The Energon Pub

I think this is a common type of problem for the ROTF Lockdown figure but, has anyone figured out how to fix his lose ball joints on the arms? My figure's left arm elbow won't stay. I move it a couple times and it pops out. It stays in, it just falls out when moved a few times.

Why would Hasbro release a figure with such bad joint problems? Other than that ROTF Lockdown is an awesome figure.

Phantron wrote:I think this is a common type of problem for the ROTF Lockdown figure but, has anyone figured out how to fix his lose ball joints on the arms? My figure's left arm elbow won't stay. I move it a couple times and it pops out. It stays in, it just falls out when moved a few times.

Why would Hasbro release a figure with such bad joint problems? Other than that ROTF Lockdown is an awesome figure.

Common? This is the first I've heard of it.

My Lockdown doesn't have that issue at all.

What makes you think that's a common problem? Mine doesn't have that problem.

Mine neither. The ball joints in his elbows are nice and tight.

You could try coating the ball in a few layers of clear nail polish and letting it dry to thicken the ball joint before putting it back in.

An other more dangerous approach I've heard is to cover the joint in a coat of superglue, stick the ball in its socket with the glue still wet and move it around continuously. As the Glue dries it will tighten up. Don't stop moving until the glue is completely dry or you'll glue the ball join in place.

Overcracker wrote:Mine neither. The ball joints in his elbows are nice and tight.

You could try coating the ball in a few layers of clear nail polish and letting it dry to thicken the ball joint before putting it back in.

An other more dangerous approach I've heard is to cover the joint in a coat of superglue, stick the ball in its socket with the glue still wet and move it around continuously. As the Glue dries it will tighten up. Don't stop moving until the glue is completely dry or you'll glue the ball join in place.

I've tried both tricks, they both work fine.

The glue trick will outlast the nail polish trick if you plan to transform it a lot. As Overcracker pointed out, keep the joint moving, if you let it dry in place it can and will fubar the joint.

rpetras wrote:

Overcracker wrote:Mine neither. The ball joints in his elbows are nice and tight.

You could try coating the ball in a few layers of clear nail polish and letting it dry to thicken the ball joint before putting it back in.

An other more dangerous approach I've heard is to cover the joint in a coat of superglue, stick the ball in its socket with the glue still wet and move it around continuously. As the Glue dries it will tighten up. Don't stop moving until the glue is completely dry or you'll glue the ball join in place.

I've tried both tricks, they both work fine.

The glue trick will outlast the nail polish trick if you plan to transform it a lot. As Overcracker pointed out, keep the joint moving, if you let it dry in place it can and will fubar the joint.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.

NO.

Disassemble the joint. Put a think coat of glue on the ball. Leave to dry. When it is COMPLETELY dry you reassemble. Repeat if necessary. Perfectly safe. The abovementioned technique is for joints that can't be taken apart.

Mykltron wrote:

rpetras wrote:

Overcracker wrote:Mine neither. The ball joints in his elbows are nice and tight.

You could try coating the ball in a few layers of clear nail polish and letting it dry to thicken the ball joint before putting it back in.

An other more dangerous approach I've heard is to cover the joint in a coat of superglue, stick the ball in its socket with the glue still wet and move it around continuously. As the Glue dries it will tighten up. Don't stop moving until the glue is completely dry or you'll glue the ball join in place.

I've tried both tricks, they both work fine.

The glue trick will outlast the nail polish trick if you plan to transform it a lot. As Overcracker pointed out, keep the joint moving, if you let it dry in place it can and will fubar the joint.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.

NO.

Disassemble the joint. Put a think coat of glue on the ball. Leave to dry. When it is COMPLETELY dry you reassemble. Repeat if necessary. Perfectly safe. The abovementioned technique is for joints that can't be taken apart.

I was thinking about posting that too! Definitely do it this way or you will probably be sorry.

Anyway, I have experience the loose ball-joint problem with Lockdown. Just his left shoulder for me. It hasn't affected his posibility as far as I am concerned, so it hasn't been a pressing issue for me.

Mykltron wrote:NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.

NO.

Disassemble the joint. Put a think coat of glue on the ball. Leave to dry. When it is COMPLETELY dry you reassemble. Repeat if necessary. Perfectly safe. The abovementioned technique is for joints that can't be taken apart.

I understand why it'd be more risky to add a small amount of glue to an already joined ball joint, but I have done this for a few figures, (as I didn't want to risk wearing out the ball joint by pulling off the limb, and it didn't yeild any damaging results.
Also, when you drop the glue in, and keep the part moving for a while until its tightened up, doesn't that basically move the glue to the places of the ball and socket that aren't being made as much contact with, than the part that is being constantly touched while rotating? Therefore creating a tighter joint in regards to it popping off. ?