Help with a ludicrously tight ratchet joint on Optimal Optimus

[kup]

I just had a good look at my Optimal Optimus. I am now fairly certain that the problem with your toy is the ratcheting gear coming out of place so WD-40 or graphite is useless to fix it.

The good news is that the screw holes are fairly large so you should be able to drill through the screw heads without damaging the figure. Once you do that and open up the arms, you can re-align the gear but you'll need new screws.

[liegeprime]

Is that the only part you need replacing TB? coz I can prolly just sell yah my junker one, cheaply and do a transplant to make up a whole better one. Just to clarify though do you have pics of the part in question? Coz Im still trying to get in my head that shoulder part being tight, hmmm are the screws in it rusted or something?

When I say junker though, his screws have no rust, he doesnt have any accessory with him and is missing (broken off) the robot head - thus he stays in gorilla mode, Electronics still works well ( i removed the batteries after testing), Chrome has wear. LMK I can send you pics.

[Hursticon]

Hmm, I'm sorry to hear about the state of the screws TB.

In light of Kup and Liege's suggestions, I'd say try and do what Kup suggested with drilling out the old crews and combine all the good parts of that one with the Junker that Liege is offering you.

I believe it'll be a far cheaper alternative than trying to acquire another through eBay and after all the work you would of done, I reckon you'll appreciate the figure all the more.

Acquiring a 'mint as mint can get' figure is nice, but nothing is more gratifying than repairing a damaged figure with the remains of another IMO.
(Hell, Transformers do it all the time)

[Tallestblue]

Aside from the shoulder (The grey bar connecting the blue chrome and maroon chrome sections) The electronics don't work. A battery has been allowed to leak inside and the compartment is rusted. It has minimal wear, has the blast panels, gun and two of the clear missiles and looks very nice as a display piece, Fine is you only want it in robot mode and never want to touch or transform it. That's not what I want nor as it was advertised, I'd say the figure is in used condition, not Excellent Condition.
The only problem with the Drilling solution is I'm not particularly handy(Seriously, I don't even own a drill.) I may end up doing more damage than good. But perhaps with a few swaps around with a Junker it might salve my burning rage. A few Questions for you Liegeprime; Is the grey head section snapped off, or just the head itself? And can I just remove the head through "excessive force" Or Do I have to disassemble the electrics? If the head can be popped off then we might have a deal. (Chrome wear is fine, most of my transmetals have chrome wear.)

[liegeprime]

Its the whole gray piece and the robot head that's missing. The head can be taken off using some force.. not excessive and there's a trick on where to press so you don't snap the gray piece when trying to remove the head. You actually slide it forward while the gray piece is 90º up and it should come off easy without the need for force actually
I just tried it with my complete Opop now to see if could be done. Ill take some shots and post the pics here. You don't have to dissasemble the electronic cannon parts for this simple transplant.

Honestly though from your description of that figure , THAT is a Junker more than what my spare is. Mine just appears to be semi complete compared to that.

Erm thinking ahead though, how does $15 + postage costs sound to you?

[Tallestblue]

Okay. I just tried unscrewing bits and pieces of OPop to see if it could be done and it can, so I'd just swap out the head and the arm and maaaaaybe the Gorilla/Head chest as it's pretty banged up and the ape head is loose. Or, I might just take the head off and give the accesories to this new one. Save the time and effort.

[liegeprime]

Actually, having a good look at my incomplete one, you just need to put the robot head, and the arm plates and the other accessories ( gun and missles) but pretty much it's a decent Opop really, cept its got no bot head and them accessories. Ratchet is still good not too tight but not loose.
Removing the head,

gray piece 90º up and then push the head forward to slide it out

do reverse for putting it back on

here's some pics
Front - the opop names smudged off a bit

Back - no bot head

Elctronics still work - put batteries in just for demo

and as you can see the usual chrome wear

here they both are, side by side