When ever you're assembling, disassembling or otherwise manhandling your vinyls, the first thing you should do is wash your hands with soap and water to remove any excess oils or other contaminants that might be on your skin. Miyuki graciously volunteered for this detail as Hyatt was nowhere to be found.
With your hand over the top of the head, away from the face, grasp the head firmly on the sides at or under the ears. Squeeze firmly and pull up using a slight twisting motion.
The head should come off with the neck piece remaining in the head's neck hole.
Next remove the head cap by squeezing the head on the sides below the separation line. Pry the head cap off with your fingers. Squeezing the head at this location can cause the eyes to move in the eyepockets. Remember to check the eye alignment before reinstalling the head cap.
Here's the new style neck piece properly seated on the head vinyl. Note the edges of the neck hole are properly aligned in the grooves of the "clamp ring" of the neck piece.
Next remove the neck piece from the head by heating the inside of the head around the neck piece with a hair dryer. The vinyl will soften as it warms up. Don't worry about damaging the vinyl, it can get pretty hot with out causing any problems. Just don't touch the hair dryer to the vinyl.
Once the area around the neck piece is pliable, you can push the neck piece up into the head and remove it.
Instructions for inserting the neck piece into the new head can be found here:
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Once the neck piece is installed in the head, look inside the neck vinyl and "center" the neck post inside.
Insert the neck piece into the neck vinyl making sure the neck piece seats on the post. Check eye alignment and carefully reinstall the head cap, wig, kitty ears, etc.
