[Help Thread] Puzzle Setup / Tension Discussion

[Spacey10]

Anybody know how to tension a Rubik's brand V2? I really need a new cube...

 

[Sub1Hour]

Anybody know how to tension a Rubik's brand V2? I really need a new cube...

I don't think that you can unless you are talking about the RSC

 

[Cubingcubecuber]

Anybody know how to tension a Rubik's brand V2? I really need a new cube...

Whack it on the ground until the centercaps fall off or use a knife to pry it. Cubing Encoded says that dropping it from a height makes it looser

 

[Sub1Hour]

Whack it on the ground until the centercaps fall off or use a knife to pry it. Cubing Encoded says that dropping it from a height makes it looser

Or maybe there is a slight possibility you can just buy a meilong for 3 dollars.

 

[SaMn37]

I'm too noob and afraid to adjust my new MoYu GTS3LM

 

[s_e_a_n666]

I'm too noob and afraid to adjust my new MoYu GTS3LM

it's not hard. Just turn the screw a quarter turn at a time and keep pulling on the edge until you have your desired tension.

 

[Sub1Hour]

I'm too noob and afraid to adjust my new MoYu GTS3LM

That's why they include the adjustment tools. They look really weird but as soon as you see them in use it will all make sense

 

[SaMn37]

it's not hard. Just turn the screw a quarter turn at a time and keep pulling on the edge until you have your desired tension.

That's why they include the adjustment tools. They look really weird but as soon as you see them in use it will all make sense

Apparently this got two ways to adjust, a plastic part that has 7 different "clicks" to adjust the tension and the usual screws. I tried turning the screws a quarter, didn't feel a change, then another, still not sure if there is a change. Not going to take apart the cube right now, but probably gotta do that to get the tension right.

EDIT: and also tried the clicks at 3 and 7 and not sure about the difference

 

[Sub1Hour]

Apparently this got two ways to adjust, a plastic part that has 7 different "clicks" to adjust the tension and the usual screws. I tried turning the screws a quarter, didn't feel a change, then another, still not sure if there is a change. Not going to take apart the cube right now, but probably gotta do that to get the tension right.

EDIT: and also tried the clicks at 3 and 7 and not sure about the difference

The clicks are not the actual tensions, they are the spring strength.

 

[SaMn37]

The clicks are not the actual tensions, they are the spring strength.

Yeah, more clicks = less space for spring = stronger spring. I'm still not sure what I'm looking for adjusting this. Guess I'll just experiment. Should I put a tiny amount of lube on the springs when I take this thing apart to make the spring creaking sound go away?

 

[Sub1Hour]

Yeah, more clicks = less space for spring = stronger spring. I'm still not sure what I'm looking for adjusting this. Guess I'll just experiment. Should I put a tiny amount of lube on the springs when I take this thing apart to make the spring creaking sound go away?

YES. Put silicone lube on all plastic/metal contact surfaces. Also don't use anything other than a silicone lube since water-based lubes will make your hardware rust.

 

[SaMn37]

YES. Put silicone lube on all plastic/metal contact surfaces. Also don't use anything other than a silicone lube since water-based lubes will make your hardware rust.

I guess the GAN "Magic lube" is alright?

 

[Sub1Hour]

I guess the GAN "Magic lube" is alright?

It would work but you would have to replace the lube more then if you used a heavier lube. If you can pick up some Traxxas Diff oil at your local hobby shop (its meant for RC cars) use that instead because it will last much longer.

 

[SaMn37]

Traxxas Diff

I'll try the GAN, if it doesn't keep long I'll consider something else...I have a silicone oil stick for car door rubber seals, maybe that's a bit heavier? Not sure if we have just that Traxxas Diff here in Finland, but I'm sure there's something similar I could consider if the above mentioned options don't suffice.

 

[PetrusQuber]

Yes, just remove centrecap. There’s a blue tensioning system, and the screws. The screws are the tension, the blue stuff for elasticity. If you feel the cube is too tight, do a anticlockwise quarter turn on every screw with a screw driver. Keep repeating until you feel it’s loose enough. Remember to make sure you’ve turned each side’s screw and equal amount of times, or it’ll become uneven. For loose cubes, do the same, but other way round. For the tensioning tool, I believe it is on 0, which is weakest. Push down with the tool, and count the clicks until you hit what number you want. Repeat with other sides. I think 5-8 is best.

 

[I'm A Cuber]

I think 5-8 is best.

I have mine on 0 lol

 

[Athalon020]

Hello!

I have wanted to try 5x5 a while after having some fun with a budget 4x4, and when QiYi debuted the new MS Magnetic 5x5 I put in for a pre-order on it. I got it a little over a week ago and I've had a lot of fun with it, and so far I think it feels a little better than the YJ 4x4 I ordered earlier in the year. However, I keep running into a recurring problem where the cube seems to lose its tension after a day or so. The real problem is that I don't know if this is normal because neither of my YJ cubes have needed to be re-tensioned at all since I first got them so I only have those to compare against.

For some more detail on this, I'll provide what I think would be important but if I missed something please let me know. I've set the tension the same way I would set it on my 3x3: Pull apart on the center pieces so there's an even gap between the fixed center and the adjacent pieces. For this cube, I set it roughly at about a 2mm gap between the pieces when I first got it. As I started trying to solve it, I found that the gaps would start to grow and on some sides became uneven. I reset it twice in a week, assuming it was just normal break-in, but it's starting getting to where the pieces that aren't in the center "+", like the corners and the edge wings don't return to where they should be, with gaps appearing between them and adjacent pieces with just a light amount of pressure. Even when I cranked down on the tension screws, this still happens despite the pieces that form the "+" shape will not come apart.

The loss in tension has resulted in extremely easy overshoots on the outer layers, the inner layers turning without bringing the outer layers along (or the outer layer bringing the inner layer along in a few cases, which may be normal but I don't know), and the cube altogether just getting sloppy as if the magnets are gone completely. Before I started looking for a Speedsolving forum tonight, I was trying to solve it but kept running into the issue where the layers wouldn't align after turns and I'd have to set the cube down on a table to re-center everything.

Like I said, this is my first 5x5 so if this is part of the fun I don't necessarily mind having to pop the caps out and put a turn or so into the screws, but having never had any issues with other cubes I simply don't know if I've got a bit of a lemon. I still enjoy playing with it, so it hasn't hurt my opinion of it, but if there's any advice out there I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you and take care everyone!!

 

[Owen Morrison]

Hello!

I have wanted to try 5x5 a while after having some fun with a budget 4x4, and when QiYi debuted the new MS Magnetic 5x5 I put in for a pre-order on it. I got it a little over a week ago and I've had a lot of fun with it, and so far I think it feels a little better than the YJ 4x4 I ordered earlier in the year. However, I keep running into a recurring problem where the cube seems to lose its tension after a day or so. The real problem is that I don't know if this is normal because neither of my YJ cubes have needed to be re-tensioned at all since I first got them so I only have those to compare against.

For some more detail on this, I'll provide what I think would be important but if I missed something please let me know. I've set the tension the same way I would set it on my 3x3: Pull apart on the center pieces so there's an even gap between the fixed center and the adjacent pieces. For this cube, I set it roughly at about a 2mm gap between the pieces when I first got it. As I started trying to solve it, I found that the gaps would start to grow and on some sides became uneven. I reset it twice in a week, assuming it was just normal break-in, but it's starting getting to where the pieces that aren't in the center "+", like the corners and the edge wings don't return to where they should be, with gaps appearing between them and adjacent pieces with just a light amount of pressure. Even when I cranked down on the tension screws, this still happens despite the pieces that form the "+" shape will not come apart.

The loss in tension has resulted in extremely easy overshoots on the outer layers, the inner layers turning without bringing the outer layers along (or the outer layer bringing the inner layer along in a few cases, which may be normal but I don't know), and the cube altogether just getting sloppy as if the magnets are gone completely. Before I started looking for a Speedsolving forum tonight, I was trying to solve it but kept running into the issue where the layers wouldn't align after turns and I'd have to set the cube down on a table to re-center everything.

Like I said, this is my first 5x5 so if this is part of the fun I don't necessarily mind having to pop the caps out and put a turn or so into the screws, but having never had any issues with other cubes I simply don't know if I've got a bit of a lemon. I still enjoy playing with it, so it hasn't hurt my opinion of it, but if there's any advice out there I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you and take care everyone!!

I don't think that is normal, the only one of my cubes that does that is one of my 3 Valk 3 M's (Valk 3 fanboy) so I just stopped using it.

 

[NevEr_QeyX]

Hello!

I have wanted to try 5x5 a while after having some fun with a budget 4x4, and when QiYi debuted the new MS Magnetic 5x5 I put in for a pre-order on it. I got it a little over a week ago and I've had a lot of fun with it, and so far I think it feels a little better than the YJ 4x4 I ordered earlier in the year. However, I keep running into a recurring problem where the cube seems to lose its tension after a day or so. The real problem is that I don't know if this is normal because neither of my YJ cubes have needed to be re-tensioned at all since I first got them so I only have those to compare against.

For some more detail on this, I'll provide what I think would be important but if I missed something please let me know. I've set the tension the same way I would set it on my 3x3: Pull apart on the center pieces so there's an even gap between the fixed center and the adjacent pieces. For this cube, I set it roughly at about a 2mm gap between the pieces when I first got it. As I started trying to solve it, I found that the gaps would start to grow and on some sides became uneven. I reset it twice in a week, assuming it was just normal break-in, but it's starting getting to where the pieces that aren't in the center "+", like the corners and the edge wings don't return to where they should be, with gaps appearing between them and adjacent pieces with just a light amount of pressure. Even when I cranked down on the tension screws, this still happens despite the pieces that form the "+" shape will not come apart.

The loss in tension has resulted in extremely easy overshoots on the outer layers, the inner layers turning without bringing the outer layers along (or the outer layer bringing the inner layer along in a few cases, which may be normal but I don't know), and the cube altogether just getting sloppy as if the magnets are gone completely. Before I started looking for a Speedsolving forum tonight, I was trying to solve it but kept running into the issue where the layers wouldn't align after turns and I'd have to set the cube down on a table to re-center everything.

Like I said, this is my first 5x5 so if this is part of the fun I don't necessarily mind having to pop the caps out and put a turn or so into the screws, but having never had any issues with other cubes I simply don't know if I've got a bit of a lemon. I still enjoy playing with it, so it hasn't hurt my opinion of it, but if there's any advice out there I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you and take care everyone!!

I highly recommend contacting the cube store you got it from, they will either send you a new cube or refund you the money you paid (this is definitely not normal for any cube of any type).

 

[sumtingwong]

Prolly a stripped core, that's my guess. A new core should be able to fix it, however, it's going to take quite some time depending on how good you are with assembling 5x5s