yellow key and an orange release button to make a model move without the need for electric power.
Availability: These motors are not part of current LEGO production and can only be purchased in used or new-old-stock condition from online marketplaces like eBay and BrickLink. Prices vary widely based on condition and whether the original packaging is included.
Modern Alternatives (Electric Motors)
LEGO no longer produces wind-up motors, but modern sets use the electric Powered Up system for motion and functionality.
Powered Up System: This system uses modern electric motors (like the Technic Large Motor (88013)) and a compatible hub to control movement, often via a smartphone app (CONTROL+).
Pullback Motors: Many smaller and medium-sized Technic sets incorporate a simpler "pullback" motor mechanism, where pulling the model backward winds an internal spring, and releasing it sends the model forward. These are included directly in specific sets rather than sold separately.
Custom Solutions: For builders who specifically want a spring-wound mechanism for custom projects, the community has developed creative, 3D-printable designs or instructions to build custom wind-up motors using standard Technic parts.