What Size O-ring To Fix Gi Joe

Thou.I. Gary Shows You How: Properly Change a G.I. Joe O-Band

September 18, 2017 Author: Gary Viola

If y'all've always had the 1980s Yard.I. Joe figures, yous've had an O-ring break. With the basic pattern established in 1982, the O-ring design lasted until 2006 in retail, making this a very mutual issue. With these figures as old as 35 years, the rubber deterioriates and eventually needs to exist replaced. Follow along equally I (with generous help from Dr. and Lifeline) change out Stalker's O-ring with notes on what to to look for when doing this mutual maintenance.

I scored this 1982 Stalker at Terrificon. I got a groovy deal on it because, not but was the O-ring broken, but he was missing his waist piece. I've had his waist for a while and have just been waiting for the right moment to scoop up the remainder of the figure for my collection.

Ok, so Lifeline and Doc are freaking out to encounter Stalker in such a sad country. He's loaded up onto the stretcher and it'south off to piece of work.

Destro the arms dealer has a variety of O-rings to choose from! But with 4 sizes selection, which one do Lifeline and Doctor need?

There are 4 common O-rings of fractional inch sizes that are used to fix M.I. Joes. (The dash number represents a national standard that I volition reference for the residuum of the article)

-012 1/2″OD x iii/8″ID (one/xvi″ cross section)
-013 9/16″OD ten 7/sixteen″ID (1/16″ cross section)
-110 9/xvi″OD x three/eight″ID (3/32″ cross section) (Abode Depot / Danco #8)
-111 five/8″OD x 7/16″ID (3/32″ cantankerous department) (Home Depot / Danco #9)

These are the most readily available O-rings. There's likewise metric O-rings that were probably used (more on this further down) but they aren't as easily obtained. In that location are websites that practice sell 1000.I. Joe specific ones too. I had a bag and they were exactly the same as the -111's. I become my O-rings cheaply using manufacturing supplier websites like McMaster.com to buy in bulk of 100. The Domicile Depot numbers tin can help y'all in a pinch if you're looking for just 1 or two. Aside from size, ane other thing to consider with O-rings is the durometer of the rubber. Durometer is the softness of the rubber, a smaller number is softer. 70A is the nearly common, and works well. Stay away from a xc durometer as they won't stretch at all. Smaller than a 70 volition stretch hands, and may not hold the figure in place (recall floppy). Nosotros're looking for something that will hold the figures together and non break the old plastic. Sometimes you utilise the smaller cross section for clearance issues, or less tension.

Common O-ring usage breakup:
-012 Girl figures (Scarlett, Covergirl, etc.) where clearance is an effect (waists are thinner than male person figures)
-013 '82-'84 figures where the -111 is a super tight fit, 1992s Talking Battle Commanders
-110 Girl figures
-111 Every other K.I. Joe figure

Sometimes people will recommend the -110 in all the early figures. While this may work for them, I have found that this makes those figures extra tight and still difficult to assemble.

Doc and Lifeline are using a #0 phillips head screwdriver to remove the dorsum screw. Exist very careful not to strip or break the spiral. Try not to use a worn screwdriver equally that tends to strip the caput of the hardware. If yous strip the caput you'll exist left with few options. Some people have luck using a modest safety band over the tip. If that doesn't work, yous will need to drill the spiral out. This requires extreme caution as yous tin damage the trunk easily. Also, removing the spiral from the chest becomes even more than hard.

An example of a screw that the head broke off. Similar to drilling the head off, y'all tin can encounter how difficult it is to remove.

Accidentally lose the back screw? Fun fact: the screws that are used in the legs are the aforementioned equally the one in the back! I've come beyond a couple variations in screws beyond all the figures equally they take been made in a few factories around the world for then many years. Keeping actress figures for parts comes in handy!

Here'due south what Stalker looks like with the chest piece removed. Later figures volition have the shoulder swivels beveled, which provide more room for the o-ring. This feature became mutual on 1984-1985 figures. I've seen '83 figures with both styles of shoulder swivels, the later releases getting the change equally either a cost saving or ease of associates change.

A close upward of the -013, original, and -111 oring. Find how the original is closer in size to the -111 and the pinch marks from beingness squeezed in between the arms and the back postal service. After 35 years, its tough to measure a broken o-ring, merely the cross section of the o-ring is slightly smaller than the -111, so it would be virtually 2mm or slightly smaller. Probably an 11mm ID x 15mm OD. I've purchased "G.I. Joe" specific O-rings from parts websites, and they could either be the -111 or the metric equivalent, they are that close in measurement.

Here's a close upwards of the clearance we have for the O-ring. Because it'southward tight, using the -013 volition exist a smarter choice as it will exist easier to assemble, and these early figures have breakable plastic.

Get-go stride of reassembly starts with hooking the O-ring on the leg hooks and sliding the waist piece downwardly. Information technology's a little easier with the -013 model, but wait some finagling. Be gentle, you don't desire to break the crotch.

Loop the O-ring effectually the dorsum'due south eye post and flip it into the waist.

Popular the artillery and head in. Even with the thinner O-ring, information technology's notwithstanding a tight fit for the arms. Using the thinner model makes associates easier, the -111 will exert more than force and you lot'll need both hands to continue this from flipping forwards sending the arms and head flying.

Carefully pop the chest on. Screw the back screw on using care not to strip the spiral or the plastic. Once the spiral is seated, you're all done! Yo Joe!

Stalker tin now become dorsum to the front end lines, but right now, it'due south time to striking the commissary for water ice cream and YoJoe! Cola with the ladies.

Here's a close upward view of the o-rings again then you can better meet the difference.

Well, there you lot accept information technology! G.I. Gary'southward definitive guide to changing O-rings on your classic (and maybe not so archetype) M.I. Joe figures. Don't forget if you accept questions or comments, leave them below!

Until next time!

Tags: arah, Fixing, G.I. Joe, o-band, directly arm, hinge arm, vintage, yojoe