5x5 popping

[Jack]

I have a rubik's brand 5x5, and almost every time I solve it I get a huge pop where about a quarter of the cube falls right out in the middle of the turn. I have lubed it once before. Whenever I do get through a solve without a pop, I get really bad times (over 5 minutes) because I am being so cautious. My times could be a lot better if I could turn fast without worrying about pops. Do I need to do something differently with my cube, or do I just I need a new one?

 

[AvGalen]

Short answer: You need a new one!

 

[Jack]

If I bought a new rubik's brand one, would it just do the same thing?

 

[AvGalen]

Mine have never done that. Maybe you damaged the core during the lubing?

The problem with Rubiks 5x5x5 is that they are very hard to turn in the beginning. Fairly fast, double layer turns improve, but outer layers remain har to turn. By the time outer layers turn smooth, double layers give a lot of mini-pops because of the corner-centers twisting in-place and/or breaking.

EastSheens are better from the start, but have other problems.

I prefer Rubiks, but I am really looking forward to a new Rubiks-mold and the Olympic Cube 5x5x5

 

[John Lee]

Buy a studio rubik's 5x5. I got mine in the mail two days ago and it is so much smoother and faster out of the box than a rubik's 5x5 from rubikshop.com that has been lubed and used for several months. You should be able to find one easily on ebay.

 

[Rama]

I use an Rubik's 5x5, when I had my first Rubik's 5x5 I popped it often to lube etc... and it became too loose whilst I had it not even 6 days!

I now bought another one and replaced the cubies, it is fine now, but I still need to turn it in and not pop it just to lube or look at it of how much dust it contains.

 

[Jack]

The wings on my cube can be pulled away from the cube several millimetres and come out easily if I want them to. Is this normal for a 5x5? I think some of my pops are because of these pieces. Although the pieces come out easily, the outer sides are still pretty stiff (it takes me over a minute to solve it like a 3x3).