By Generation: G1 Seekers - Fixing the Loose, Swinging Cockpit

Discussion in 'Tutorials and How Tos' started by mweeuser, Jan 3, 2013.

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  1. mweeuser

    mweeuser Well-Known Member

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    In my attempts to figure out how to fix a loose seeker neck I took apart a junker. I realized that how the joint was designed was to have friction against the sides of the neck where it rubs against the inner sides of the die-cast shoulder area. Realizing that and seeing how soft the die-cast is, I decided to squeeze the die-cast together and see what happened. I've done over a dozen of these and have yet to see any side effects. No cracked plastic, stress marks, or anything. If you look very closely inside the pin recess on the die-cast you could see stuff but it's completely hidden.

    Tools:
    • 1/16" pin punch (I've used blunted nails and mini screwdrivers and have bent a lot of them. I can't recommend more getting a punch.
    • light hammer
    • micro fiber cloth

      Step 1.

      Bunch up the microfiber cloth so it's thick enough to act both as a cushion and surface that won't scratch. I believe the small end of the pin is always in the right shoulder (never seen one different) so lay the seeker body in full jet mode (nose out) on it's left shoulder. Line the punch up and pound out the pin. I have really pounded some very hard and have yet to see any problems. The evenness of the Seeker and the cloth protection allow you to hit that SOB really good if needed. Lining up the punch is the real trick. Just keep trying to center it and hit a couple good times and try to re-align until you get it right:

      [​IMG]

      [​IMG]

      [​IMG]


      I wiggle the nose out gently once the pin is out so as not to add to the usual scuffing on the sides that time just does due to the side friction of the joint:

      [​IMG]


      Step 2.

      With the nose out, gently squeeze the shoulders together until (when you remove your hand) it is bowed in some. I go slow, but you do have to over bend to get it to stay bowed in where the bowed picture shows:

      [​IMG]


      Now you should have a pair of bowed shoulders:

      [​IMG]


      Step 3.

      Put the nose back in buy seperating the shoulders just enough to slide the neck back in place but not enough to bend it again. Once the neck is more or less in, place drop the pin back in (insert on left shoulder). I usually just push the pin in as much as I can with the punch or something else blunt. Then give it a couple moderate taps with the hammer (Note: make sure as you are pushing or hammering the ping back in to keep pressure on the shoulders, as I have seen the pin replacement push the shoulders back apart):

      [​IMG]


      Top side, to show no plastic stress or evidence at all:

      [​IMG]


      After one or two of these, they take all of 5 minutes [from] beginning to end (with punch).

      As testament to how easy and effective I think this is. The Thundercracker in the pic is a boxed, mint, pre-rub, with no grey boarder (box), cut wing tips, and no copyright. I just got it a week ago and it's now in my collection:

      [​IMG]


      Thanks!
     

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