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Zhanchi springs

jerazm

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
2
Hey cubers,

I'm Jeraz from India. I recently bought a DaYan Zhanchi for my nephew. The cube was very tight out of the box, so i tried loosening it by reducing the tension. I'd like to point out here, that I'm fairly new to this.

Anyway, it seemed to work fine for a while, but then it suddenly popped open spraying cube parts all over my floor. Long story short, I have lost a spring and washer, and so my cube is rendered useless. The spring-less side is ever-threatening to pop open.

My question is: can i get the same spring and washer from a local hardware store, and if so, what size?

Also, I's be willing to buy a slightly different spring and washer set in its entirety if it makes the cube better.

Thank you!
 

CarlBrannen

Member
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
367
Location
Pullman, WA
WCA
2013BRAN01
When you have a combination of springs that are too tight but the cube has just enough looseness (i.e. it pulls apart as much as you like), try shortening the springs. Then, with the same looseness, you'll have less spring tension.

I do stuff like this with my big cubes all the time. And those spring sets they mention above are a great deal. Get a variety.

As far as making a Zhanchi easier to turn when it has the usual springs, my belief is that the friction in cubes is mostly due to stuff that happens away from the center. Because of the way the Zhanchi is built, you can make them a lot easier to turn by slightly sanding the flat sliding surfaces between the corner cubies and edge cubies. I've done this to my 55mm ZhanChis and they rattle slightly because of the gaps. I keep them tight and they almost never pop (until I've worn out the lubrication), and they will do 180 degree turns on a finger flick. So even though I probably like my cubes about the same way you do, I didn't shorten the springs in my Zhanchi.
 

YddEd

Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2012
Messages
1,119
Location
Sydney, Australia
WCA
2012SHAO01
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When you have a combination of springs that are too tight but the cube has just enough looseness (i.e. it pulls apart as much as you like), try shortening the springs. Then, with the same looseness, you'll have less spring tension.

I do stuff like this with my big cubes all the time. And those spring sets they mention above are a great deal. Get a variety.

As far as making a Zhanchi easier to turn when it has the usual springs, my belief is that the friction in cubes is mostly due to stuff that happens away from the center. Because of the way the Zhanchi is built, you can make them a lot easier to turn by slightly sanding the flat sliding surfaces between the corner cubies and edge cubies. I've done this to my 55mm ZhanChis and they rattle slightly because of the gaps. I keep them tight and they almost never pop (until I've worn out the lubrication), and they will do 180 degree turns on a finger flick. So even though I probably like my cubes about the same way you do, I didn't shorten the springs in my Zhanchi.
I thought he was asking if there are any local hardware stores that can sell the same springs and washers as the dayan ones.
I'm not sure, but you can do a quick google search "dayan core" and there will be loads of places where you can get them.
 

CarlBrannen

Member
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
367
Location
Pullman, WA
WCA
2013BRAN01
Here in Las Vegas there's a hardware store I've bought springs at, McFadden-Dale's, but I'd still be inclined to order one or two of each of the spring sets they sell at 51morefun. The springs at the hardware store are the correct diameter but need to be cut to length.
 

jerazm

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
2
Thanks guys for all the quick replies. This is one of the most helpful forums I've been on! :)

I'm very much inclined towards the idea of ordering a whole set of springs and washers from 51morefun.com (which ridirects to championcubestore.com). But the shipping costs about 20 times more than the set of springs! :(

I think I'll order a number of sets along with a few other things like lube and perhaps a cube or two to bring my shipping cost to a reasonable percentage.

Thanks for the all the great tips to improve my cube! :)
 

YddEd

Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2012
Messages
1,119
Location
Sydney, Australia
WCA
2012SHAO01
YouTube
Visit Channel
Thanks guys for all the quick replies. This is one of the most helpful forums I've been on! :)

I'm very much inclined towards the idea of ordering a whole set of springs and washers from 51morefun.com (which ridirects to championcubestore.com). But the shipping costs about 20 times more than the set of springs! :(

I think I'll order a number of sets along with a few other things like lube and perhaps a cube or two to bring my shipping cost to a reasonable percentage.

Thanks for the all the great tips to improve my cube! :)
You could get a set of C4U hardware at fasttech.com with free shipping ;)
 
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Messages
456
Location
California
WCA
2012CHIE01
Thanks guys for all the quick replies. This is one of the most helpful forums I've been on! :)

I'm very much inclined towards the idea of ordering a whole set of springs and washers from 51morefun.com (which ridirects to championcubestore.com). But the shipping costs about 20 times more than the set of springs! :(

I think I'll order a number of sets along with a few other things like lube and perhaps a cube or two to bring my shipping cost to a reasonable percentage.

Thanks for the all the great tips to improve my cube! :)

If you live in the US, thecubicle.us has free shipping on orders over $10 iirc.
 
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