TEDDY RUXPIN/WORLDS OF WONDER "TALKING" TOY PROBLEMS This section will help you understand some of the problems that can go wrong with Teddy Ruxpin and W.O.W.s' in general. Long storage and inactivity are not good as well as where it was stored, hot attic, cold and damp basement, in a shed during the seasons, or a garage. One will have a Teddy Ruxpin who worked great and then 6 years later get him out to play and he doesn't work. The question is Why won't he work?   The servo motors are the biggest problem as if he doesn't animate what fun is he. The original petroleum base grease used as a lubricant in the servos would become liquified in heat,and yes this is even caused by the servo motors being used under normal operation,or stored in an attic or room temperature,as the oils separate they ooze their way into the potentiometer contacts corroding them,causing a loss of the signal.In colder temperatures the grease would harden,causing Teddy not to animate.   The other problem is the tape player.It uses a rubber tape player drive belt, this belt is in a stretched state constantly and because it goes from a large pulley to a small pulley if not being rotated frequently, will be in the shape of a pear versus it's normal circular shape. It will also deteriorate(dry rot) over time and will cause the drive belt to ride incorrectly in the pulleys causing Teddy to sound sick.    Here are a few examples of tape player belt stretching,the belt on the far right is a new round replacement belt for comparison. The fourth (4th) belt from the left has been on for 20+ years.   Glues and adhesives will weaken over time causing problems as well, a glued plastic retaining cap which holds a retracting spring in the plastic tape players is notorious for popping off as the glue weakens making the tape player inoperable.   Some parts will start to crack or break as they become brittle with age.   My Restorations involve modifications and updates to remedy the above problems.   BUYING A TEDDY RUXPIN Now that you have decided which Teddy Ruxpin you would like to purchase, comes the next step and the most hardest. Buying one that works.Because no matter what version you get a working version is the best version.   Here are a few helpful tips that may help. I have gotten a number of e-mails from folks who have purchased Teddys on eBay and when they received them found out they didn't work as described. Always ask a seller if a Teddy or W.O.W. fully works,not just like some sell them that the tape player works so it is "so called works" Beware of the "Untested" Description Auction as most sellers know a working Teddy will be worth more than a non-working one so most likely tried it and it didn't work so they listed it this way so they would assume no liability, although there are some sellers who don't have a tape to use to test him,but if one is being listed with tapes beware. The NRFB(Never Removed From Box) is another auction, just because it was never used and has been stored for 19+ years doesn't guarantee you will get a working Teddy. The other famous auction listing is "It worked fine when we packed it away so it should work fine now" this is not the case. These are only helpful guidelines so you do not end up like those I have known who paid high bids and then had to pay more to get them working.   TEDDY RUXPIN/W.O.W. PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE Now that you have gotten your working Teddy Ruxpin or W.O.W. there are a few things to do to keep him healthy for a long time.   It is a good idea to play him every month this will keep the tape player drive belt from staying in the same position,as well as keep the servo motors active.   If you play your W.O.W. alot it is a good idea to get a tape head cleaner they come in dry and wet type and some have demagnatizing capability as well, use the manufacturer's directions.These should be used every 20 hours of playing time to clean the tape player head,capstan,and pinch roller.   Alkaline Batteries are the best food for Teddy and W.O.W.s as they last longer than regular batteries, it is a good idea to remove the batteries if your W.O.W. will be inactive for a month or longer,so the batteries don't leak and cause corrosion.   TEDDY RUXPIN/W.O.W. IN OPERATION Here are a few things to point out while playing your W.O.W.   The eyes may sometimes stick closed,this happens if the servo motor doesn't reset and just sticks, or the servo motor is working, but the cam on the eye didn't contact the servo motor tightly. Easy solution use both your thumbs one on each eye and gently roll them back up, DO NOT PUSH IN ON THE EYES.   You may come upon while playing your W.O.W. that the eyes seem to only move half way open, this can be from low batteries or even a bad cassette tape. Some cassette tapes will have a defective animatronic track open the eyes half way, work on one side and not the other, work great until you get to the middle and the animatronic movements go heywire, have the animatronics work but no sound. I have gotten some like this and yes even new ones, some are defective from the factory and those that are used get this way from normal usage.This is the unfortunate part with a cassette tape everytime you use it, the tape wears down.   Make sure you have the batteries in the correct sequence after you change them,one in the wrong way will have you wondering why he isn't working. If one or more of the batteries seems to sit to low take your finger and pull up slightly on the bottom metal battery post.   Always go to the right to turn a W.O.W. on and to increase volume,and when turning it off go left gently, I have had to replace on/off/volume control switches that were taken to far right and left.   Metal tape players need the tape placed in square so the door isn't forced shut when the tape is placed incorrectly, so as not to damage the tape player.A good idea with the metal tape player is to manually turn it off when changing tapes or the supply spool/guide will continually turn and you may damage the player or tape.