Wrong Alignment

[sternotherus]

So I accidentally aligned the holes for the interior shaft in the wrong direction and now my puzzle works fine but won't open when I tap it to remove the inner core.

Is my puzzle forever stuck or is there any tricks I could use to open it?

[walther]

So I accidentally aligned the holes for the interior shaft in the wrong direction and now my puzzle works fine but won't open when I tap it to remove the inner core.

Is my puzzle forever stuck or is there any tricks I could use to open it?

So when you get to the end the dots are on opposite sides of the puzzle? If so you might need to just tap much harder to loosen it up and give it a little shake to make sure everything is lined up. I've done the same thing with the Blue and never had a problem getting it open again.

[sternotherus]

No the dot still ends up aligned with the other dot on the outer casing. It's just when I solve it and line up the dots it won't open.

[mattangel]

I don't understand how it can be misaligned. Looking at the puzzle, is one dot on the right side and one on the left side of the casing? If they are on the same side, then they are aligned. Could you take a picture? Did you follow the opening instructions or did you figure it out on your own?

[zrd467]

No the dot still ends up aligned with the other dot on the outer casing. It's just when I solve it and line up the dots it won't open.

When you put the puzzle together correctly, the inner piece (the "draw") is aligned precisely with the shaft (maze) piece. The pin in the small hole keeps these two pieces aligned. Also, the pin that holds the maze in the outer sleeve can wiggle a bit in the bigger hole, so it drops in fairly easily.

Since you've switched the holes when you assembled the puzzle, your draw piece can wiggle relative to the maze shaft. And the maze pin needs to fall into the smaller hole in the draw, without the benefit of the precise alignment you have when the puzzle is assembled right.

What you probably need to do is wiggle the draw in the sleeve (in and out, turn back and forth) while you tap the whole puzzle as described in the instructions. When the alignment is just right, the pin should fall and the puzzle should open. The small hole DOES let the pin drop far enough to open the puzzle; it's just harder to align all the parts to make the pin go in.

Be patient, and don't do anything drastic that might damage the puzzle. It should open for you.

[ReVoMaster]

Newton may come to the rescue

With the label facing down on a worktop (so it cannot roll ) lightly "jiggle" the draw so it is as loose as you can get it - then "Go to Bed"

In the morning - a lot of the test we have done - the shaft just pulls out!

There maybe grease on the pin making it harder to drop into the shaft - but good old Newton's method seems to work.

Has anyone done this?

[Manifestjp]

Nope. Way too impatient for that method. I usually just wiggle it a bunch while tapping it on my knee. Took me a whole 4 mins to get the bronze open.

[walther]

couple of taps with a rubber mallet

[Manifestjp]

A little cursing doesn't hurt either.

[ReVoRabbit]

after putting about 10 hours into the silver, i just let it sit there and i just cursed at it everytime i walked by. eventually it became so emotionally hurt, it just opened itself. cursing works well!