More than half my G.I. Joe's fell victim to this problem. Each time I had one with a broken O-ring I felt like I lost a friend. Then I discovered how to fix them on my own. Only I didn't know where/how to get new O-rings but I discovered that the rubber bands I got from the dentist for my braces worked just as well, if not better. I got a glasses repair screwdriver and started fixing my Joe's. Having them all back in action was like Christmas morning all over again.

LOL !!! Back in the day my older cousin would take apart his Joe's and totally rebuild them ( before customizing was kool btw ) . Then I'd come over on holidays and think wow !!! My cousin has new Joe's I've never seen before !!! I've always been easily duped ...

Good as new and good for another 30 years!

I personally prefer my Scarlet figure having a tight o-ring... Couldn't help myself. I'll go now.

Awesome video! I dug some of my toys outta storage to pass them down to our son and ran across my "every day" Joe's box. I had toys I played with and toys I collected. Anyhow, I popped the box open and it's nothing but parts...every o-ring has snapped! So I'm about to work on restoring them, well, at least putting them back together, these are toys I played with so they have some wear on them.

Just did a second generation storm shadow, I bought the rings at home depot #9 o ring 5/8" x 7/16"x 3/32" worked great. Got this info from you and then did a search for the ring size.

If the screw head is damaged use a piece of rubber glove and wrap around the screwdriver so it knits onto the head.

My younger brother and I used to collect Joes back in the day. We would take them apart and replace the worn or snapped o-rings with whatever small rubber bands we could find to repair broken toys. Or we would simply make "new" figures by mixing and matching spare parts. One of the neighbors kids gave us a box of broken Joes saying he did not want them anymore. In it, was all the pieces to a 1988 Stormshadow (hooded white uniform with the grey camo markings)! This is still one of the finest sculpts of any Joe ever made IMHO so we were elated to to find that it just needed a new o-ring (or rubber band as it were). The next day we proudly showed our new toy to the neighbors kid... who promptly snatched Stormshadow out of my hands and ran his fat ass back toward his house. "Thanks for fixing him for me!" he managed to mutter in between heavy breathes. Never saw that figure again. Great vid, brings back the memories.

After almost 25 years I know how to fix my figures. Thank you VERY much Retroblasting!

Great ,helpful video! I've had to repair several of mine. You can get the O rings at your local hardware store for pennies on the dollar. You can take an original with you and if they don't have an exact match, they will order them for you. These O rings are commonly used in faucets and water tight connections ,etc. I have restored several vintage figures. Recently a friend had a whole box full of parts of Joe's he had during his childhood. We spent a few days putting his childhood back together, and he had all of the original 13 and over 75 more different Joe's as well as around 20 more duplicates, there were only 3 incomplete Joe's left...He never got any vehicles, but between him and his older brother they would get a new figure or two almost every month. Let's face it, GI Joe in the 80s were affordable and very matched to the cartoons, until later..they went to sci fi. He had a very complete collection with only a few from the early 80 s he didn't have. I got a first edition snake eyes for helping..since he had 3 completed figures...we're we done? We had another box full of accessories to sort...that took weeks. I got the system down on the repairs , only takes two or 3 to get good at it.

you just blew my mind... if only I knew glow to do this when I was little.

i took mine apart all the time and made different characters with random parts from multiple figures

My all time favorite was Copperhead, and I played with him so much his O-ring broke when I was a kid. It was panic time. I built a medical chamber and we rushed to my best friend's house because his dad was a repairman and had every tool known to man. I don't remember which joe gave up his life to save Copperhead, but his O-ring lived on!

I remember fixing one or two Joe's when I was a teenager. I used my unused small rubber bands that my Orthodontist would give me for my braces. They were pretty thin and wouldn't last as long, but it did the trick.

Thank you. Repairing a bunch of Joe’s tonight.

If the screw is rusty, rub it on a bit of Scotch Brite, it does wonders. Also, always change the o-ring when you buy used or broken joes, it's totally worth it. I'm in the process of repairing all my old joes while acquiring a few new ones, and the first thing I bought were O-rings, and a small, magnetised screw driver.

We all know how to do this. Yet, it's still fun to watch.

I bought a vintage Rock 'N' Roll figure from 1982 at a local independently owned toy store in my hometown and Rock 'N' Roll had lose legs so I went to Menards to buy some O-rings and I was able to get his legs tight again the way your video shows how to do it but when I was a kid, I had no idea that's how you restored your G.I.Joe figures with loose joints! I'm really pleased I was able to successfully replace the O-ring on Rock 'N' Roll!

Thank you for this! This gonna be a fun project, this gonna bring back so many memories!

Awesome instructions!!! I have a suitcase full and probably a quarter of them have fell apart. This video was what I needed!!! Thanks!!

I just used this video to make my first ever Joe fix (on Spearhead), thank you for this! I bought a bag of 50 o-rings, so now that I know how to do this I'm going to buy some of the old broke figures I saw at a local store and fix them up.

I learned how to improve the movement of loose legs at the knees by putting a piece of tape around the studs. Some may feel and feel like new or a slight improvement.

I mainly collect 25th anniversary/movie figures, but i have to get a vintage sgt slaughter so thanks for making this video so i can fix him if he breaks

Michael, You're tip about how one should be careful when installing the brand new ring was spot on! I repaired my original Duke figure years ago and cracked his crotch when installing the new ring:( Repairers beware!!! I learned a lot from you and Melinda...Thank you both!

It's funny, this was one of my favorite toys as a kid. My older brothers took a lot of them apart with a screwdriver to rearrange them into custom monstrosities, some of which were pretty cool.

omg...ur a lifesaver.. thankx for posting.. I found all my joes and all have broken... at least..until now.... thankx so much..

i got a lot of joes and cobras that are broken in half due to the rubber band :( and some that i have tried to fix back then have the screws messed up , "crotch" broken off , lost thumbs , loose elbow joints ... that Crimson Guard ii got also , always wanted to have more then 1 of those :) cool tips btw , thumbs up !

I needed this info fifteen years ago lol!

When I was a kid, like 7-8 years old, I would do this fixes. And when thumbs or crotch’s would brake on my favorite figures I would rob parts off ones I wasn’t a big fan of. I’m still surprised I was able to do this at such a young age.

Amazing video my friend that helps alot especially for my custom figures!!!👍🏽

I used to fix them with actual rubber bands wrapped around many times and that was a pain in the ass.

Buying broken Joe's and fixing them up is the way to go :D

That was truly fantastic. When will you show us how to fix the He-Man legs? I look forward to your take on that particular project.

Best tutorial for fixing joes! Thank you!

We could have a blast chatting 80's toys- my house has He-Man, GI Joe and Transformers set up everywhere (+more). Have you done an Original Cobra video? H.I.S.S. Tanks and Rattler VTOL jets. No generations before or since us had the magic we had- a big part was killing the law that didn't let toys tie-in to shows or shows tie-in to shows.

Very cool to see how these guys are put together. Very ingenious machining.

I never thought about pre stretching the O-ring. Good insight

LOL my brother and I made so many original joe's by doing this and mix matching pieces

The best video I have found on replacing the o-rings on GI Joe figures, excellent idea on pre-stretching the band. I got my collection out of the attic at my parents house & much to my dismay that out of about 200 figures all but a few have fallen apart or are about to, looks like I have a hobby for awhile restoring them LOL. Also, do you happen to know of a reference site that would show the original figures & their original accessories? I have 2 large Tupperware containers full of loose guns, backpacks & other things they came with but don't remember which accessories belong to each figure o_0

I have been able to repair broken crotch pieces using a very small drill bit, a piece of small wire and dab of super glue. It's tricky but it works.

Good video. I remember when my Gi Joe figures used to brake they either got put in the trash or went up the vacuum cleaner.

Great video! Even though I have repaired many Joes I learned some things to help repair them even better. Thanks for sharing👍😁

As you said, this will vary from figure to figure, some figures such as Zartan have glued together torsos.

Easiest way instead of scissors:use a small flathead screwdriver to stretch out the o-ring instead after looping the bottom half onto the j hook located where the legs are.then thread thru the crotch slowly and stretch out until top of oring is snug onto the center of back chest piece part where the screw hole.then before closing the chest piece itself secure the head and arms back onto figure.

I remember this crap of my 80's Joes breaking because of the rubber bands inside...i just used regular rubber bands to fix them. Another problem i hated were the balls or crotch piece in front breaking off on a lot of figures... these figure really sucked and got rid of all mine...I'm now 25th anniversary Joe collector!

Thanks this helped a lot, I thought it would be much harder. This made it nice and easy!

now Im searchin a bag of broken body's ....that sounds strange.I JUST GOT MY HE*MAN,& GI JOES BACK,FROM HOME..I LOVE MY GI JOES..82-91,I always loved mostly setting them up in a big battle..like a video was paused,all characters, mid motion..the flower beds in those days where battle fields

just small tip (ive learn it from my car mechanic teacher and if you dont apply it everywhere you turn or screw you have the chance to fuck things up !! ) if you turn the screw and its starts getting stuck you actually fuckt up the best part of the screwEee and the most precious i find... now this isnt to bad in toys or plastic even 2 second glue fixes it! but just know if the screw or bolt dropped in the hole just turn it "lose"FIRST (normaly never a full turn) till it feels like the screw jumps up and falls down !!!!!! if you hit that g spot you know your aim is only going to be a headshot !! THEN SHOOT LIKE A BOSS an scrw it like a boss never turn a screw or bolt useless again even if its already completely gone ! every bold or pre turn screw must actually be in two turns by hand before you use a tool to screw it in !! why because the smart people who invented the shit know and do this to ! hope i helped at least one person...

Zartan & his siblings are glued together for some reason

I learned how to do this when i was 8 in '01 because I would break them and need to Frankinstine them back together.

well i don't have any joes but i will get some soon, even though i am 15 i love 80s toys mainly because i find it hard getting invested in most of todays toy lines .

Thank you! This really helps

Very helpful. Thanks

Speaking of repairing Joe’s, I found my old Zartan figure awhile back. I was showing my wife (not that she really cared) how he turned blue in the sunlight, only to find out he doesn’t turn blue anymore. Guess age faded the dye or whatever it was that made him turn blue. Is there anyway to fix this issue?

nice, good to know if i ever come across those one day :) great video

Amazing video thank you

Good stuff. I always knew you could do this but never saw it done. I'm tempted to open up a figure to see for myself. With a oring and a screw you can rebuild, thats great. Wish i had my orig played with figures to fix up :( Another great video!

If you want to buy these, you can get O-rings at Home Depot. They're super cheap, so I buy size #9, #10 and #11

Just twist the head to open a figure.

These o rings are standard plumbing parts. As much as the online companies would like you to be live they are special they are not. You can get them from Home Depot...

I once read somewhere that the size of O ring needed depends on the year the figure was made / released. There are 2 different sizes of O rings the Joes use but I forget when the cut off from one O ring era to the other is. Anyone know the eras? Sizes?

Btw I just fixed 8 joes today.... orings can be found at any ace hardward. I never prestretch. Never had a problem. Broken screws how ever prevent it from being fixed NEED A NEW VIDEO JUST FOR THAT.

You can get the o rings at Home Depot or Lowe's. I've also never had to stretch.

There are many fallen Joes buried in my parents back yard (in toothpaste boxes) who fell to the scrouge of broken O-Rings.

Looks like the Crimson Guard has a really good health coverage.

The only figures I had that had O-rings were the Buck Rogers ones (and after over 30 years, and The Great Cataclysm, the survivors are a little wobbly.) Had NO idea that the modern Joes had O-rings as well. So, now I know.

I wish i knew this when i was a kid,my mom would have me throw them out when they would brake

I clicked G.I. Joe’s too

Thanks to u

I came back to your o-ring tutorial years later! I have a question (if you're still seeing these comments lol)... Do you swear by stretching your o-ring band before inserting it into the repair? I've always stretched mine, using scissors as well. I work at a vintage comic/toy store ... the guy that does most of the toy restoration (I'm more of the comic book end), he says he never stretches the band first. I thought that to be bad. But now, I'm alot of my Joe's are breaking at the o-ring all at the same time... I've had at least 16 or more snap in the past 2 weeks! Never had that happen in abundance ....and a fair amnt of em are ones I had repaired myself. I am now pondering whether they break because i pre stretched em? Also I'm wondering if its party because stretching them with scissors is maybe making lil incisions due to the sharper edges of the outside of the blade arm? Or this could very well merely be because my gi Joes are displayed on a rack that is directly under the air conditioner vent (swamp cooler).... I live in NEW MEXICO, so maybe the change of high dry heat and the cooling off at night or during parts of the day when a swamp coolers actually do anything lol... maybe its messing with the bands. Imma try getting needle nose pliers for the stretching. But a small thought in the back of my mind is wondering what people feel about pre stretching the o-rings or not?!?

my dad just used hemostats and pulled the o ring through the waist......but that was back in the day, idk if i do that with a relic now.

Hey new sub awesome video i love gijoes I still have mines

I stopped by a Home Depot near my home to purchase the O-rings. Very expensive! A pack of 4 O-rings was almost $5 Canadian plus tax. I didn't bother to buy them. I will look elsewhere.

I had a box full of Gi Joe's.

That is how i did mine I hated that when they backs do that

How about a video of how to put slice apart since he came without the screw cause mine needs an o ring too but can’t put him apart

Nice

I just found a bunch of broken ones in the basement

Nice video. I figured out the exact same method thru trial and error. Have you ever painted any figures? I want to start custom painting figures and vehicles but I'm not sure what types of paint to use. If you have any recommendations please let me know, thanks.

I'm not sure what it's called, I guess pegs? Where to get replacement for the pegs/joints that hold the shoulder and elbows?

Thanks for posting this. It makes it very easy to follow. I have a few Joes I might like to fix and a friend of mine has a ton of them. Is there a way to tighten Star Wars figure joints?

I'm thinking about doing that with all my duplicate figures.

can you change the arms from the elbow ? i mean from the rivet ? if so can you make a video on how to do that ? you can change the thighs and legs too, from the knee.. you should make a detailed video about both. i probably will too, once i figure out how to change the elbow rivet. thanks.

What do you with broken or warped screws?

Does AFA know if a loose figure has been opened or not? Do they consider o ring replacement as restoration?

More and more fixing joes itself is becoming dangerous to them.

Hello sir ....Most of my Joe's screws are rusted and they are not coming out too, please tell me what I need to do to open those screws ..

I just restored about 20 joes and I have a few that the screw is SO rusted in there that the head stripped out. Is there a fix for getting a stripped screw out

what about the gi joe figures were there is no screw hole on the back? is their a way to open those ones up to replace O rings?

How would you fix one that has the plastic cracked where the back screw goes into the chest and won't tighten.

Now how do you do this on a later figure like the Cobra Ninja Dice that doesn't have a screw in his torso?

I have Buck Rogers figures that have broken rubber bands not sure if they can ever be fixed

I already know that since I was 13.

Hi there is there any video to add a new O ring to a ninja force figure that has no screw on its back?

Maybe for the next video. Fix those wobbly knees

What do you do for a screw that goes into broken plastic on the chest plate

What are the best replacement screws? I've seen different styles online, blunt or sharp tip, etc.

Do you know how to fix loose arm joints?Like the elbows

Either a popped o ring or a broken crouch 😂

do you have any tips on how to remove screws that have rust, stripped heads, or have been painted over?