How do you fix a loose hip joint (aka "T-Hook", or "T-Bar")?

Scoop · 04-19-2008, 02:07 AM

I was wondering if there was any quick and easy way to fix a loose hip joint. I'm talking about the little metal piece with a ball on each end that is located inside of the lower torso crotch piece. This is the piece that connects the legs to the body and is sometimes refered to as a "T-Hook" or "T-Bar".

The problem that I've seem to be having is that it might be loose inside the body where the upper and lower torsos connect. This causes the figures to be loose and to shake around like a bobble head doll. My Stinger Driver and Wild Weasel are suffering from this problem. Other figures seem to be tight in that area though.

Has anyone else come across this same problem, or have any advice to offer for a quick fix? I would really hate to have to crack the figures open and try to tighten them that way. If that is the case I will just live with them the way they are.

lerath666 · 04-19-2008, 02:15 AM

ok, which Part of the figure is it that is loose? Is it the leg wher the hip meets the body? Or is it the mid torso where the upper and lower torso's meet?

Scoop · 04-19-2008, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lerath666

ok, which Part of the figure is it that is loose? Is it the leg wher the hip meets the body? Or is it the mid torso where the upper and lower torso's meet?

It's where the legs meet the body. The legs are tight to the metal hook, but the hook is loose to the body.

lerath666 · 04-19-2008, 02:47 AM

oh my... so the legs are fine but the torsoes wobbly?

IF, and it's a big IF you can get the figure apart, and find the part that is loose, you can cover it with clear fingernail polish, let it dry, put on another layer, let it dry, then reassemble him, then it can be fixed. but i'm not sure what part it is that's loose. IF I understand you right, you might be SOL.
Goods luck mate.

Scoop · 04-19-2008, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lerath666

oh my... so the legs are fine but the torsoes wobbly?

IF, and it's a big IF you can get the figure apart, and find the part that is loose, you can cover it with clear fingernail polish, let it dry, put on another layer, let it dry, then reassemble him, then it can be fixed. but i'm not sure what part it is that's loose. IF I understand you right, you might be SOL.
Goods luck mate.

Thanks for the advice.

What I think it might be is that the metal "T-hook" part which has one metal ball one each of its 3 ends might be loose inside the torso itself. The 2 smaller balls on the left and right side of the hook are where the legs are attached to. The 3rd ball, which is larger than the other 2 is located inside the lower torso which we cannot see. That is what I think is causing this loose problem which makes the figures rattle.

You are right though if I want to fix it I will probably have to crack them open, which I will not do. I wish Hasbro went with back screws on these even though they didn't use O-rings.

todd_m6d · 04-19-2008, 11:40 AM

Well you unscrew the back, pull the legs with the Oring through the crotch piece, unscrew the things and replace with a new t-bar.... oops... wrong body style.

lerath666 · 04-19-2008, 11:51 AM

Laugh all you like mate. I prefer the new style 1000's of time more than the old. I snapped more o-rings than i can count

NAVY S.E.A.L · 04-19-2008, 12:14 PM

i have the same problem with my sons roadblock. somehow the leg came of and i popped it right back on but it has been loose ever since. i thought about tightening the leg screw but that did nothing. i think the plastic where the t bar goes in doesnt have enough plastic material and it wore down to the point where the leg stays on fine, its just really loose. were in the same boat mate.

Scoop · 04-19-2008, 12:22 PM

I think that my loose problem has nothing to do with the legs at all but more with the larger ball at the top of the "T-Bar" which is hidden inside of the lower torso. The legs appear to be connected tightly enough to each side of the "T-Bar".

If I shake the figure while holding both of the legs so that they don't move I can see the figure "wobble" at where the "T-Bar" goes into the lower torso.

Captain Hydra · 04-19-2008, 12:47 PM

I had this on a few of my troopers. Just take off the legs and put a few drops of superglue in / around where the metal pegs enter the plastic. Let it dry, put the legs back and problem solved.