Used Sanhui 168 Hip Joint Loose (How to repair?)

super89rex · Post by **super89rex** » Fri Jul 03, 2020 2:09 pm

Got a doll today off the for sale section, having an issue - the left leg hip joint seems to be loose, and will not hold a pose and is limp - the doll has standard joints. Was told by the seller that there was no skeleton issues so needless to say I am not overly thrilled.

First used doll purchase so I'm a bit disappointed

Because otherwise the doll is great, beautiful face, realism, etc.

How would one perform surgery or go about getting this hip joint repaired?

super89rex · Post by **super89rex** » Thu Aug 27, 2020 3:23 pm

Anyone have any idea? I opened her up on the side and its a ball joint; there's no way to tighten the joint, I think the fitting on the end is loose round the ball joint so it is just floppy.. Any ideas?

bl8900 · Post by **bl8900** » Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:06 am

It is disheartening for me to say this.. I could not come up with good solution to fix my 158 flexi with a very similar issue with a knee joint that had gotten loose. The joint itself basically wore out from frequent use. The only way I can think of is to replace the joint entirely.

chacka · Post by **chacka** » Sat Aug 29, 2020 9:48 am

I have the same with my sanhui, they get loose rather quickly. i like the range of movement, but this is a drawback. otherwise, functionallity shouldn't be impacted to much. just throw the legs in her neck. for behind you can use the couch. Your sanhui also has ball joints in the knees, elbows and shoulder. they will all get a little loose, but not by much to quickly.

seagull · Post by **seagull** » Sat Aug 29, 2020 8:42 pm

Post subject: New 2018 skeleton upgrade pics - ball joint skeleton
Definitely not the best idea to have a non-adjustable joint
Short of belting the joint with a hammer to tighten the thing or putting a drop of Loctite in there, this design leaves you with a floppy skeleton

BuilderOfCastles · Post by **BuilderOfCastles** » Sat Aug 29, 2020 9:20 pm

Pictures would be a big help. Then i could be more specific.

Sooooo, you have this ball and cup joint (i presume)
and the way to tighten it is to deform the cup.

You can try a c-clamp.
Get it in there and press the open end of the cup through the ball to the other side of the cup.

you could deform it with some hammer blows, but will probably be really impossible to get a good blow.
You could deform the cup with a pin punch (round punch, flat on the end)

You deform, move joint, deform, move joint until you have the tension you are looking for.

- -- -

You can also fill it with thick grease... which will make the joint slump down slowly instead of fall.

seagull · Post by **seagull** » Sat Aug 29, 2020 9:40 pm

Eek! the way to tighten it is to deform the cup (Sorry, the mechanic in me)
Agree that for a non adjustable joint this is the only way but as a design, it suxs
The snap on/off head connectors are adjustable, out of necessity, but a joint subject to wear being non adjustable just puts this in the very expensive toy category

BuilderOfCastles · Post by **BuilderOfCastles** » Sun Aug 30, 2020 12:34 am

seagull wrote:Eek! the way to tighten it is to deform the cup (Sorry, the mechanic in me)
Agree that for a non adjustable joint this is the only way but as a design, it suxs
The snap on/off head connectors are adjustable, out of necessity, but a joint subject to wear being non adjustable just puts this in the very expensive toy category

The idea is that the cup has enough spring to keep the joint tight over the lifetime of the doll.
This is only a rough guess because there is so many problems that can affect these joints.
Out of roundness, weak metal, rough use, the joint only gets used in one plane...

So, it has its advantages, and a whole bunch of disadvantages.

I have been working on joints that would work much better... and let me tell you my ideas are a pain in the ass.
Involving springs and castellated hex nuts and...
Hopefully some day i will have an epiphany!

seagull · Post by **seagull** » Sun Aug 30, 2020 5:49 pm

When working with toys, Keeping It Simple Stupid (KISS) has a hard time getting traction, an epiphany or two is good

super89rex · Post by **super89rex** » Sat Oct 03, 2020 10:49 pm

Socket and ball joint probably the worse engineering Decision for these joints. My dolls
Left leg is permanently loose and only after opening up her side did I discover it is irreparable. In a multi thousand dollar item, this shouldn’t be the case.