Need help with my ShengShou 8x8

[Lolwut12345]

Hello I just received my Shenshou 8x8 but unfortunately I'm disappointed with the cube. I also have a 9x9 SS and it's an amazing cube, it's the best one I have. However my SS 8x8 gets stuck all the time unlike my 9x9. Moving the outerpieces are fine, but the inner pieces get stuck all the time. I constantly have to re-aline all the pieces together when I've made a few moves on the cube and it's obnoxious. My 8x8 is constantly getting stuck and almost popping all the time. I hope that I can just take the cube apart and put it back together and that'll fix it because I'd be disappointed if the 8x8 is an inferior cube than my 9x9.

So my question is, does anybody know how I can fix this problem with my 8x8? How can I make my 8x8 smooth like my 9x9, how can I make it so I don't have to worry about pieces popping constantly whenever I move the inner pieces?

Thanks

 

[antoineccantin]

You might want to try lubing and tensioning.

 

[Lolwut12345]

How do I do those things? I've never tensioned, lubed, or taken apart any of my cubes

 

[qqwref]

It's easier than you think.

Lubing:
- Either remove a piece, or misalign layers on two adjacent faces (as if you're corner cutting a bit), to create a little hole in the 'surface' of the puzzle.
- Spray some lube in, any cubing lube is okay, just don't use something like WD40 or Vaseline.
- Turn all sides of the cube several times to try to distribute the lube around the puzzle, then wait a few minutes to let it dry.
- Repeat as necessary (you will probably have to do this more the first time you lube a puzzle).

Tensioning:
- On an odd cube (e.g. 3x3x3): remove all center caps, giving you access to the center screws.
- On an even cube (e.g. 8x8x8): misalign halves of the cube (as if you're corner cutting on a 2x2x2) to try to get access to the center screws.
- Use a screwdriver to tighten or loosen each screw as you want. Clockwise is usually tighter. A tighter cube will generally be more stable, be less likely to pop, and have more friction. Try to get all the sides to about the same tension - you can test this by turning the outer layers of the cube.
- When you like the tension, replace any pieces you removed.

Taking apart puzzles can be fun, and a good learning experience, but I don't recommend just casually doing it, especially for a puzzle with tons of pieces, like the 8x8x8.

 

[LarryLunchmeat]

Also it's worth mentioning that even sized cubes (4X4, 6X6, 8X8) move much worse than odd sized cubes due to the different construction style. My Shengshou 5,7, and 9 move amazing and my 4, 6, and 8 are noticeably choppier.

 

[Kattenvriendin]

Take the cube apart and then reassemble and lube.

My 8x8 had pieces of that gummy feel styrofoam INSIDE it. Yeah, no wonder it'll turn like sh*t.

If you need a tutorial for a bit of help, there is one on Youtube (mine, as I found there was none I decided to just make one). Not the best, but it's better than nothing

 

[qqwref]

Also it's worth mentioning that even sized cubes (4X4, 6X6, 8X8) move much worse than odd sized cubes due to the different construction style. My Shengshou 5,7, and 9 move amazing and my 4, 6, and 8 are noticeably choppier.

I dunno, it's arguable. My SS 8x8 moved better than my SS 7x7 out of the box, and good 4x4s are obviously incredible. I think with good mechanisms even cubes can be as good as odd.

 

[Kattenvriendin]

Most definitely. You cannot say anything about the movement until you've taken them apart and lubed the core proper as well and reassembled and lubed the pieces themselves proper. I have had MASSIVE improvements on some cubes after doing that.

I have yet to receive a cube that was new and had its core lubed and not just the pieces. It makes such a big difference.

 

[Lolwut12345]

Take the cube apart and then reassemble and lube.

My 8x8 had pieces of that gummy feel styrofoam INSIDE it. Yeah, no wonder it'll turn like sh*t.

If you need a tutorial for a bit of help, there is one on Youtube (mine, as I found there was none I decided to just make one). Not the best, but it's better than nothing

I found your video and I plan on using it to reassemble my cube. But your video doesn't show how to actually take apart the SS 8x8 in the first place. How do I take apart my 8x8? I've never taken apart a cube so I don't want to do something wrong and break it.

 

[Kattenvriendin]

Pull the sides apart a bit, you will see a screw Simply undo that. And take care not to lose any of the pieces. Also.. if you have a camera, take pics for your own reference

Oh.. found it in my blog

http://kattenvriendin.blogspot.nl/2012/10/shengshou-8x8-disassembly-in-pictures.html

Do watch the vid sections in advance by the way. To avoid the pitfalls that I fell in while assembling LOL As it was the first video out there (just like the 9x9) I had to figure it out by myself what the best order of things was. And that may vary a bit as you see me try stuff *giggle*

 

[Lolwut12345]

Pull the sides apart a bit, you will see a screw Simply undo that. And take care not to lose any of the pieces. Also.. if you have a camera, take pics for your own reference

Oh.. found it in my blog

http://kattenvriendin.blogspot.nl/2012/10/shengshou-8x8-disassembly-in-pictures.html

Do watch the vid sections in advance by the way. To avoid the pitfalls that I fell in while assembling LOL As it was the first video out there (just like the 9x9) I had to figure it out by myself what the best order of things was. And that may vary a bit as you see me try stuff *giggle*

Oh okay cool thanks, I think I'll try to disassemble my cube tomorrow. Also you said there was foam inside your 8x8, if there's foam in my 8x8 I'm assuming I should just take out the foam and leave it out when I reassemble it?

 

[Kattenvriendin]

Uhmm yes. *laughs* Foam is NOT part of the cube

It was random bits and pieces that I found, needless to say: that stuff inside a cube will hinder its movement.

Also: do at your own risk I am not responsible yadda yadda blahblah. You know the drill.

 

[Lolwut12345]

Uhmm yes. *laughs* Foam is NOT part of the cube

It was random bits and pieces that I found, needless to say: that stuff inside a cube will hinder its movement.

Also: do at your own risk I am not responsible yadda yadda blahblah. You know the drill.

Yeah I know if I screw up it's not your fault in anyway.

I'll be really careful when I do it. I'm considering taking apart one of my smaller cubes first just so I can have some experience of taking a cube apart before I try taking apart the 8x8.

 

[Kattenvriendin]

DEFINITELY a wise thing, yes.

Practice makes perfect after all. It is not a task I would have taken on (that 8x8 and 9x9) had I not taken pretty much all cubes I own apart and put them back together. Experience is key.

Most of all.. have FUN doing it. Make sure you have at least 4 hours available when you are reassembling it, or that it can be somewhere unattended and be safe.

There is NOTHING worse than missing a piece because .. say.. the cat decided that piece looked funny lol