Mefferts Megaminx

I actually manged to get a center cap off today (Mine don't want to come off!!!) and I took a look at the spring. They are indeed very tight... So I compressed it by squeezing it has hard as I could (well, as hard as my dad could :p) in a pair of pliers. The result is a face that actually turns decently, but nowhere near as nice as I would like. I need to look for new springs...
 
the new minx

Well, my minx arrived, yay!

Turned hard as all hell... lubing did not help very much either.
Caps were a pain to get off... the glue is fest.
The springs are terrible to say the least. I tried to sand them down but, it did not really help all that much.
So what I did was take my old chinese minx, removed the springs from that and put them in the Mefferts minx... added small washers on the ends so the springs would not catch on the screws and now it turns easy and fast.

I would almost say it is a speed minx, but to be honest I am not too concerned that it reach the level of a speed minx, just that it turns a lot easier than the original configuration. I like it a lot and I may just order a second one to keep in the office for those moments of nothingness that come along durning the day.

I would recommend that you all try out the springs from a chinese minx, if you have them, and see if that helps out. And considering how cheap those things are I could imagine most of you all have one or two. (I have three)
 
I used a small flat-head screwdriver and pryed the caps off slowly. Becareful if you use the screwdriver in case it slips (yeah it slipped... not the most fun thing I have had happen). The best way I have found to get them off is if you have one side that goes loose when you turn counter clockwise.. just keep going until you can remove that cap and take the pieces apart. You can either start with that cap or one of the caps still on the hub. I found the ones on the hub better to start with since you have a better grip all round... just go slowly and try to pry along the edges evenly, so you don't break off a small corner of the cap (yeah did that too... yay for me... thus me wanting to get another one).

I things are not easy to take off, but they are a bit easier than the chinese caps.. those were a pain.
 
Is it normal for a meffert's minx to have it's tiles falling off? I've already had 4 edge tiles fall off :S
 
Building on Speedy McFastfast's idea of compressing the springs..

Well, I received my minx today. My first megaminx. Really nice puzzle, but a little hard to turn. I decided to give Speedy's idea a go, but I used my workbench vice to compress the springs from 1.38cm to around 1.2cm. Make sure you line it up really nice and compress slowly so you don't distort the spring. Re-assembled the minx and lubed it too, now the white face turns about twice as good as the others so once I do this to all faces it will be great.

Note: took me ages to get off my center cap! resorted to using a hacksaw blade to saw all the way round then eventually it came off. thought it wasn't going to. real pain! definatly worth it though

Seriously, if you don't have any springs from 3x3 kits, or you don't want to buy them, do this.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vukK8qTiceU (sound seems out of sync sorry, but you get the idea)

I also just found I can make excellent springs from a pen spring - because I just lost one from my minx so I made another. Best turning side yet!
 
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Okay, after a few days of tweaking, I have the minx up to speed level. The springs I used from the Chinese minx are perfect. Each and every side turns super easy and light, with almost no resistance. Yes...

Although I would add that I used super small washers with the springs so they would catch when turned coutner clockwise.
 
I have a second Chinese minx and I am seriously considering buying another Mefferts minx... may be overkill, but I figure I have one to use contantly and the other one will be the reserve minx. Besides I like the way the Mefferts look over all in comparison to the Chinese minx's (minxes, minxii?) just me though, the wife thinks I am insane.
 
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