7424 PC Broke and DAMAGE car!

Todapwr

Todapwr

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Hello fellow Autogeek members! This is my first time posting and its not a good one! To make a long story short I was detailing a 2012 GT500 over the weekend, using my PC 7424 which I have had for over 3yrs and only used maybe 20 times since I brought it from Autogeek. While using it on the roof of the car with a LC yellow pad @ the 6 setting the backing plate came off along with the spindle. Leaving a 3" scratch all the way down to the metal! I called Porter Cable this morning to see if this was a problem they encounter before and I was told "NO" and they couldn't find any recalls on such issues. Has any one on here had this same problem? Thanks ahead and be CAREFUL with you PC! Now for the pictures

Old PC 7424
IMG_20120416_172724.jpg

What it should look like when the spindle and bearing is together
IMG_20120416_172447.jpg

This is what it looked like flying off my PC and scratching the car!
IMG_20120416_172049.jpg

Spindle off the backing plate
IMG_20120416_172233.jpg


I was too upset to take any picture of the damage on the car :(
 
WOW, I'm sorry to see this. Breaking the polisher is one thing but damaging the car is a whole different issue.

Was the machine new when you bought it?
I have seen this happen before with this type of dual action polisher.

I also have a first generation Porter Cable 7424 and have been using it for 14 years and so far so good....
 
Bummer. Esp on such a nice car.

Same here. My 12 or so year old PC7424 is still going strong.
 
BobbyG said:
I also have a first generation Porter Cable 7424 and have been using it for 14 years and so far so good....
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Yeah but Bobby, you know the bean counters have been in there between the time you bought yours 14 years ago and when the OP bought his 3 years ago...not to mention they moved the plant. But I bet the executives got a big bonus for making that shaft thinner (but not the engineer that did it). The world is so broken.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Yeah but Bobby, you know the bean counters have been in there between the time you bought yours 14 years ago and when the OP bought his 3 years ago...not to mention they moved the plant. But I bet the executives got a big bonus for making that shaft thinner (but not the engineer that did it). The world is so broken.
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I could not agree more!! :dblthumb2:
 
Could the size of the pad be an issue that would cause this failure? Looks like a 6.5" pad and the machine says "use 5 inch pad only."

I also have a first-gen 7424 and have never had one issue with it. It's nice to have as a reliable backup.
 
Puke!! I just bought a Porter Cable and a new car! Sounds like a horrible

combination!
 
SRTSean said:
Could the size of the pad be an issue that would cause this failure? Looks like a 6.5" pad and the machine says "use 5 inch pad only."

I also have a first-gen 7424 and have never had one issue with it. It's nice to have as a reliable backup.
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Good point SRTSean...I hope this isn't from my own wrongdoing. :buffing:
 
I do not think pad size would be indicative of a failure like this. Just a quick observation makes me believe that backing plate was on too far. Do you use a washer between the backing plate and the machine? The edge around the backing plate looks like its all chewed up and warn. almost as if the casing of the machine would catch it when it "orbits". Furthermore, it looks like the one side of the counterweight was hit pretty good with one of the screw heads that holds the backing plate together.

No offense but I think this was improper installation of that backing plate that caused this failure. I am no engineer by any means but there is some evidence that shows something was not kosher due to these tell-tale signs.

I am sorry to hear about your situation, I am not even going to tease you about it because if I were you I would be sick to my stomach what I did because if it was my car and someone did that to it, I would be steaming upset.

Edit: I see the washer, maybe it was getting crushed? I still stand by my theory of put on too far.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Yeah but Bobby, you know the bean counters have been in there between the time you bought yours 14 years ago and when the OP bought his 3 years ago...not to mention they moved the plant. But I bet the executives got a big bonus for making that shaft thinner (but not the engineer that did it). The world is so broken.
Click to expand...

So true and unfortunately the world is becoming more and more like this!


SRTSean said:
Could the size of the pad be an issue that would cause this failure? Looks like a 6.5" pad and the machine says "use 5 inch pad only."

I also have a first-gen 7424 and have never had one issue with it. It's nice to have as a reliable backup.
Click to expand...

That's true it does say that, but it's written on the counterweight so I'd say that the 5" guide is for the basis of smoothness and vibration mainly as the force applied by the counterweight wouldn't be so much on the shaft, but on the piece going into the head where the force from the pad is on the shaft.
 
Tundra_10 said:
I do not think pad size would be indicative of a failure like this. Just a quick observation makes me believe that backing plate was on too far. Do you use a washer between the backing plate and the machine? The edge around the backing plate looks like its all chewed up and warn. almost as if the casing of the machine would catch it when it "orbits". Furthermore, it looks like the one side of the counterweight was hit pretty good with one of the screw heads that holds the backing plate together.

No offense but I think this was improper installation of that backing plate that caused this failure. I am no engineer by any means but there is some evidence that shows something was not kosher due to these tell-tale signs.

I am sorry to hear about your situation, I am not even going to tease you about it because if I were you I would be sick to my stomach what I did because if it was my car and someone did that to it, I would be steaming upset.

Edit: I see the washer, maybe it was getting crushed? I still stand by my theory of put on too far.
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I made the post to get everyones inputs good or bad so no feels were hurt here lol. I only hand tighten the backing plate on with the wrench and washer that came in the kit(from autogeek) so I don't see how it was "too far". As far as the damage goes on the plate and 7424 PC it was all from when backing came flying off...you can imagine the damage from something turning @ 6000rpm can caused.
 
hmmm... well im sorry to hear about this man. I have a PC that I used a couple times. I am afraid to use it with all these stories the last few months, thankfully I have a flex that I know I can use in confidence.
 
Tundra_10 said:
hmmm... well im sorry to hear about this man. I have a PC that I used a couple times. I am afraid to use it with all these stories the last few months, thankfully I have a flex that I know I can use in confidence.
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I'm not going to lie I did end up buying another PC Friday after all this happened...the only reason why is because I couldn't turn down $90shipped for a 7424xp but a Flex will also will be coming in the mail here soon! I'm sorry too...for the owner and the damage its going to do my wallet lol
 
Todapwr said:
for the owner and the damage its going to do my wallet lol
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Yeah thats going to suck. do you have insurance? A reputable shop will want to redo the entire roof, "a" pillars and probably "c" pillars and blend into the rear fenders.
 
I have a pc kit on order and again I'm seeing an issue with the kit that was recommended. The starter kit did not come with polish or orange pads. Now I'm hearing about failures to the machine I heard was the best.
My biggest issue is the plates and pads. If the PC says don't use over 5" pads why would the stater kit (starter being novice) come with 6.5" pads. I'm a little worried about recommendations I received from AG.
 
jminrod said:
I have a pc kit on order and again I'm seeing an issue with the kit that was recommended. The starter kit did not come with polish or orange pads. Now I'm hearing about failures to the machine I heard was the best.
My biggest issue is the plates and pads. If the PC says don't use over 5" pads why would the stater kit (starter being novice) come with 6.5" pads. I'm a little worried about recommendations I received from AG.
Click to expand...
This is an isolated incident. Dont let it worry you or change your mind. Your PC should serve you well and give you years of service and enjoyement.

If not too late, call AG and see if they can switch your 6.5 in pads for some 5.5 in ones. If not, try the 6.5 pads and see what you get. You can buy Megs Ultimate compound and Swirl X locally. Use it with the white pads to start out. If that is not doing the job, order some orange pads.

I used 6 in pads on my "5 in only" plate for 10 years before I bought my GG 6 in. Now I run 4 in pads on my PC and still no problems with counterweighting.
 
Not to discount the OP in any way...

There are/is a gazillion of PC buffers/sanders out there. Anything that is mechanical, can break (and they seem to like like to break at the worse possible time). From various forums, this is only the second PC I've seen that the shaft has separated from the main body.

Bill
 
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