Vintage MOTU Dragon Walker repair - Toy Polloi

Masters of the Universe He-mans Dragon Walker is an amazing idea for a toy, and one that is pretty easy to find still. But it often doesn't work as the motor seizes up and the contacts get dirty. I'll show you how to easily get the Dragon Walker working and also make a new set of stickers including the factory supplied stickers.
#motu #vintagetoys #restoration
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[@meerkat9113]

Watching you photoshop those decals is so satisfying.

[@toypolloi]

Thanks!

[@Tim-57]

Hey Dave Another great fix. I have said this before, it is so kind of you to offer your restored sticker plans online. Enjoy watching your work, especially when you take the toys outside.🙂 Take care

[@toypolloi]

Thanks 👍

[@Tim-57]

@@toypolloi Welcome🙂

[@luisalonsomartinezavalos7356]

Hello Toy Palloi, many thanks, Today you helped me to run again my two Mexican Version Dragon Walkers. Hello from Mexico City.

[@dominicsimone]

Fixed my own dragon walker like magic doing exactly what you did!

[@ChaosFox0]

I discovered that weird 'backward battery' thing on mine by accident, too. I had one as a child, and have one now. I have really nice memories of that Christmas. I'm super happy to know how easy to fix the motor is. Thankfully not a problem on mine, yet.

[@Dorelaxen]

This was the most ridiculously stupid and most amazingly awesome toy there ever was. I always loved how the He-Man vehicles had the most impractical movement, like the Attak Trak, but it made them so dynamic and fun.

[@mykeg2401]

I love the story from your childhood.

[@Ironbear31]

Thank you Toy Polloi!!! I cleaned my Dragon Walker and now it works again after sitting for years!!!!

[@toypolloi]

Glad I could help!

[@jasonjackson4555]

I had one of these as a kid! I remember the commercial where the walker moved over a gap in the road. It was awesome!

[@toypolloi]

That was a fantastic advert. made me want to get one!

[@richards.collectibles]

I just purchased Dragon Walker from local Comic shop and it's working but it does reverse! I thought that motor was broken, and I checked on your video and I figured out that batteries are not correct like that. I turned over the batteries and the motor turning forward! Thanks for your video, it is a very helpful!!

[@northwestwildcamperssj3671]

I hope they have this in the new Masters series

[@truckshackley373]

I want to see Colin Furze or The Hacksmith build a full-size one

[@darthwotsits4508]

That would be cool!

[@EP1C_GHOSTMSMYT]

Totally agree.and he has to get to the shops in it to get his weekly shop

[@mark-kp4on]

Fantastic seeing that toy in good condition and working again!

[@toypolloi]

It sure is!

[@garylowzik9187]

Thanks for your help. I was able to fix mine using your method. Had I not watched this I might have cut it open and destroyed it.

[@KingofPotatoPeople]

Such is the allure of the Dragon Walker, I’ve shown the ad to my 21st century children and even they really want one!

[@toypolloi]

I'm not surprised!

[@Dinoslay]

Hopefully Mattel can bring it back in their Origins toyline. I also like the Bashasaurus.

[@Mataeus]

Your channel is criminally underrated mate.

[@toypolloi]

Yep, I know!

[@danje748]

Love that you did not fix the bad print alignment on the shield. Reminds me of older comics where that sort of thing was common place as well. Bad and cheap printing warms the heart. ^^

[@toypolloi]

I like the fact the old stickers are not perfect, so just a tidy up to get them looking like they would have done is all I did. If it looked to perfect, it wouldn't look right to me.

[@danje748]

@@toypolloi True that, true that. Totally agree with you. There is a reason that "vintage" have become a thing. Gut I think many do not really get the true feeling that goes along with that.

[@damienwilliams2274]

Just needed a push start 😂

[@LMUstacker]

interesting fact: months ago I was trying to find the best way to store some of my larger toys, inclusing the dragon walker. I was having a hard time because the two parts don't really stick together. A wire won't work, because the head has a shape and distribution of weight which amazingly prevents a wire from keeping the two parts together. So I wondered: how the hell did they do when they put it in the original box? I checked the MIB photos and I finally found the reason for that little hole located where He-man's heels go! The hole is perfectly centered to solve the shape/weight physical issue with said wire :D

[@korydoe4813]

I got my for my 5th ot 6th birthday, still have it but it doesn't work anymore but now after watching this maybe I can get it going again, cheers!

[@vesterjohn1]

This worked for my dragon walker. Thank you for sharing your tips on fixing!

[@carterlogue3234]

I imagine this is going to be a very helpful video for a lot of people

[@toypolloi]

It sounds like it has been already. I'm getting lots of messages from people who now have working Dragon Walkers!

[@andrethib]

enjoyed the video as usual. one nice thing about using the clear varnish on the decals, it can also provide a bit of protection for the printed surface as well as giving a desired finish. I watch a lot of matchbox/hot wheels restoration videos, and those guys print their own waterslide decals using inkjet prints on the appropriate paper and then coat them with clear varnish; the varnish protects the printed image when it is placed in water to release the decal

[@artbytheanomaly6010]

This was a lot of fun to watch! Great memories, this was one of my favorite action figure vehicles when I was a kid.

[@toypolloi]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@michaelparkes3059]

I remember the same advert as a kid and wanted one. When I did pick one up and restore it some years back I was amazed by the design and the noise! I was missing a few stickers so thanks very much!

[@bentbilliard]

I still remember when I saw this toy first in the 80's. I couldn't believe that such a cool thing actually exists. Still one of my all time favourite toy designs.

[@shmeca77]

Thank you!I follow all your advices and of course used your website to get the stickers and the Dragon walker work again!😜

[@cookiemadison8529]

MOTU was just a little after my toy days...but I definitely want one of these! Thanks as usual.

[@toypolloi]

Any time!

[@AkodoNoEyes]

This was very enjoyable. I’d love to have a working dragon walker.

[@toypolloi]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@saturn1returns]

I got one! We were always skint in the 80s as well.

[@riaanvanstaden1504]

Thank you so much for this video. Picked up an old Dragon Walker and got it working within minutes.

[@toypolloi]

Brilliant. Seems to work 9 times out of 10.

[@riaanvanstaden1504]

@@toypolloi Just had to clean the contacts properly as it was really dirty, the motor itself need just a couple of twists and was humming along. Thx again.

[@jonkarljons]

Just got my first dragon walker last week. Your vid helped me to get it going. Thank you 🙏 But man, the noise!! Kids were asleep so I had to do it out side. Keep up the good work.

[@toypolloi]

Glad you got it working. And yes, the noise is truly awful! 🤣

[@ZOMb2010]

GREAT JOB ... THANKS cheers from CANADA

[@ScotchBingeington42]

Oh my goodness, I had one of these but would not have remembered until this thumbnail popped up. Brought back some wonderful childhood feelings. Thank you.

[@CreepyUncleIdjit]

I specifically remember making platforms for the Dragon Walker to cross the gap just like the commercial. I also accidentally managed to make this thing go in reverse once. Turns out, it was because I had also flipped the C batteries the wrong way. IIRC, I had used the same technique to do the same thing with Spydor.

[@DeepVeinZombosis]

Excellent video

[@ChristopherNelson1976]

Fantastic video. This worked like a charm to get my Dragon Walker moving again.

[@toypolloi]

Great to hear!

[@Bernhard2024]

What a fantastic video. Thank you for sharing!

[@roteleks7918]

There's something very zen about your soapy water toothbrush cleaning footage/music. I know you dont always feel the need to include it but its kind of a signature of your channel which I enjoy :)

[@wayneclayton5426]

Like how the thumb nail animation looks like you're loading 200 batteries into it.

[@antman2919]

Thanks Dave, nice fix. The replacement sticker looks excellent. 👍👍

[@toypolloi]

Thanks 👍

[@Goddamnhungry]

Consider me subbed! Forcing the motor was exactly what I needed to do, and totally didn't occur to me. You just saved me some money, homie!

[@toypolloi]

Welcome onboard. Plenty more MOTU fixes to come, and lots of other useful tips and tricks.

[@Goddamnhungry]

@@toypolloi I'm new to MOTU, but I always like expanding my knowledge so I'm here regardless.😂👍 Thanks again!

[@greenlanternhg5141]

Take that Skeletor!...and that!...oh no! technical difficulties 😂 that was awesome

[@davidnetherton9456]

Thanks for an other great video

[@cuthere80]

Thank you so much for this! I had two Dragon Walkers on death row, both dealing with battery acid damage in the head piece as most people don't bother taking batteries out due to the weird battery cover solution. One of them had a contact broken off due to the extreme corrosion, but the battery cover got less of it, so I had that one sorted. I used a lot of vinegar to clean the contacts the best way I could but the DW still didn't budge, so I eventually gave up. UNTIL TODAY! Using your technique that seemed extremely harsh first, an hour of trying and a big cup of vinegar later the patients's heart started pumping again!!! I am so happy now, I sent videos to my girlfriend and she said this is the best toy she's ever seen! :)

[@toypolloi]

Glad it worked for you. It does seem an aggressive thing to do, but it works.

[@cuthere80]

@@toypolloi yes indeed! just like defibrillation, it doesn't look too pleasant but it's the only way at times and it works! :) thank you very much again and keep on keeping on!!

[@jonboldrey5339]

Yeah I need to get into my ol dragon walker an attack track an get working 👍🍺👍

[@TheTWRModeller]

That's pretty fantastic! Even Skeletor got his bony butt handed to him!

[@drakon32]

Fun episode.

[@tntsk868]

I know. I thought some hippie stoner designed this toy when I first saw this toy, its so far out man. I still want a dragon walker someday!

[@manko8852]

Good tip for the motor. TY

[@adrionjones]

Excellent content as always.

[@kingerikthegreatest.ofall.7860]

Well done on the repair. Cool toy.

[@80sfreak42]

Love it...thank you...as always thumbs up...

[@tevanos]

I picked up a Battle Ram, Dragon Walker, and an Attak Trak with ten other figures... all as is recently. Got home, tossed some batteries in the Walker and Trak and... nothing. After watching this video, both are working! Thanks! Got a sub now!

[@toypolloi]

Very cool

[@oliverbelmonte7077]

Yay! Sir Dave has done it again. He has fully restored Masters of the Universe Dragon Walker back to life!

[@eltenda]

Great vehicle and how to!

[@dragonstorm8171]

I've had pretty good luck getting motors to work (that you cant access) by using a 9 volt battery and a 9 volt battery connector that you can pick up at local hobby shops. Simply connect the battery to the connector, then brush the open wire ends to the battery terminals in the toy. Obviously you don't wanna hold the connection cause theres a chance you'd burn up the motor, but by just brushing the wires over the battery connector in the toy (obviously positive over positive terminal and negative over the negative terminal) you can eventually get the motors to spin again. 9 volt batteries have more of an instantaneous "Pulse of power" then regular barrel style batteries do, and sometimes that extra little kick from just brushing the wires over the connection points in the toy is just enough to break the motor lose and get it spinning again. I've used that technique quite a few times with alot of success.....and alot less hassle from tearing the entire toy apart to get to the motor. specially them toys that are glued together, and not just screwed together.

[@jonnycrookvideo]

Amazing toy!

[@neilwhitcher2611]

Great to see it again in all its glory Dave!!! Fantastic job!

[@toypolloi]

Glad you enjoyed it It turned out great. And is really fun to play with.

[@lunarmodule6419]

Great video thx

[@GoliathAngelus]

Thans for the tips!!

[@DoktorPill]

Impressive

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

I loved it as a kid. I would detach the head and pretend it was a flight pod.

[@toy_room_of_insanity]

As always your restorations are awesome to see. But the restoration on the shield stickers was truly fantastic. Great job!

[@colt5189]

I picked up a couple of MISB Dragon Walkers a few years ago. They worked right out of the box. Though the motor is really noisy. Really wished Mattel had used screws as maybe there is a quieter motor that could have been swapped in.

[@BombasEntrena]

Good job!

[@markheadley125]

Awesome toys 😎 👍

[@billdenbrough501]

Something else to note is that the contacts inside the dragon head can slide forward, so make sure they are in the right position otherwise the motor won't work.

[@ultramusprime32]

If you put the batteries backwards in the attack track,it will run backwards also

[@vengeance1701]

That is a new method of recreating the stickers! Very interesting. Keeps the same texture as the old stickers. I like:)

[@toypolloi]

Thanks. The stickers sit better on the vehicle if they look the right age. To new and they just don't look right to me.

[@SupercoachwithDR]

This helped me out massively mate. Just got 3 of these bad boys working. Just subbed to say thanks and great work. Cheers from down under ✌️👍

[@toypolloi]

Thanks for the sub!

[@risablima7924]

Awesome

[@matthewbailey845]

Outstanding work as always! I need to get one of those contact cleaners now. :-)

[@toypolloi]

A very useful tool. We'll worth having to hand.

[@MrCrazycesar]

Thank you it work .👏🏾

[@toypolloi]

You're welcome!

[@luiscortez7677]

Your the best.

[@mark-kp4on]

Just....WOW

[@sharkymark]

Once again doing toy gods work! The community thanks you for all you do.

[@MrHemanclix]

thank you so much! I wouldn't have ever thought to do this. and that awful noise would have absolutely made me think I was utterly destroying one of my all time favorite toys thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙏😀 the spindle in one leg/tripod of mine is severed. I've tried pins and crazy glue but it didn't last. don't know what to do. going to try more pins with epoxy next (unless you've got a better idea?) anyway at lest my Son got to run it a little bit; he was over joyed! thanks again!

[@toypolloi]

Do you have the broken parts on the legs? If so, plastic weld should work on it.

[@MrDrokkul]

17:35 Go back to the castle He-Man...you're drunk.

[@cakemonkeyzero]

Nice video. I'd love to see a similar video showing how to get a Micronauts Biotron motor working again. I've got 3 now and haven't managed to get them working.

[@toypolloi]

Should be easier as you can take the biotron apart. Put power to the motor and turn it by hand. That will clean the brushes enough to get it started. I have a video on Microtron and that is very similar. Cheers

[@kurtcriscione316]

Thanks for bringing back memories.

[@tycondrius23]

nice work. I have two of these and interesting there is small variations on the sculpting and paint apps on them , I would like to see you get the attack trak working I have two of those and both don't want to seem to move even after I tried to move the gears in the wheel/track section

[@toypolloi]

Just got an attack track. Needs some work so I will most likely cover that soon. Cheers

[@hurc888]

Nice PSD skills, among all you do

[@toypolloi]

Thanks 👍

[@kingerikthegreatest.ofall.7860]

Skeletor ; " oh no, it's going to kill me, oh wait I have five minutes to jump out of the way".

[@Dinoslay]

He-Man: ”By the power of Grayskull, how do you STEER this thing?!”

[@kingerikthegreatest.ofall.7860]

@@Dinoslay lol

[@stephenmau8441]

Great job as always. Any chance you can do a beginner photoshop of what you did to retouch the decal?

[@toypolloi]

There are plenty of PS tutorials around already, so I'd start with those. I'll stick to the toy stuff for now. Cheers

[@ponchostoybox]

I found one of these in a junk shop a few years back it cost about £7 it's still on my to do list to fix. I assume it doesnt work I'm still playing the waiting game on finding a battery cover then I will have a play

[@adamlyle2069]

how do you make a replacement condor window from m.a.s.k

[@tayvenponder]

Could you do a restoration of the real ghostbusters ecto 1? I would love to see it!

[@toypolloi]

There maybe something on the Ecto-1 later this year :D

[@hughragsdale7351]

👏👏👏

[@kagome616]

I want one! lol

[@chapulincolorado7777]

hola podrias explicar como podriamos hacer una tapa para la dragon wALKER????

[@stueyr5755]

Quick question. I have the spidor toy and the copper connections have completely corroded and crumbled away. Do you know of any replacement connections that would fit In the toy ?

[@toypolloi]

Buy some thin copper sheet and cut / shape to fit.

[@gfunkin3d]

I was lucky enough to have one of these and I hated it because it was too loud!

[@amck4792]

Just came across this fantastic video! Only problem is that my 2nd hand one will now run backwards but put the batteries in the correct way and the motor doesn't even turn on. Any suggestions??

[@toypolloi]

If it runs one way there is no reason it shouldn't run the other way. Check the terminals are actually touching the battery properly as it maybe they are not when you switch them around.

[@amck4792]

I'll double check, thanks! (And thanks for the super quick response!!)

[@AleisterFuchs]

These are commonly missing the battery cover and need the contact points on the cover, as well as to hold the batteries in, to function. Do you have any makeshift fabrication solutions for that? Watched many of your videos and your repair solutions are genius. Was hoping you might have one for this common problem. Thanks!

[@toypolloi]

Use some thing copper sheet to make new contacts. You'll see me use it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmHLfZV-jth9prM

[@MeanJohnDean]

Can you add something to muffle the sound?

[@markflute721]

I bought one of these today, the batteries work but the action only works when I hold the switch down cos it's loose. Any tips on how to repair that so I can just switch it on and off?

[@MrHemanclix]

thanks so much for this video! I'm going to try this with mine ASAP. can you please help me with my Ratlor (MOTU Vintage)? his head keeps getting stuck. I've popped the whole chest open put it back together once. 5 or 6 times after that it got stuck again. just looking for some advice and wondering what I might have missed on my own. Thanks so much!

[@toypolloi]

Maybe add some lubrication to it, so it doesn't stick. Some silicone based lubricant. Cheers

[@MrHemanclix]

@@toypolloi thanks I'll try that 👍

[@tihi79]

Excellent clip 👍🏻 I recently bought a Dragon Walker but to my dissapointment it goes backwards!! Any explanation?

[@toypolloi]

Put the batteries in the other way round. I show this in the video. Cheers

[@SHUPIRATE1991]

I need a battery cover for this

[@hughragsdale7351]

Do you have a link for the contact cleaner? I am in the U.S. and having a difficult time locating one like yours. Thank you

[@toypolloi]

Check out the tool shop on toypolloi.com for links to what I use. Cheers