Repairing NECA Gremlins Dancing Gizmo Plush Doll Dance function

はじめに

I acquired a Gizmo doll who sang but didn't dance. Googling made me realise that this is a common fault with this doll. The doll's manufacturer has no customer service function, referring people to the retailer. But many of these dolls are given as gifts. So this is a guide to opening up Gizmo and getting him working again.

必要な工具と部品

手順1 Diagnose the problem.

OK. So this is Gizmo. He sings fine, and you can hear the motor moving for his dancing, but he doesn't dance. Something has gone wrong with his insides.

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手順2 Change the Batteries.

Repairing NECA Gremlins Dancing Gizmo Plush Doll Dance function, Change the Batteries.: 手順 2、 1の画像 1

Toys with motors of this kind need the batteries to be good and strong before they'll dance. So before you open Gizmo up, give him a fresh pair of alkaline AA batteries. Like most toys, his battery compartment is attached with a single 00 Phillips screw.

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手順3 Open up a seam.

Repairing NECA Gremlins Dancing Gizmo Plush Doll Dance function, Open up a seam.: 手順 3、 1の画像 1

You need to find a seam. I opened Gizmo up along the back seam about half an inch up from the base, and used a small seam ripper to carefully unpick the stitches one at a time.

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手順4 Extend the opening

Repairing NECA Gremlins Dancing Gizmo Plush Doll Dance function, Extend the opening: 手順 4、 1の画像 1

If you don't have a seam ripper, you can use snips or very small embroidery scissors. But the plush fabric is not particularly strong and you don't want to damage it, so be careful. I needed a gap of about three inches to fish his internal workings out.

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手順5 Pull out the workings

Repairing NECA Gremlins Dancing Gizmo Plush Doll Dance function, Pull out the workings: 手順 5、 1の画像 1

Gizmo has a simple motor linking his head and body. It's covered with a green cover which is attached with not very strong adhesive. Pull it off to get at the workings. You can see that in my Gizmo, the plastic piece that links the head and body had broken.

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手順6 Identify the problem

Repairing NECA Gremlins Dancing Gizmo Plush Doll Dance function, Identify the problem: 手順 6、 1の画像 1

Although I think that most of these toys will break in exactly the way mine did, your problem might be different. The head controller has a circular fixing that slips over a knob on the base, a part screwed into the other side, and a groove that takes the rotating button to create the movement.

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手順7 Repair plastic as necessary.

Repairing NECA Gremlins Dancing Gizmo Plush Doll Dance function, Repair plastic as necessary.: 手順 7、 1の画像 1

You may want to look at other guides for the best plastic glues. I used super glue, but reinforced the link with a rubber band. Whatever glue you use, follow the directions precisely and leave it for the full recommended time to strengthen. Toy plastic often doesn't glue well, and toys get rough handling.

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