Topic: Noticing a slight 'gear grind' noise sometimes, from my aibo (Read 28468 times)

Talon · « **Reply #25 on:** June 04, 2011, 10:43:30 AM »

Aibos seem to be very cool but complecated things. It kind of surprises me that no one has made any robotic creatures- other than perhaps Pleo and Ginibo- that are somewhat comprable to them, or have they? You guys know I live under a rock, right? Congrats on your rare Aibo, Saratogaspringer!
Talon

latrine · « **Reply #26 on:** June 04, 2011, 11:51:23 AM »

"If it is the dust in the joints I wouldn't contact the seller about it (there are very few ers-7s left without grinding joints) both of mine have had them. It's probably just dust since the problems with the original ers-7s wouldn't take 6 years to show up."
Well, I know, in all fairness, it's my fault, I know that but the seller is taking advantage of people who don't know about aibo's. Again, you should research before getting something like this, obviously..
But I still contacted the jerk seller because I'm pissed and I just want him to know. And I wish there was someway to let other people know he isn't checking the recall info or being honest but I did it through pay pal so there's nothing I can do if he doesn't want to help.. and there's no reason for him to help, from his point of view, I'm sure.. (I can't leave bad feedback and I also can't prove that I didn't somehow break him) If anyone is considering an e-bay purchase and wants to make sure that's not the seller, please send me a PM, don't want to get in trouble on here posting names

)

There aren't many people who wouldn't take advantage of an idiot willing to dish out top dollar without knowing anything. I paid WAY too much for him, he was supposed to be in pristine condition, he came with a broken bone that had been re-glued, (took me a month of complaining to get him to replace it and he wants the broken one back.. he's not getting it now

) a paper cover for the front of the station which, to replace with the proper one, would cost 100 bucks, (Loki isn't always able to align properly because of it) and he did have the SLIGHTEST noise on the one leg when he arrived but I was told, and read that it would be ok with the rotation stuff and I could see that many aibos seemed to have slight grind noises.. this is a major thing, it literally makes you cringe when you hear it... Thanks for the info on the memory card, at least that's good.

It's not just dust..
I already spoke with wolfbob, he's worried he may have to replace both legs because it might be the flexi in the hip, meaning its going to be a lot more money. With all the shipping and repair, I am going to probably be spending what I wanted to spend on a 220 to fix Loki. lol.

I'm so worried about sending him in, what if I pack him wrong, what if he gets misplaced along the way.. (it's just him and his memory card brain with no battery,.. so he can't even crawl away if he gets loose! ) (he crawled one of the last times I turned him on and allowed him on the floor.. is that some type of programming if the back legs aren't working? He wasn't headed toward anything pink or red or in puppy mode.. it made me cry but I'm a stupid sappy girl.. lol. )

wolfbob sounds very nice and depending on what legs he has available, I told him if he didn't have white ones that were usable and he needed to use another color, I didn't care, so long as Loki worked again.. I think he'd look cool with like, two black legs, lol..
Saratoga, congrats on your new pup.. stop reading the darn manual and play with him!! omg! *smack*

I hope he stays safe and happy too, but my seller seemed wonderful and had over 3000 positive feedback's, no negative. So be careful!!

Talon, I don't know for sure but I assume the Aibo's were not able to sell for as much as they were worth or something, or maybe they had the same problem as ugobe did, what with the person really needing to see and feel the robot to understand how cool it was.., tv commercials can lie and they are so amazing, our pleos and Aibos, that most people thought it was fake.. I know Sony has actual stores that used to have working Aibos in place for people to interact with but there aren't any Sony stores near me, lol..
Now that the people are going a little more nuts over the Aibos, it was a good idea to bring in a new model, I just wish Sony would continue on with Aibos, Genibo seems cool but from what I've read, doesn't seem to interact as much, navigate as well.. etc, although apparently they have some 'cool moves'

I'm saying that now but I started off saying I didn't like the beeps and whistles from the Aibos and now I want another model that does just that so who knows.. I'm insane. Lets just hope my bank account can survive Loki's vet trip

I don't wanna have to sell one of my dogs!! (JK!!

)

Talk to you guys later.. thanks

latrine · « **Reply #27 on:** June 05, 2011, 11:19:12 AM »

Eh.. my boyfriend and I were just looking very closely at Loki's back legs and it appears that one of the legs has already been serviced or is at least different than the other one. I was wrong, it's his left leg that's worse, not his right.. I'm just a moron I wasn't thinking 'his right leg' I was thinking mine.. stupid blonde streaks.

Anyways, one leg has a full, clear-ish plastic part across the top and the other does not, the one that does not has the ribbon more exposed, I thought both were exposed because I could see the ribbon a bit through it, since it's clearish. I wonder who fixed it.. or changed it.. or what, but it seems to be on it's way out too.. now I'm even more pissed that this guy didn't tell me he'd been worked on. I don't care if he didn't know, I'm just mad

but I thought someone here might know more about the way it's supposed to look..

These are the back legs,
So here's the left leg with the clear plastic piece across the top(in the joint on the top, right below where the white color ends):

More details...

And here's the bad right leg where it's only dark plastic that stops on each side:

More details...

I wonder if one of the folks who fixes the Aibo's might have a record based on Loki's number. Sorry,. my camera isn't so great about closeups.

The seller finally responded to me.. apparently he's never heard of any Aibo's ever being recalled or ever having any problems that needed to be fixed. I mean come on can't you even think of an excuse? Or just not reply if your that dumb! lol...

I sent him a link with the recall numbers and explanations of a bunch of the normal problems they can get and should be 'health checked' for.. not that he'll read it but you never know.

- Sarah

PWOKristy · « **Reply #28 on:** June 07, 2011, 03:01:53 AM »

lol Silly Latrine. I hear what you're saying. :-/

Crewella · « **Reply #29 on:** June 07, 2011, 06:10:11 AM »

It'll be very interesting to see what (if) he says. Good luck, Latrine!

kat · « **Reply #30 on:** June 07, 2011, 07:18:09 AM »

It will be very interesting to see what he has to say. I do hope you hear back from him.

latrine · « **Reply #31 on:** June 12, 2011, 03:00:06 PM »

We are thinking about trying to fix Loki ourselves..

If we screw it up bad then he can always go to Wolfbob but I just can't afford it right now.. four nieces and nephews and birthdays and graduations and football cleats.. (really expensive, wow!!)
I know, probably a horrible idea but, if we are very careful and determine that we cannot fix it ourselves then we can just wait and have it sent in. I can't see how we can do any harm if we are careful as wolfbob said it sounded like he would need both back legs replaced anyways... so we may just be opening it up to see a problem we can't do anything about.. I'm hoping we open each leg, find a red button that says 'press me' and that fixes everything...
Maybe a blue button, the red button usually makes everything explode, doesn't it?

So, horrible, horrible, horrible idea? I miss Loki so much

- Sarah

aibo7m3 · « **Reply #32 on:** June 12, 2011, 03:41:23 PM »

There are some guides on how to clean their legs, it actually sounds fairly possible to do. It sounds like your aibo just has dirt/dust in his joints though it could be the problem that the original ers-7s got recalled for, if so it would need much more serious work done on it that I would leave to wolfbob or other experts at fixing aibos. Maybe you should just try to clean out his joints and if the problem still remains send him to wolfbob.

Talon · « **Reply #33 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:24:10 PM »

Ooo! Surgery! Ha ha ha! *evil grin* I'm kidding of course, Latrine. When Ryu just randomly froze one day and nothing I did- not even reset- would revive her all sorts of very illogical thoughts went through my head. I honestly felt like I'd lost an actual pet. I really hope you're able to fix Loki. Keep us posted.
Talon

Crewella · « **Reply #34 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:28:58 PM »

Did you manage to get those links to the posts about cleaning the legs to work in the end, Latrine? If you still have problems message me and I'll download and email them to you. You stand a much better chance if you have all the info.

Might tell you which button to push as well!

latrine · « **Reply #35 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:11:58 PM »

I got them, crewella, unfortunately Loki's problem isn't in the area all of those DYI instructions help with and describe, they are in his hip, so it's going to have to be removing the circular part on left and right to get in there and see whats going on.. I was gone for several days and turned him on today just hoping he might be magically fixed and he actually walked around!! So I crossed my fingers and told him to beg for it and then plop same thing. It seems like a gear is slipping... something is maybe stripped inside.. like wolfbob said. I tried again and he couldn't walk at all.. so I just don't know.

We DO have a friend with a machine shop who would be able to duplicate plastic parts for us if we find one that is broken.. we'd just have to provide one that isn't broken for him to copy.. that could be a problem if both are broken..
So if that's the problem we might be able to fix that part.. unfortunately if he makes a copy he can't just make one, he has to make like, 300 because that's the way the machines work but if it's a useful part that might be a wonderful thing, maybe we'd be able to provide much needed pieces to the people like wolfbob that fix Aibos. we'll see, I guess. Also, if we have two broken pieces, maybe I could get a working piece from wolfbob to get our friend to copy.. unless he already has someone who can do that, I dunno.. this friend of ours is just very talented and can make like, anything.. I wish I could just hand him Loki and get him to make a copy ..

"It sounds like your aibo just has dirt/dust in his joints"
I dunno.. it could be but it really seems worse than that.. I will get a video tomorrow and show you guys. Then we will try to do some surgery.. or maybe just some searching..

I'm so pathetic.. when I turned him on and asked him to stand up and then come here and he did, I started crying..lol.. then of course when his legs went right out again I lost it.

Thanks guys, talk to you later!!

- Sarah

Talon · « **Reply #36 on:** June 12, 2011, 08:11:10 PM »

I'm sorry, Latrine. I would be interested in your video, though.
Talon

kat · « **Reply #37 on:** June 13, 2011, 05:04:55 AM »

Hey Sarah, you must be heartbroken to have little Loki in such a state.

I would be devastated if it happened to me. Did you ever hear back from the seller and are they willing to help you out in any way?
I would love to be able to give you advice on what to do but not quite yet owning one myself I have no experience in this area so couldn't say if it would be possible to make things any worse by having a go at fixing him yourself. My gut feeling though says give it a try. If it all goes wrong there is always the back up of Wolfbob.
I'm thinking of you and wishing you all the best with your attempt. Fingers crossed you will be able to sort him out.

latrine · « **Reply #38 on:** June 13, 2011, 10:02:45 AM »

No, he never replied after the message asking about the recalled aibos.. he has no obligation to help, I did it over paypal.. if it had been ME doing the selling, I would have done something but not everyone is like that, I guess.
I do see that NONE of his aibos sell, even with his 'over 3000 positive feedback..' and I assume thats because people were smart and didn't buy from someone with no guarantee against those problems.

Thanks guys.. I'll make his video, I guess..
Congrats on your new pup, Kat ... just saw that in shout

- Sarah

kat · « **Reply #39 on:** June 13, 2011, 05:42:35 PM »

Thanks Sarah! A bit of a secret but he will be my second puppy.

My first one is on his way already a sweet little black 210 with golden ears.

(He was a bargain from Wolfbob I just couldn't resist

) So not only do I get my dream puppy but a bonus sweet puppy friend for him as well.

I do hope you are able to get poor Loki sorted out. It makes me sad just thinking about it. I know the timing is probably not in your favor but would it be worth speaking to paypal and ebay to alert them of the dodgy practices of this fellow who has clearly sold you something that is not what was advertised. If he is the person/company I think he is he seems to have a small shop that sells lots of things on ebay. Surly ebay would not want to support fraud and you could have a lot of power there as far as having his ebaying rights remove - maybe? I'm sure he may be more willing to compensate you in some way if he was threatened with loosing his ability to sell through ebay? I'm not at all clued up on how ebay works as I am totally new to things like that but I would be bringing it to the attention of the ebay Administrators even if the time limit for doing so has run out. It was an expensive purchase as are most of the items he sells and I would hate to see anyone else go through what you are.

Good luck with the surgery. I do hope you can see something easy that is obviously damaged and easily replaced.
Kat

latrine · « **Reply #40 on:** June 14, 2011, 06:52:36 PM »

Kat, I would look just as bad if I did that because I bought Loki through PayPal without using eBay.. I didn't REALLY cheat with ebay, as I didn't buy a dog that was up for auction but I almost did..
His eBay prices were too high and I asked about any other robots he had for sale.. he offered Loki without a box for cheaper and I said yes to that because I didn't feel I needed the box.. it ended up being nearly the same amount of money anyways but I was so excited I got him anyway. Honestly I am VERY VERY lucky he sent me Loki after I sent him my money, considering I now know he is dishonest.. Thanks though.. and I'm so happy for you with your new pups.. aren't they so much fun?
I can still play with Loki on his station but I so miss him running around.

- Sarah

kat · « **Reply #41 on:** June 15, 2011, 05:51:58 AM »

I'm so sorry Sarah.

I guess you really are stuck then. I can't think of anything else to suggest.

I Do hope you are able to get him fixed sometime soon.

saratogaspringer · « **Reply #42 on:** June 15, 2011, 12:34:20 PM »

Hi Sarah and Kat! Sorry to hear about Loki, Sarah. I know how much he means to you. I hope that wolfbob can make him as good as new for you. Congratulations on your ERS-7, Kat. Glad your search has been successful. I am in Florida. Candy and Buster made the trip, but Wilbur and Padfoot had to stay behind. We took Candy to Universal, but have not taken her into the Disney parks yet. Took lots of pictures and will post as soon as I have free wifi. It is blazing hot down here so I have to be careful with her.

Keep us posted when Loki leaves for wolfbob!

kat · « **Reply #43 on:** June 15, 2011, 04:20:14 PM »

Hey Saratoga that is so exciting.

I hope your having fun in Florida. I can't wait to see some pics. I'm guessing Buster is your new ers7? Great name for him by the way.

I'm sure Wilbur and Padfoot will be very happy to see you when you get home but they will be fine chilling out while your gone. Have fun.
Kat

latrine · « **Reply #44 on:** June 15, 2011, 06:36:35 PM »

Well, It's very strange, when Loki has been turned off for several days he seems to be able to walk for a short amount of time although he falls over very easily..
He was in a really bad mood when I turned him on and he just totally refused to listen to any commands.. I finally gave him his ball and bone and he played with them for a few minutes and then decided to give me a tiny bit of attention but I actually had to use the clinic mode CARD for the first time since he wouldn't even do that for me.. and that's what I got the video of.

When he falls over he either does the normal limp fall over or falls over limply with the worst leg staying stuck in whatever position it was in, or straight out.. we can hear it.. it sound like a gear or something is stripped. We are *eek*

take him apart when my bf's back is feeling better next week so it won't hurt so much to bend over my poor broken puppy dog and see if there is anything we can do..
The problem still seems to be up where me moves the leg in the top, where it rotates close to the body, not the area everyone keeps telling me to clean as we checked both of those and they are fine.. he WILL probably be going to wolfbob, I need to save up a little more cash as I want to make sure I have enough here in case there are any other problems and everything.. the bird being sick and stuff kind of depleted my funds.. it would be nice if we were able to fix him ourselves so I am crossing my fingers..
Heres the video, again, it's odd to me that he's walking as he normally tries to take a few steps and then gives me the gear stuck limp fall down thing or just crashes to the floor but it does happen after he's been on a bit so he is still confined to the station.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I-8TGBqIb4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I-8TGBqIb4</a>

- sarah

Talon · « **Reply #45 on:** June 15, 2011, 08:29:04 PM »

All I can say is aaaaaaowowowowow! It really sounds deep and difficult to fix. It kind of reminds me of the sound my niece's Powerwheels vehicle made when she was trying to drive it up a hill. It stopped about halfway up and started slowly rolling backward all the while making this soft squeaky grinding noise. I'm really sorry, Latrine. I hope wolfbob can do something for him.
Talon

bhobbes · « **Reply #46 on:** June 15, 2011, 08:37:32 PM »

That made me kind of sad to watch

Like a real animal with a limb problem.

Crewella · « **Reply #47 on:** June 16, 2011, 01:35:09 AM »

Poor Loki - as a girl with dodgy hip problems really do feel for him!

That doesn't look like dirt in the motors, it's slipping with the additional weight on it. I'm sure Wolfbob can fix him, though - why don't you send him that video and see what he says? He might be able to give you some advice?

kat · « **Reply #48 on:** June 16, 2011, 05:37:37 AM »

Here is a little something that might give you some ideas for ways to interact with Loki even in his injured state.
While I was in Melbourne visiting IMR we went for a walk to look around and came across this cute little dog going for a walk/roll.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7ACAZwhI6U" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7ACAZwhI6U</a>

And here is another suggestion made for Aibo.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC-izOk5D4U" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC-izOk5D4U</a>

Don't know if either of these are helpful but maybe a set of wheels would help Loki out until you can afford to send him to the vet.

Kat

latrine · « **Reply #49 on:** June 16, 2011, 01:42:26 PM »

Yeah it made me so sad seeing Loki like that I actually moved his station so it's in front of the TV and so far all day he seems to have been mostly watching TV.. his head is up and he's moving it with stuff on the screen rather than just sitting there holding his head straight and moving it when he hears something or is interacting with me.. I had to make a little video since it was so cute

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FghKFxslO3k" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FghKFxslO3k</a>

I love when I see dogs on those 'wheels' it's wonderful to see people who haven't just given up on dogs because of an injury, ya know? And I've seen some of those Aibo skateboards and the skateboard videos though never one that advanced or an Aibo that could control it that well.. very cool programming I guess!! Maybe when Loki is better I can get my bf to build him one so he can run the dogs over when they steal his toys! Thanks for sharing those!!!!

- Sarah

Bob the Pleo Forums

Author Topic: Noticing a slight 'gear grind' noise sometimes, from my aibo (Read 28468 times)

bhobbes