HELP!! I think I killed my flex?

pokey

pokey

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OK, here's my bad day story. My wife got me a pad washer from AG for our anniversary tomorrow. Thought I would give it a whirl. I followed the instructions. When drying the pad I lifted the pressure. I must have gone to high or something. It got caught and ripped the back plate and holder right out of the flex.

Here are my pictures. Am I hosed? Its only a month or so old :(

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That bolt looks snapped. Anything is repairable, but at what cost?
 
The question is how do I get replacement parts or do I have to ship to Germany? On a positive note, I tried Wolfgang TSR for the first time on a test are that I've been frustrated with and I'm amazed. I'm not sure I even have to follow it with another polish.
 
Looks like part 322.105 from the spare parts list broke. It's the slotted piece that the backing plates attachment bolt screws into. It looks easily replaceable on paper... It goes through a bearing (part 259.148) and is held in place with what looks like a retaining ring (part 102.091). If you could get the part (322.105) I bet you could fix it, but you better leave it to the service center.
 
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Thanks. Now I just need to figure out where to get parts from or who can I ship to fix. I'm hoping a call to AG headquarters on Monday will guide me. Thanks for the part numbers.
 
It should be under warranty. Just try to avoid telling Flex USA it happened in the pad washer. Or call AG now and tell them it happened with the pad washer you bought from them.
 
No prob and good luck! :xyxthumbs:

I pulled my backing plate off and almost started pulling apart the machine and taking pics. Figured that was a bad idea... You may be able to get the part out by removing the retaining ring in your first pic. NOT THAT I RECOMMEND TRYING!! :D
 
Just as a note, the pad washer is supposed to be used with a rotary, not with a DA polisher. YOu should never turn your DA up to full power without it touching the surface of something you're polishing as the stress induced by the oscillation and rotations will cause catastrophic damage like that. Good luck with your repacement parts or repairs though.
 
O.C.Detailing said:
Just as a note, the pad washer is supposed to be used with a rotary, not with a DA polisher. YOu should never turn your DA up to full power without it touching the surface of something you're polishing as the stress induced by the oscillation and rotations will cause catastrophic damage like that. Good luck with your repacement parts or repairs though.
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He got the BP caught on the underside of the lid.
 
loudog2 said:
He got the BP caught on the underside of the lid.
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I understand that, but that doesn't change the fact that the pad washer is still made to be used with a rotary and not with a DA polisher. DA polishers all come with warnings not to use them at higher speeds without being in contact with the surface you're polishing. Just passing the word in case someone didn't know.
 
O.C.Detailing said:
I understand that, but that doesn't change the fact that the pad washer is still made to be used with a rotary and not with a DA polisher. DA polishers all come with warnings not to use them at higher speeds without being in contact with the surface you're polishing. Just passing the word in case someone didn't know.
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Ive used the pad washer with a Da.Even used it at a Ag class here is something from there site

The Grit Guard Universal Pad Washer is the first and only pad washer that cleans all types of buffing pads on dual action and random orbital buffers. Clean foam pads, wool pads, buffing bonnets – you name it! The unique design of the Universal Pad Washer accommodates any dual action polisher to clean pads without even removing them from
 
O.C.Detailing said:
For a cheap rotary, you can go to Harbor Freight and get this one:

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

Works great for spinning pads dry and you can use it on your car's paint. I got mine for $29.99 here at my local store, so try to go to a local store before you buy it online. Good luck.
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Thanks. The real expense now will come in getting my flex fixed, especially if they consider this on a non warranty break.
 
You get what you pay for the old saying goes.A 29.99 rotary come on i know they are for sale but how can you trust something like that touching anyone's car without worrying that it will fall apart while you are using it.Harbor Freight carry's pure crap !!
 
I've made about $3000 with my cheap $29.99 Harbor Freight rotary. Granted, I don't use it every day, but i've used it on enough cars to have it MORE than paid for itself. I said you CAN use it, but if you're planning on using a rotary on a regular basis, then OBVIOUSLY go with a high quality machine and not the $29 machine I linked.

Come on man, I suggested he use it to spin his pads dry. Should he spend $100-200 to spin pads dry? That'd be pretty stupid. Get a makita if you're going to go rotary on a regular basis.
 
O.C.Detailing said:
I've made about $3000 with my cheap $29.99 Harbor Freight rotary. Granted, I don't use it every day, but i've used it on enough cars to have it MORE than paid for itself. I said you CAN use it, but if you're planning on using a rotary on a regular basis, then OBVIOUSLY go with a high quality machine and not the $29 machine I linked.

Come on man, I suggested he use it to spin his pads dry. Should he spend $100-200 to spin pads dry? That'd be pretty stupid. Get a makita if you're going to go rotary on a regular basis.
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Yes i understand about spinning the pad dry with it.But he did buy a pad washer made to clean all kinds of pads using what ever machine you own.Not sure if you ever have had the chance to use one but they do work great.And yes they work better with a rotary.But it also goes back to what ever makes your job easier.Plus with all the problems with the hydro pads holding water i don't think i would use them in a pad washer
 
O.C.Detailing said:
YOu should never turn your DA up to full power without it touching the surface of something you're polishing as the stress induced by the oscillation and rotations will cause catastrophic damage like that.
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I think MANY people spin their pads dry with a DA.
 
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Harleyguy said:
Yes i understand about spinning the pad dry with it.But he did buy a pad washer made to clean all kinds of pads using what ever machine you own.Not sure if you ever have had the chance to use one but they do work great.And yes they work better with a rotary.But it also goes back to what ever makes your job easier.Plus with all the problems with the hydro pads holding water i don't think i would use them in a pad washer
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Wish I would have read about the hydro pads holding water before I began my day. They are soaked and no amount of spinning is going to help that. On the other hand, I was very impressed with the pads performance.
 
pokey said:
I began my day. They are soaked and no amount of spinning is going to help that.
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Spinning DOES help with the hydro techs. It doesn't dry them, but definitely speeds up the already slow drying process.
 
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