Dollieh Sanctuary

This is Lily, my 1997 Movin Groovin Barbie (this is not her original outfit). Her legs are 'swingy' and creak rather badly. I had a look at the legs, but it seems to have some kind of mechanism in there. I don't know how to remove this kind of leg and don't want to take a chance that I may break her.
What I want to know is: can I put a tiny drop of sewing machine oil in there to stop the sticking of the leg mechanism and hopefully put an end to that dreadful creak? I don't mind the 'swingy' bit. It's the creaky crack sound that gets to me.

Thank you kindly

One of the Barbie experts is probably going to have an A+ solution for you, but in the meantime I would just suggest this: mitigate as much damage as possible until you know what is wrong with her. Also, have you ever thought of buying a "twin" for her and replacing her body? In my experience with Barbies that creaky sound usually means something plastic is about to break and it makes me nervous. (Also, as a thread opener, I would change it so it reads "Barbie Advice need please" so the Barbie experts know to come in and dispense their knowledge! For now treat her to a trip to the dollieh hospital and limit her movements. I know it's not much, but I hope it's a stop gap until a real expert can help you!

Please show a picture of the knee joint in question.

And here would be that expert I was talking about! Also, Studio 126, I think the joint in question is a hip joint. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I could have sworn the "swinging leg" phenomenon only seems to happen with the dolls with the legs that have little to no pose-ability to them. I could very well be wrong. If I am...sorry!!!

There are many different hip types on the various Barbie bodies. My gals all have ball joints at their hips (for which I developed a tutorial), but it does not apply to Twist'n'Turn bodies. Replacement TNT bodies are fairly easy to find (if you carefully remove the unwanted heads from them). Arti-Babses are not.

Thanks to you both. Yes, Caramel is right. It is the hip joint and it is on a TNT body. Sadly, no dollieh hospitals here, so either I fix her or minimize play with her . Or find another TNT body to replace hers. She is a lovely golden brown so matching may be difficult as most of them are pinkish.

There is one risky trick that you can try:
Put a little super glue in the loose joint. Then keep moving that joint back and forth until it cures. If you don't, it will glue in one position only. If you keep it moving, it will firm up the joint. (I have not done one, but it is a standard prescription.)

I don't know what your price point looks like, but here's one for $8, new, MIB:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Movin-Groovin-B ... 51b67426f6

Maybe the prescription is to get a new one entirely and use the older one for customization purposes? ^___^ Her brunette friend Teresa is nice and tan too!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOVIN-GROOVIN-T ... 27dbd3766b

I'm sorry that's all the advice I can give to you!! As for superglue--just a friendly warning, watch the fingers!! No accidents need happen here at Dollieh Inpatient Services.

MeltedCaramel wrote:I don't know what your price point looks like, but here's one for $8, new, MIB:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Movin-Groovin-B ... 51b67426f6

Maybe the prescription is to get a new one entirely and use the older one for customization purposes? ^___^ Her brunette friend Teresa is nice and tan too!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOVIN-GROOVIN-T ... 27dbd3766b

I'm sorry that's all the advice I can give to you!! As for superglue--just a friendly warning, watch the fingers!! No accidents need happen here at Dollieh Inpatient Services.

I checked that doll and it was sold, but they had another one for $10.99 to buy. (R113.30 in my currency ) Unfortunately, they don't ship to South Africa. Thanks all the same Caramel

Studio 126 wrote:There is one risky trick that you can try:
Put a little super glue in the loose joint. Then keep moving that joint back and forth until it cures. If you don't, it will glue in one position only. If you keep it moving, it will firm up the joint. (I have not done one, but it is a standard prescription.)

The fact that you emphasized the 'risky' makes me nervous to try it. It's not so much the loose legs that worry me; it's the loud creak every time you move her legs. That's why I thought that maybe oiling the joint would stop the creaking. Well, the only other thing for now, is to minimize play with her.