12

Is it possible to replace the battery of the LEGO Dino Attack T-Rex head?

T-Rex Head

There's a button on the top of the head that makes the eyes and tongue light up red, presumably via a red LED.

There doesn't seem to be any obvious way to take it apart like other light-up LEGO elements from the era. Is it possible to disassemble this element and replace the batteries?

Alexander O'Mara
  • 13,302
  • 4
  • 43
  • 97
  • There is one head on Bricklink with empty battery. Maybe there is really no way to replace it? I don't have this head, do you know where exactly the battery is located? – Metalbeard May 04 '19 at 07:45
  • @Aziraphale I'm pretty sure it's somewhere in the black top piece, but otherwise, no I haven't tried forcing my way into one yet to know where exactly it is. – Alexander O'Mara May 04 '19 at 07:48
  • I'm tempted to purchase one of these just to see if I can figure it out. I guess if it breaks we'll have our answer :) – JohnnyB Jul 19 '19 at 23:04
  • No, but I'm going to buy one set and try. – Stanley Apr 27 '20 at 05:36
  • Look closely at the dino's head. Here you can see little aperture that splits T-rex's upper jaw on half. On this picture I'm showing you what I mean. https://i.stack.imgur.com/Bfd4v.jpg I think that's the "ticket" to replace battery without destruction, isn't it? Just use pocket knife to open. Will it work? – Stanley Apr 26 '20 at 10:26
  • I was wondering the same thing as sorting out our sons lego and was wanting to replace the batteries. Doesnt seem any way in – Eunice Judge Jan 17 '21 at 08:05

1 Answers1

3

Unfortunately after attacking this piece from every angle with some plastic opening tools, I'm quite certain there is no non-destructive way to open this piece.

I tried slipping a spudger in every seam where the plastic joins and was unable to find anywhere I could get any leverage, or even push it in more than a few millimeters.

Even the jaw piece is held on by a cylinder of plastic running from cheek to cheek. There isn't a good way to photograph it, but here's an illustration to show you what I mean.

enter image description here

Based on this experience, I believe it is held together by single-use plastic clips that snap into place on the inside without any way to detach them, short of breaking them. I do not think it is glued together, because the two halves do shift a tiny amount under pressure, and some points were much more resistant to inserting a spudger than others (perhaps because a clip is in that area).

Alexander O'Mara
  • 13,302
  • 4
  • 43
  • 97
  • You're dissapointing me! You couldn't wait for expert's answer and you answered yourself! – Stanley Jul 24 '20 at 18:03
  • 1
    Self answering is encouraged on the Stack Exchange, information is valuable no matter if original author found it, or someone else. And you should not use "answer" field for criticism. That's what comments are for. – Mołot Jul 24 '20 at 19:10