Flex 3401 - Variable Speed Is Kaput!

VTHokie

VTHokie

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Anybody have any issues with the variable speed on a Flex 3401? My 3401 is almost exactly 2 years old. I'v done a lot of jobs with it since then and love the thing. Was just outside polishing my own car when I pressed the trigger for the next pass and all it had was wide open throttle. Want to get it fixed ASAP. Going to contact a service center that is about an hour away but was wondering if anyone had experience with this and knew about how much I should expect to get it fixed. Wondering if its going to be enough to make me consider just purchasing a new one.
 
sounds like a bad connection with the trigger. if your comfortable taking it apart id give that a try first.
 
Taking it apart was the first thing I did. It was very clean inside and the connections were all good and tight.
 
These things have been known for their bad cords, but yours sounds like a bad speed control knob. Mine quit after a couple of years and would only work whenever I wiggled the cord. Tried cutting the cord back thinking that some wiring was bad, but that only worked for a week until the problem arose again.

This time I just replaced the whole cord with a longer and heavier one and haven't had a problem since. Crap... now that I said that it may have jinxed my Flex.
 
Just as an update, I had a little time time to spend on the computer last night and found through Flex's website that you can order parts online through Powerhouse Distributing. I'd bet its the variable speed control module since the trigger works, but I just purchased the module ($75) and trigger ($25). I think one of those should do the trick. Figured by the time I spent a total of four hours in the truck dropping off and picking it up at the nearest service center an hour away, paying for their diagnosis and service.... I'll still come out on top and probably have an extra part. Also, should have it back up and running by this weekend.
 
Those are the 3 main things that usually go wrong with any polisher. Switch, cord, and speed control. The brushes are normal wear and tear but I haven't had to change mine in a couple of years.
 
Wow! 100$ for trigger and speed control? That's insane, the 3401 sells for 250$. But you are right, if that is the price of the parts, driving there twice and having the service center repair it would most likelly cost you more than simply replacing it with a new one.
 
Just to close the loop... I got the two parts today. Started with the variable speed control module (part no. 292.990) since that was most likely the failed part. It works now! Pretty easy to do. A lot of small connections inside, so take a note of where they go. I took a pic with my phone before disconnecting the failed module. Packaging it back up was probably the most difficult part. I'm sure the tiny wires aren't run exactly as they were from the factory but just make sure they don't get pinched while you are putting it back together. So $75 for the failed part and 20 minutes of time, I got it running again.
 
Calendyr said:
Wow! 100$ for trigger and speed control? That's insane, the 3401 sells for 250$. But you are right, if that is the price of the parts, driving there twice and having the service center repair it would most likelly cost you more than simply replacing it with a new one.
Click to expand...


Where can I get a Flex 3401 for $250.00 I want to buy one if I can get it for that price. :buffing:
 
Cool... yeah, it's always harder to put something back together than it is taking it apart.
 
VTHokie said:
Just to close the loop... I got the two parts today. Started with the variable speed control module (part no. 292.990) since that was most likely the failed part. It works now! Pretty easy to do. A lot of small connections inside, so take a note of where they go. I took a pic with my phone before disconnecting the failed module. Packaging it back up was probably the most difficult part. I'm sure the tiny wires aren't run exactly as they were from the factory but just make sure they don't get pinched while you are putting it back together. So $75 for the failed part and 20 minutes of time, I got it running again.
Click to expand...

Cool that's some good info. Glad it worked out.
 
how to know if is the variable speed control module or the brushes ?

my problems is tha my flex 3401 its going up and down with the speed i was trying to do some paint correction and slows down sometimes its the first time, my flex its almost 1 year old and it usually working 2 times per week during this year
 
weeecho said:
how to know if is the variable speed control module or the brushes ?

my problems is tha my flex 3401 its going up and down with the speed i was trying to do some paint correction and slows down sometimes its the first time, my flex its almost 1 year old and it usually working 2 times per week during this year
Click to expand...

Mine just started exhibiting the same symptoms. Did you send it back for repair to wind up DIY? If you sent it back, where?
 
ok i clean all the wire spade conectors inside from the triger and now is working normal as i think from a german tool
 
As luck would have it, mine also started to act up. Sometimes it spins on 5 & 6, speeds 1-4 are a no go.

I don't know if it's smarter to troubleshoot with ordered parts or send it off to be repaired?
 
i had again the same thing i open again and clean again all the conectors, but at the end i saw the gray wire that come from the wire positive from the cord and go to the variable speed thing its almost doing contact with one thin wire and the others were cut.

cut the end and unistall the bolt that press the cord wire and put again the both wires and install the bolt

and everything its working normal


sorry for my bad writing
 
I have the same problem and set it aside for a while and went back to my rotary. Think I'm going to get back on it and try to fix it. All together I probably did about 3 cars with it before it crapped out and waited too long before the warranty was up. I have other machines and wasn't busy at the time so I left it in the bag sitting on my shelf. Now that I'm getting busy I think I should fix it.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using AG Online
 
Be sure to check the brushes on your machine. More times than not when having issues with the 3401 most problems can be fixed by replacing the brushes.

I have some photos in my Mac of how to take apart, check and replace the brushes on the 3401. Ill get to them later on today.
 
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