I want to preface this post with a story:
I got my YJ MGC Evo Yesterday. I absolutely loved the feeling and performance of the cube. However, there was one glaring issue: the core. Tensions on the Evo are non-adjustable and fixed, and the cube felt rather tight for my liking. Regardless, I felt like it was a good enough cube for the market.
That almost changed in one of my solves, when I actually snapped the core on the blue face, causing it to spray out wildly in the college cafeteria I was doing an average in. For many people, this would be a total dealbreaker, causing them to stop using the cube altogether, probably throw it away, and then promptly write a scathing review of the Evo on product defects.
However, the performance and turning were so incredible that I didn't want to give up on the cube because of one very faulty design choice. I went through my collection and acquired some hardware from cubes I don't use, and I experimented all night until I was able to find a right combination of screws and a core that would allow me to continue using this cube. Much to my surprise, the ability to adjust the tensions on the Evo significantly improved my opinion of the cube, and it ended up replacing the CH Tornado V2 as my new main. Because of this dramatic improvement, I decided to give the cube a new name that is appropriate for the improvement made: the YJ MGC Evo SM.
I wanted to post this for anyone planning on getting an MGC Evo that is interested in converting it into an Evo SM. I highly recommend this mod if you are seriously considering getting the Evo, as it dramatically increases the customizability, longevity, and durability of the puzzle.
Without further ado, here is the set of instructions on how to turn a YJ MGC Evo into a YJ MGC Evo SM.
Here is what you need to turn your MGC Evo into an Evo SM:
-One MGC Evo
-One cheap speedcube that uses 3mm screws in its centers.
-A screwdriver
Here is a list of cheap speedcubes (At or below $10 USD Retail) that use 3mm screws with cores compatible with MGC Evo centers to convert the Evo into an Evo SM:
-MFJS MF3 (Not MF3RS)
-QiYi Fluffy Cube
-QiYi Dimension
-YJ Ruilong
-YJ Ball Cube
-Cyclone Boys FeiKu
Older Moyu and YJ Cubes (pre-2016 releases) can also work with this mod if you have them, but as those cubes are discontinued, I’d suggest getting one of the cubes listed above for this mod, since all of them are either entirely outclassed or not comp-legal at all.
Disclaimer: Do not use any cubes with modern cores. The screws used in those cubes are 2mm screws, which are a millimeter narrower than the 3mm screws that perfectly fit in the central posts of the Evo’s Centers. Using M2 Screws will result in your cube becoming significantly lockier, catchier, and more unstable.
Instructions:
1. Take apart the MGC Evo. Remove all the centers from the Evo.
2: Take the spring capsules from the centers of the Evo. Gently separate the upper half of the capsule from the lower half. Keep the lower half and the spring itself. discard the upper half of the spring capsule and Evo Core.
3: Get the other cube, and unscrew all of the centers. The only things you really need from the cheap cube are the screws and core.
4: Place the lower halves of the magnet capsule and springs back into the Evo centers. Get the screws and put them through the central posts of each center. Do not worry if there’s resistance near the threaded part of the screw; the smooth part of the screw will flow smoothly against the central post.
5: Screw all the centers back into the core. Assemble all of the cubies of the Evo back into the cube.
6: Tension your cube and spring compression to your tastes. Congratulations- You have successfully turned your MGC Evo into an Evo SM!
I got my YJ MGC Evo Yesterday. I absolutely loved the feeling and performance of the cube. However, there was one glaring issue: the core. Tensions on the Evo are non-adjustable and fixed, and the cube felt rather tight for my liking. Regardless, I felt like it was a good enough cube for the market.
That almost changed in one of my solves, when I actually snapped the core on the blue face, causing it to spray out wildly in the college cafeteria I was doing an average in. For many people, this would be a total dealbreaker, causing them to stop using the cube altogether, probably throw it away, and then promptly write a scathing review of the Evo on product defects.
However, the performance and turning were so incredible that I didn't want to give up on the cube because of one very faulty design choice. I went through my collection and acquired some hardware from cubes I don't use, and I experimented all night until I was able to find a right combination of screws and a core that would allow me to continue using this cube. Much to my surprise, the ability to adjust the tensions on the Evo significantly improved my opinion of the cube, and it ended up replacing the CH Tornado V2 as my new main. Because of this dramatic improvement, I decided to give the cube a new name that is appropriate for the improvement made: the YJ MGC Evo SM.
I wanted to post this for anyone planning on getting an MGC Evo that is interested in converting it into an Evo SM. I highly recommend this mod if you are seriously considering getting the Evo, as it dramatically increases the customizability, longevity, and durability of the puzzle.
Without further ado, here is the set of instructions on how to turn a YJ MGC Evo into a YJ MGC Evo SM.
Here is what you need to turn your MGC Evo into an Evo SM:
-One MGC Evo
-One cheap speedcube that uses 3mm screws in its centers.
-A screwdriver
Here is a list of cheap speedcubes (At or below $10 USD Retail) that use 3mm screws with cores compatible with MGC Evo centers to convert the Evo into an Evo SM:
-MFJS MF3 (Not MF3RS)
-QiYi Fluffy Cube
-QiYi Dimension
-YJ Ruilong
-YJ Ball Cube
-Cyclone Boys FeiKu
Older Moyu and YJ Cubes (pre-2016 releases) can also work with this mod if you have them, but as those cubes are discontinued, I’d suggest getting one of the cubes listed above for this mod, since all of them are either entirely outclassed or not comp-legal at all.
Disclaimer: Do not use any cubes with modern cores. The screws used in those cubes are 2mm screws, which are a millimeter narrower than the 3mm screws that perfectly fit in the central posts of the Evo’s Centers. Using M2 Screws will result in your cube becoming significantly lockier, catchier, and more unstable.
Instructions:
1. Take apart the MGC Evo. Remove all the centers from the Evo.
2: Take the spring capsules from the centers of the Evo. Gently separate the upper half of the capsule from the lower half. Keep the lower half and the spring itself. discard the upper half of the spring capsule and Evo Core.
3: Get the other cube, and unscrew all of the centers. The only things you really need from the cheap cube are the screws and core.
4: Place the lower halves of the magnet capsule and springs back into the Evo centers. Get the screws and put them through the central posts of each center. Do not worry if there’s resistance near the threaded part of the screw; the smooth part of the screw will flow smoothly against the central post.
5: Screw all the centers back into the core. Assemble all of the cubies of the Evo back into the cube.
6: Tension your cube and spring compression to your tastes. Congratulations- You have successfully turned your MGC Evo into an Evo SM!
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