Problem with knees on Obitsu 60 BJD

This is the moment when I need help from more experienced Obitsu owners.

Few months ago I bought an Obitsu 60cm ball-jointed body. At first all joints where very stiff, this including the knees. When the second joint in a knee was out, I wasn't able to unbend a leg. I found out that moving the leg back and forth made the knee joint to hide eventually. But after using this method for some time I noticed that the knees can no more hold their position. When I raise a straight leg up, a shin falls down. Even that extra joint isn't as tight as before.

Is there a way to fix the knees? And if I decide to buy the new knees - how should I hide the extra joint not damaging the knee?

  Mysha said:

At first all joints where very stiff, this including the knees. When the second joint in a knee was out, I wasn't able to unbend a leg. I found out that moving the leg back and forth made the knee joint to hide eventually.

I'm assuming you have the ball joint style knees and elbows (http://parabox.jp/obitsu/60PARTS/60RP-F04WP-30.jpg) and not the double jointed knees (http://parabox.jp/obitsu/60PARTS/60RP-F01WP-30.html) as it sounds like you're describing the ball joint style's feature of having the center "disk" in the joint "pop out" a bit for deeper bends.

 

  Quote

But after using this method for some time I noticed that the knees can no more hold their position. When I raise a straight leg up, a shin falls down. Even that extra joint isn't as tight as before.

Is there a way to fix the knees?

Yes, the knees (and most other ball style joints) can be tightened up fairly easily. There is a nut and bolt that needs to be tightened up. I have a tutorial on tightening 50cm ankles, but the procedure for 60cm knees, elbows, and shoulders is very similar. The tutorial lists the tools you will need and has pictures detailing the procedure for disassembling the ankle from the leg and repair of the joint. You however, will be disassembling the knee instead, so you can skip all the ankle/foot/shin disassembly stuff and go from the tool list to the disassembly of the ball part of the joint.

 

http://www.dolliehsanctuary.com/sanctuary/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=10628

 

If you have any questions, post them here.

 

  Quote

And if I decide to buy the new knees - how should I hide the extra joint not damaging the knee?

Since you haven't really damaged it (just loosened it) you should be able to tighten it back up again if needed.

Thanks for your response!

 

Now when you mentioned this, it is embarrassing that I haven't thought of this myself. I saw that screws on the elbows, but somehow I was pretty sure that the problem is not in loosen screws, but in a damaged plastic around the screws (or something like that).

 

I had some trouble disassembling the ball parts, as they are sitting in the thighs vinyl, but I eventually removed one ball part and tighten the screw. Well, it seems I did that not very tight, because after a few days the knees were loose as before. I had to try one more time and do it with all my strength ^^"

 

And yes, I definitely meant ball joints, not double joints. I just used that "second joint" expression to describe the disk popping out ^^ I'm glad you got what I meant

You may have stripped the hole that the screw goes into.

Dr. K2! is the expert in this type of thing, and he will likely have a fix for you.

Good luck! IF worse comes to worse, you can always just replace that joint from Parabox.

I've had 60 cm Obitsus for almost ten years and have not had that particular problem with the knees.

  cirquemom said:

You may have stripped the hole that the screw goes into.

And that's what I'm worried about.

 

  cirquemom said:

Good luck! IF worse comes to worse, you can always just replace that joint from Parabox.

Yes, I saw them and a good thing is they are quite cheap.

 

  cirquemom said:

I've had 60 cm Obitsus for almost ten years and have not had that particular problem with the knees.

Maybe it's again me not able to handle a doll properly ^^"

There actually isn't a screw or hole to strip out. It's a metal nut and bolt completely through three layers of plastic. The hole the nut and bolt go into is a hexagonal shape the same size as the nut so the nut shouldn't move while tightening the bolt. Double check the nut side of the hole to make sure the nut hasn't slipped and "rounded out" the hole. It is a Phillips head bolt and a Phillips that size can be difficult to find the right driver to grip it properly. Try torquing that bolt a bit more or call in the Brute Squad to tighten it up a bit more after you've done your best.

Oook... so I used a better screw driver and tighten the screws really hard. And since then - it was already 4 months! - she's stable as heck. The knees are so tight I can no longer pull the inner disk out ^^" But they're holding poses very well. I guess I am over at least one technical problem.

 

Now I have another - shoulders pegs aren't tight enough to let the doll hold another doll ^^" The arms just fall down. But I guess there's not much I can do about it anyway ^^"

  Mysha said:

Now I have another - shoulders pegs aren't tight enough to let the doll hold another doll ^^" The arms just fall down. But I guess there's not much I can do about it anyway ^^"

Some things are just too heavy for our little girls (and guys) to hold up. I'm guessing the shoulder joint peg is rotating in the receiving tube on the shoulder/chest part. You can tighten this connection by increasing the diameter of the shoulder peg to increase friction in the receiving tube, but you run the risk of making the peg too large which can split the receiving tube.

The first method I know of is spreading a little bit of super glue on the peg and allowing it to dry thoroughly before reinserting in the shoulder. Make sure the glue is dry. you don't want to permanently glue these parts together! If you put too much glue on and the peg doesn't fit, you can slowly sand it down till it fits.

Another thing to try is putting a little bit of thin tape, like 3M magic transparent tape, on the peg. Start slowly, perhaps a half a wrap at a time till you find the amount you need. If the peg doesn't go in easily, remove a half a wrap or so.

With whatever method you try, go slowly and carefully so you don't break a skeleton part.

Sorry to zombify this thread, but I need to ask for help! 

Can anyone tell where I could find a replacement knee for the Obitsu60 old ball-jointed body? 

When I wanted to try tightening the knee, I somehow managed to break it off (thigh 'bone' still stuck in thigh) 

Yes, I heated it up like crazy... 

Even when I take the thigh vinyl off, I cannot find where to take the 'thigh bone' off! So maybe even finding a new knee won't help 😭

Any tipps would be greatly appreciated! 

Edited September 4, 2021 by samseramsamsam
Pucs