X-Men 1 EX connector problem

[jbinny]

When I sold this a couple months ago, the lights worked fine. However, the buyer is claiming that he could never get the sentinel's head to light up and there was a 'residue' on the connector on Colossus' hand. Like I said, I know that everything lit up fine before I shipped it, but I figured it was partially my responsibility to help him get it working again.

Honestly, it looks like some type of glue to me. Any suggestions?

 

[emceerice]

Nail-polish remover on a q-tip should get rid of that junk....

 

[Chapter 2099]

Just that little bit of residue will cause it to not light up?

 

[emceerice]

Also can't remember if goo-gone is non-toxic, but should also be safe to use on that sucker.

 

[worstgamerever]

When I sold this a couple months ago, the lights worked fine. However, the buyer is claiming that he could never get the sentinel's head to light up and there was a 'residue' on the connector on Colossus' hand. Like I said, I know that everything lit up fine before I shipped it, but I figured it was partially my responsibility to help him get it working again.

Honestly, it looks like some type of glue to me. Any suggestions?

Are you sure the residue is the cause? because this type of connector head usually makes contact with a pin, and that pin is usually in the middle of a cavity of some sort.. I'm guessing that cavity is inside the Sentinel head, and that's where the problem could be. I don't think the residue is the cause at all... not if the connector and pin are making the right contact.

I could easily see how a first time buyer could -- in excitement -- position the Sentinel head in the wrong way and so bend the pin at an angle. It was a bit tricky for me just to get my Sentinel head positioned correctly, infact it took me several careful tries.

Is there any way you could look into the Sentinel head to see if the pin is smack in the middle of the cavity? also if you could use a tester [on the pin] that could help too... if it's dislodged or if it has any similar residue on it, then that too could be the cause.

let us know how it goes

 

[IronLungs31]

I was not the one who bought this one, but I am having the same problem. The seller said it worked fine when they shipped. I believe them, just want to know is there any way that I can get my Sentinel head lights to work again?

I really would appreciate and logical help on this matter.

All the other lights work fine just not the Sentinel head lights. I have not done anything to the prong or anything.

 

[mt24]

Just that little bit of residue will cause it to not light up?

I don't think that little residue is the cause.
It shouldn't have anything to do with the outer part, it is the inner pin.
Maybe it's just another case of loose wire?

 

[IronLungs31]

I don't think that little residue is the cause.
It shouldn't have anything to do with the outer part, it is the inner pin.
Maybe it's just another case of loose wire?

If mines has a loose wire, is there anyway to repair this problem?

 

[mt24]

If mines has a loose wire, is there anyway to repair this problem?

If your finger is not too big, try reaching the wires inside the Sentinel head through the hole underneath its chin. There's an opening there. Squeeze the wire gently down and it should take care of the problem.
Mine stopped working, I did that and now it's working fine.

 

[LOTRFan]

They are just now claiming this? jbinny you are a nice man!

 

[Vader1]

Same thing happened to me.

 

[Titan7170]

Are you sure the residue is the cause? because this type of connector head usually makes contact with a pin, and that pin is usually in the middle of a cavity of some sort.. I'm guessing that cavity is inside the Sentinel head, and that's where the problem could be. I don't think the residue is the cause at all... not if the connector and pin are making the right contact.

I could easily see how a first time buyer could -- in excitement -- position the Sentinel head in the wrong way and so bend the pin at an angle. It was a bit tricky for me just to get my Sentinel head positioned correctly, infact it took me several careful tries.

Is there any way you could look into the Sentinel head to see if the pin is smack in the middle of the cavity? also if you could use a tester [on the pin] that could help too... if it's dislodged or if it has any similar residue on it, then that too could be the cause.

let us know how it goes

I don't think that little residue is the cause.
It shouldn't have anything to do with the outer part, it is the inner pin.
Maybe it's just another case of loose wire?

actually pin connectors like that have 2 points of contact the center pin and another metal elbow that touches the outside part........one contact is negative and the other is positive......if one is not making contact the lights wont light up.

also for some reason the head is slightly leaning or not very tight it can cause it also to not make contact. So while the statue is on very gently move the colossus and or the head using the slight play or loosness to see if in a specific position or lean it may light because you are actually making it contact the connector.

 

[worstgamerever]

actually pin connectors like that have 2 points of contact the center pin and another metal elbow that touches the outside part........one contact is negative and the other is positive......if one is not making contact the lights wont light up.

True. But because of how difficult it is to position the Sentinel head, pin damage within the cavity is far more likely...

Unless the residue has caused physical damage to the outer contact -- and this again is unlikely, unless said residue is corosive -- then simply wiping it off and testing with an ohmmeter can help verify if that portion of the circuit is working.

I still think the inner portion [within the Sentinel head] is where most of the EXs will get faulty. Of course I may be entirely wrong...

I think that EX owners need to be very, very careful when placing or taking off the head, to avoid direct or latent damage to the very fragile circuit

 

[Titan7170]

True. But because of how difficult it is to position the Sentinel head, pin damage within the cavity is far more likely...

Unless the residue has caused physical damage to the outer contact -- and this again is unlikely, unless said residue is corosive -- then simply wiping it off and testing with an ohmmeter can help verify if that portion of the circuit is working.

I still think the inner portion [within the Sentinel head] is where most of the EXs will get faulty. Of course I may be entirely wrong...

I think that EX owners need to be very, very careful when placing or taking off the head, to avoid direct or latent damage to the very fragile circuit

This is too true. But if there is residue on the outside of the connector it may cause a problem with contact......One question though where does this residue come from? Mine has never had anything like that on it

One thing that is very important is to not move the statue all at once. The only thing stabalizing colossus and Cyclops is the brass pin and the connector. Any heavy leaning can cause damage to the statue. If you are going to move it do it one piece at a time, trying to balance the statue with the sentinel head on it is a recipe for disaster and I believe people probably assemble the statue on a table then end up moving it and causing damage.

 

[quadcent]

wow, man this is a great looking statue, but it sure seems to have alot of problems. though the light up feature make this piece look much better, i'm not sure if all the trouble was worth it. maybe that's why ssc doesn't do as many light up features anymore.

connections connections and yet more connections.
no only with this particular piece but i've read that the sw line has also had some problems with lighting connections of the same theme.

 

[IronLungs31]

If your finger is not too big, try reaching the wires inside the Sentinel head through the hole underneath its chin. There's an opening there. Squeeze the wire gently down and it should take care of the problem.
Mine stopped working, I did that and now it's working fine.

Is there anything else that I could check for? I saw the wires and the seem to be still attached. I guess i will have to try the prong pin to see if it's they are bent.

 

[Natrix]

If you plug the Sentinel head directly into the power adapter, it should light up. If it doesn't, there is a problem in the head. If it does, that will eliminate an issue with the Sentinel head.

On mine, the connector in the base that makes contact with the peg on Colossus' foot doesn't always make contact so the head works intermittently. If you look inside the base, there is the peg that slides into the peg on the foot and a metal spring leaf tab connector that makes contact with the outer part of the peg on the foot. The spring leaf tab tends to get pushed in and not make a good contact with the peg, so you can very carefully bend it out a little to make better contact. I haven't tried to place something behind the tab yet to keep a little more pressure on it but I haven't tried that yet myself.

 

[jbinny]

He plugged the head in with the ac adapter and everything works fine. I'll have him check to see if the connectors are straight on both ends and go from there.

 

[quadcent]

years ago we had some problems with connections on a piece of equipment we were running, and we got some electical grease and spray. used it and everything worked great after that. kinda like a wd40 type spray but it was made for eletric connections. that might help with these on and off connection problems.

 

[worstgamerever]

He plugged the head in with the ac adapter and everything works fine. I'll have him check to see if the connectors are straight on both ends and go from there.

Well if the head lights up when connected directly, then it turns out I was wrong about the pin [within the head] being faulty as that exercise eliminates the head, the adapter and the base base [I'm assuming Cyclops lights up)] from being problematic. That leaves just one point of failure for this circuit: the point on Colossus's arm... and back to your original picture: the residue. It's obvious at this point that as I posited, the residue may be corossive on some level...

Have you attempted investigating what exactly the residue is, and where it came from? that might help you find an adequate cleaner/solvent

Unless the residue is a widespread problem, I still think pin damage [either in the base, or in the sentinel head] may be the main cause of the EXs light-up issues...