Really Need Help With A Stuck Joint

[Purity]

So I got most of a baf sentinel and there's a problem. The lower torso's right leg joint is stuck. Not stuck like it won't move at all. Stuck like it won't "lock" in place. For example, I'll move the left joint forward. It stays in place and I hear the click of it staying in place. I try to move the right one forward and it's like it'll bend forward, but then it slowly returns back in the straight position. Like there's gum or something like that stuck in he joint, causing it not to click forward. There are a few times when it will click, but usually it doesn't. Can someone please help? Ills it just how the piece is? Is it broken? What's going on and how do I fix it?

[RedRebelCustoms]

Am I reading this correctly? Your problem is with the portion of the ball joint where the peg is attached to the hip/ crotch area of the torso? If so and it doesn't seem like anything is broken, Ibwould use the super glue trick. Check the tutorials located on the sidebar of the Customs page but be careful. It may also ne that it was forced or played with. Sometimes that sort of thing cannot ne fixed without breaking it open. I've bought loose figures that had obviously broken and been glued back together sometimes missing pieces. I've been forced to fabricate my own using styrene or scrao plastic. Goodluck.

[Purity]

Yep, that's right. Imagine a piece of a figure that's made of a softer, more rubbery plastic. For example, the walmart avengers loki's helmet. If you take one of the horns and bend it the opposite way, it'll slowly bend back to it's original position. That's how the joint is acting. Yeah it's the ball joint. The part attached to the crotch. I dont know if the super glue trick will work. Isnt that for loose joints?

Now, after fiddling with it more, it seems that when I take the bottom of the joint, push it upward, then pull it forward to move the joint, it'll click and stay. So it seems like the peg that holds the joint is sagging or something. Hm maybe if I heat it up and try to move it back?

Yeah, I thought about opening it up. That's probably the best solution, but Id hate to break him open. Thanks for responding though. I really appreciate it!

[Galactape]

Yep, that's right. Imagine a piece of a figure that's made of a softer, more rubbery plastic. For example, the walmart avengers loki's helmet. If you take one of the horns and bend it the opposite way, it'll slowly bend back to it's original position. That's how the joint is acting. Yeah it's the ball joint. The part attached to the crotch. I dont know if the super glue trick will work. Isnt that for loose joints?

Now, after fiddling with it more, it seems that when I take the bottom of the joint, push it upward, then pull it forward to move the joint, it'll click and stay. So it seems like the peg that holds the joint is sagging or something. Hm maybe if I heat it up and try to move it back?

Yeah, I thought about opening it up. That's probably the best solution, but Id hate to break him open. Thanks for responding though. I really appreciate it!

Hi! I own a couple of the Baf Sentinels, and none of them do that, I have had firures that do that however, even some right out of the store package, there are afew potential problems, the first, the joint has never been used, kept in a relly heated area, and melted slightly to torso's inside. Or, it was a really used toy, some kid snapped the leg off, or said it was way too loose, and the parents attempted to glue it back in place. What condition did you get the Sentinel in, I personally wouldn't open him up until you have a back up, especially since the lower torso is rubberish, thus opening it up, could prove to be very damaging. I do believe thea you can take the Sentinel apart after building him, so if you wanna get a replacement piece you could. Take a pic and post it here, and maybe we will be able too see the problem. I also have a Sentinel lower torso, so if you wanna work something out for that, let me know. Hope this helps!

[Purity]

Okay, cool. I didn't think it was supposed to be that way. I got him loose, but in really nice condition. the seller was an adult as well saying that he eventually lost interest in ML's and was selling his collection and he kept it in really good quality(aside from this problem). I think what you said about the joint being heated is very possible. That, or I thought of another theory. So I got the figure and it cam with the upper and lower torso, left arm and right leg. Now, when this guy is standing upright, the weight of the rest of the figure sorta leans to the right side. I'm thinking, he possibly kept what he had standing upright, and the weight of the figure made the peg that connects the crotch sag, causing trouble moving. And another theory I have is that the way the lower torso was placed inthe package, it might have been lopsided slightly, thus causing the joint to sag (this accompanied with heat, would make the problem worse). My resoning for these is what I said about taking the joint, pushing it upward, then pulling it forward and the joint works. And lastly, your theory about the heat and rae use is very possible as well. I think I'll try heating the joint up and then attempting to place it back. worth a shot I suppose. And the only problem with replacing it, is the upper and lower torsos are very tightly connected( I believe that's with all sentinels because the upper torso's pectoral joint works just fine). So, yeah, lemme try some stuff first, and if all else fails, I might take you up on that offer. Thanks so much for your help!

[Darththomas]

I know nothing of the anatomy of Sentinel but i've taken apart a few big MLs (Hulk, Juggernaught Etc.) and most of them have some kind of plug that the rods off the legs fit into.



Here's two examples, See those black bits in Maestro's crotch, they're rubber and fit real tight against the pegs to make them tight. The grey Hulk is a different example where the grey square fits inside the crotch and the leg pegs fit in the grey square.

I'm guessing Sentinel would have a similar set up to the grey hulk maybe with a square for each leg. So I'd think it would probably be a problem with whatever they used to tighten up the legs. Kinda sounds like what everyone said . Probably came from the factory like that.

[RedRebelCustoms]

That's the piece I've had to fabricate DT! Two are in some of the larger figs. One for each leg. Icon Hulk I just used for Surtur for example had two and one was missing. I cut apart a realty sign and used that to machine a piece to fit in it.

[ole jade jaw]

All these guys know way more than I do about the actual figure, but just for a goof, throw it in the freezer for 20 minutes. If it's a swollen or misshapen part, that should shrink the material down enough to rule out some possible sources of the problem. Can't hurt.... Just don't go at it like an animal while it's really cold.

[Purity]

Holy cow! Old Jade Jaw, you were right! I put him in the freezer and the joint works perfectly now! Thank you so much man! And to everyone else, I thank you greatly for all helping out and putting your input in! I can't tell you guys how much I appreciate it!

And Galactape, thank you for the offer, but I don't need another one now.

[ole jade jaw]

..... And everybody wants to rush him into surgery...... Doctors, nurses, hospitals, co-pays, paperwork, D.N.R.s......

[Galactape]

Holy cow! Old Jade Jaw, you were right! I put him in the freezer and the joint works perfectly now! Thank you so much man! And to everyone else, I thank you greatly for all helping out and putting your input in! I can't tell you guys how much I appreciate it!

And Galactape, thank you for the offer, but I don't need another one now.

No problem, just glad he works again!

[Darththomas]

..... And everybody wants to rush him into surgery...... Doctors, nurses, hospitals, co-pays, paperwork, D.N.R.s......

you sure showed us . Just goes to show the simple things are often the best!!

[RedRebelCustoms]

Nice work O.J.J. ! The thought crossed my mind but I dusmissed it. Seems I always end up taking the hard way out!