Star Wars fans have always had a special place in their hearts for memorabilia from the movies and TV shows that they are so dearly attached to. Whether it is an action figure of their favorite Jedi or the helmet of a Clone Trooper or Mandalorian that made them fall in love with the character.
The above two examples and any other Star Wars merchandise pale in comparison to what Star Wars fans consider the Holy Grail of items from the fictional universe.
We are talking about the lightsaber, an iconic weapon that can be recognized by anybody, no matter which galaxy they are from. And while it seems impossible (for the time being) to own, or even make, a real lightsaber, we have come very close to replicating the feeling of owning one.
The replicas in question are from Star Wars: The Black Series, and Star Wars: The Elite Series, both made by Hasbro. Hasbro’s Force FX lightsabers are limited-edition, high-quality replicas of the props we see in the movies.
These replicas are not the most realistic lightsabers that you can find, but they are the most movie-accurate versions. They are made as collector items and even though they are not built for dueling, swinging them around puts you straight into the shoes of your favorite Jedi or Sith.
These lightsabers are not free of potential faults or errors. After all, even the lightsabers in Star Wars were shown to malfunction sometimes, so it’s only fair that these would do the same.
But that’s what we are here for. We scoured the internet to bring every commonly occurring issue to this guide so that you will not have to. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
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Why does my Force FX lightsaber turn off?
The Force FX series lightsabers are usually very reliable. But even perfect toys and products have a risk of turning off unexpectedly or developing some problems when left unused.
In this list, we will address all the potential problems that you could run into while using your Force FX lightsaber, or what might have happened if it does not work when you turn it on after a long period of time.
1. My Force FX lightsaber is not turning on
Force FX lightsabers are usually very reliable in both their build quality and their lifespan. Despite this, it is not uncommon for them to experience a glitch or two throughout their lifespan.
But we are here to tell you not to worry. Often, a Force FX lightsaber will stop working because it has run out of battery and cannot function with the amount of energy a depleted cell is providing to the circuit board.
The simple solution to this problem is to replace the batteries of your Force FX lightsaber. And while we know that any standard AA Cells would do the job, the fanbase agrees that these lightsabers work best with Duracell Ultra batteries.
2. My Force FX lightsaber will not turn on even after replacing the batteries
While most lightsabers, from both The Black Series and those from The Elite Series, will usually feel as good as new after you change out the batteries, there is a slight chance that your issue runs deeper than a low battery.
This means that you will have to dive deeper into your lightsaber to fix the problems that you are facing. If your lightsaber refuses to turn on, you are most likely facing one of two problems.
i. Disconnected Batteries
The first reason that your lightsaber might not turn on is that the batteries might not be connecting to the circuit correctly. This means that you will have to clean the battery receivers. While this might sound scary, it is extremely easy.
You will need a pencil with an eraser on the backside, and a flashlight to shine into the battery socket. Take the eraser on the backside of the pencil, and use it to rub away any dirt, grease, or rust on the battery terminal.
You can repeat the same step on the battery itself to be extra diligent. And in case the lightsaber does not work after cleaning the terminal inside the lightsaber, refer to the next section that deals with issues inside the lightsaber.
ii. Disconnected Internals
If the above method does not work for you, you might have been unlucky enough to disconnect one of the internal wires while swinging your lightsaber around. While that is unlikely to happen, it is not impossible.
While we do recommend that you take it to a professional or a Hasbro outlet, there is a way to fix this at home, and all you need is a screwdriver. The method to this is to unscrew the screws on the hilt and then clean the wires and internals.
We do not recommend doing anything more intrusive, as that requires a great deal of expertise with electronics, which is not something that everyone has.
3. My lightsaber turns on, but the blade does not light up
This is perhaps one of the most commonly occurring problems that Force FX lightsaber owners face. And because of that, it is one of the easiest ones to fix. This problem can also be caused in two ways.
The first type is when your blade is not properly connected to the hilt of the lightsaber. This version is very easy to fix and can be dealt with in a matter of seconds at home. The second version, however, cannot be fixed at home.
i. Disconnected Blade
The first way that this problem could be caused is if your blade is not properly connected to the hilt of the lightsaber. This is a common occurrence and can happen during dueling, or simply by swinging the lightsaber around.
The solution to this is to unscrew the blade guard of the lightsaber and then unscrew the blade itself. From there, you can see two sets of pins on the underside of the blade and inside the lightsaber where the blade just was.
With a dry cloth, clean both sets of pins and then reconnect the blade by lining the pins up correctly. Then, screw on the blade guard and turn the lightsaber on. Your lightsaber should now turn on with the blade lighting up as well.
ii. Broken Blade
If you tried the disconnected blade method and your lightsaber still makes noises without the blade being on, the blade itself might be broken. The good news is that the lightsaber itself is fine. The bad news is that the blade cannot be fixed and will need to be replaced.
The only option you have now unless you want to display your lightsaber without the blade is to ask your closest Hasbro outlet for a replacement blade. If you are lucky, you will be able to purchase one. If not, your only option will be to buy a new lightsaber.
4. General Tips and things you should know
- The first thing you should know is that the Yoda Force FX lightsaber will not work with Duracell batteries. This is because of the size of the lightsaber. The Duracell batteries are too powerful for the lightsaber’s circuitry and will not be supported by the lightsaber.
- A quick tip to avoid shorting out your lightsaber and increasing its battery life is to not mix batteries. This means that you should always use two cells of the same brand and make.
But now that you know how to fix your lightsaber, you are probably wondering how to take it apart if you must do one of these repairs. Not to worry, we have you covered for this too.
How to take apart my Force FX lightsaber
Force FX lightsabers are, despite their reputation, very easy to take apart. Hasbro was aware of problems that commonly occurred and made the lightsabers relatively easy to take apart in case they ever needed to be fixed.
The first step to taking apart a Force FX lightsaber is to make sure the lightsaber is powered down. After this, you should remove the batteries by opening the battery holder and sliding them out. This removes any chance of the lightsaber turning on when you take it apart.
Then you should remove the blade from the hilt. This can be done by unscrewing the blade guard from the lightsaber hilt and sliding it off the blade. After this, wrap your hand around the blade as close as you can to the hilt.
From here you will twist and pull the blade out of the hilt. This will complete the disassembly of the lightsaber. That is as far as Hasbro intended the Force FX lightsabers to be opened.
Despite this, you can use a screwdriver to unscrew the screws around the seam of the two halves of the hilt. This will open the hilt even further for deeper cleaning. This may also allow you to attempt repairing it further, although we do not recommend it as it voids the warranty.
Conclusion
To wrap up, we can tell you that the Force FX series lightsabers have their fair share of potential problems. But most of these problems can be fixed very easily and without much hassle so they are nothing to worry about.
Still, you should try to keep your lightsaber safe, given that it is meant as a display piece and not a dueling lightsaber. This will keep it in working condition longer, and prevent damage from occurring.