Re-visiting Weilong V9 ballcore

[Deleted member 12389]

I have posted my disappointment with the weilong v9 BC due to the strong magnetic drag. At the same time I hear differing opinions from advocates.
Recently I stumbled on a super deal from moyu official online sale (allegedly) at half price and snagged another one. This time I decided not to mess with its default setting other than lube.

Left: standard, mid: modded, right: OOTB

OOTB, it can do U3 easily. My kid, using the beginner's method, overshoots often.
Surprisingly, while there was strong auto alignment, there wasn't any magnetic drag.

I lubed with very light silicone oil (100cts). It slowed down a bit. Added a few drops 350cts on corner stalk and core, and it showed down a bit more. Still fast, but more manageable.
It was faster than my modded version (without edge magnets which has a looser tensioning)

And I realized that the magnetic drag that irritates me was absent.

Did MoYu change their design? Or is it due to the errors in our set up, especially the overuse of heavy lube, that made the magnetic drag more pronounced?

No idea, but loving this version of Weilong V9

 

[Deleted member 12389]

Core Transplant

Verdict
The core (and spring) make the standard version a bit slower (than ballcore), and more manageable (than standard).

It feels slightly different from my V9 modded version (edge magnets removed).
I am not sure if the non-UV pieces contribute to the feel, other than the spring. I do like this version as much as my other UV versions. We'll see, after a longer run.

 

[TheSpeedSkewber]

I would reccomend swapping the maglev out for springs on a non modded cube. The maglev is quite frankly unneeded and is just there to add fancy words to the title and sell more cubes.

I for one don't mind the magnetic drag but i can see why you may not like it.

 

[Deleted member 12389]

Surprisingly I like my second ballcore (unmodded). As long as I tighten it only a bit, it works as well as the modded version, without noticeable drag or bump.

On spring matter: unfortunately I can't find anyone selling them on Aliexpress, and I was lucky to own a standard version before splurging on the bc

 

[Deleted member 12389]

After using the modded spring version extensively for the last 2 days, I found myself liking it more than the UV ones. It's much smoother and quiet, without the rough turning feel of the UV versions. I think, more than the springs, the non UV pieces are also different, and contribute substantially to the different feel. And I prefer non UV to UV. Probably I will avoid all UV offerings in future.

Strangely the non UV pieces of my V9 is not as slippery as that of my non UV YS3M

 

[Deleted member 12389]

After more use, the spring version is starting to feel like my non UV YS3M.
Less blocky. No complaint as I like the YS3M in the first place.

If there are differences in the feel, they are due to spring vs maglev, and slight friction due to the different design of the pieces.

The core magnetic core is likely based on YS3M specifications, with weaker magnets.

 

[Dan the Beginner]

I have posted my disappointment with the weilong v9 BC due to the strong magnetic drag. At the same time I hear differing opinions from advocates.
Recently I stumbled on a super deal from moyu official online sale (allegedly) at half price and snagged another one. This time I decided not to mess with its default setting other than lube.
View attachment 25184
Left: standard, mid: modded, right: OOTB

OOTB, it can do U3 easily. My kid, using the beginner's method, overshoots often.
Surprisingly, while there was strong auto alignment, there wasn't any magnetic drag.

I lubed with very light silicone oil (100cts). It slowed down a bit. Added a few drops 350cts on corner stalk and core, and it showed down a bit more. Still fast, but more manageable.
It was faster than my modded version (without edge magnets which has a looser tensioning)

And I realized that the magnetic drag that irritates me was absent.

Did MoYu change their design? Or is it due to the errors in our set up, especially the overuse of heavy lube, that made the magnetic drag more pronounced?

No idea, but loving this version of Weilong V9

What is the magnetic drag? I do not understand. Is it similar to what I see when the layer being turned is pulled into position or alignment when it's very close (like pulled 10° or so)? Isn't that desirable and what magnets are supposed to do?

 

[Deleted member 12389]

The auto alignment works both ways: pushing to complete a turn, or pulling to prevent a new turn. Also, there is this bump during turns.
Like I mentioned, my first UV v9 has these characteristics while the second one has reduced drag and bump. That is if I set the tension at default.

I get better times if my turning is light. Otherwise I will need more effort and concentration to manage the drag and bump... Others at fine with it though.

 

[Dan the Beginner]

The auto alignment works both ways: pushing to complete a turn, or pulling to prevent a new turn. Also, there is this bump during turns.
Like I mentioned, my first UV v9 has these characteristics while the second one has reduced drag and bump. That is if I set the tension at default.

I get better times if my turning is light. Otherwise I will need more effort and concentration to manage the drag and bump... Others at fine with it though.

Thanks for your explanation. That's why I don't like excessively strong magnet effect.

 

[Deleted member 12389]

Left: from core kit, corner magnet
Right: from V9, edge piece
Both 3mm diameter

Thickness: core kit corner magnet 2mm vs v9 edge piece magnet 1mm+

I suspect the strong magnets in V9 are inside its core, not in the corner or edge pieces. Reason: my modded V9, if tensioned a bit tighter, still has some drag and bump.

 

[Deleted member 12389]

I swapped the 3rd party YS3M core into the original V9. The V9 core went into the standard V9 with springs and edge magnets salvaged from my other "defanged" V9 BC.
Results:

• Standard (2nd click for compression), loose tension, works like V9 BC without any bumps, drags or auto alignment. Nice! Except I would prefer maglev to spring.
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• Original V9: (1st click for compression). "Soft" like the 20M version but the auto alignment remains. No drag bumps. Prefer this to 20m V9. Similar to the above standard version.