Chirping Sound in 3401 Flex Polisher

FrankS

FrankS

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I have noticed a chirping sound coming from my Flex 3401 polisher that I haven’t heard before. The sound is heard when I first start using it and after a while the sound goes away. Any idea what this could be. The polisher is about 1-1/2 years old and I have only buffed out about 5 vehicles.
 
Is it possible the backing plate is rubbing? There is a felt ring that contacts the plastic backing plate that needs to be oiled periodically. Is the head getting hot when you use it?
 
Yes, I have noticed that the head gets hot after using. How do you oil the felt ring and what type of oil do you use?
 
Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a try.
 
I took the backing plate off and it is still making the chirping/squeaking noise. The noise is not too loud but I never heard it before.
 
You can see the right-angle gearset when you take the backing plate off? Or am I not remembering it right...can you see the gears and are they greased?
 
Here's what I see when I take the backing plate off.
 
And it still chirps when it's bare like that? The gears are underneath, I'm not sure if you have to take those 4 screws out to get to them. I've never had mine apart, I just remember there being some issue with the greasing of the gearset and seeing pictures, perhaps you should wait, I'm sure someone who has had theirs apart will chime in.

If you have the manual I believe that has an exploded view which may help you...I'd look in mine but I'm in the middle of washing my car :D
 
Here's a link to the diagram of the parts:

http://www.powerhousetoolparts.com/static/tools//diagrams/Flex/XC3401VRG.pdf

I took off the Lower Eccentric Housing (322164) and the gear housing is well lubricated and still has plenty of grease from the factory. I tried running it without the housing and it was very quiet and smooth. The sound must be coming from the parts in the LE Housing. It seems to go away when I run it in full speed for more than a minute. When I let it sit for a while is when I hear the chirping/squeaking sound at a low setting, such as #1.
 
This is an old tread however I'm now experiencing the same problem with my 3401. It works fine for now but I'm getting that chirping/squeaking noise.

One of the options is to oil the gears, but which oil to use?

To me, the sound sounds like a dry bearing ..

Any suggestions guys??
 
At the time I had this issue my Flex 3401 was still under warranty so I had it sent for service and it's been working fine ever since, never had that issue again.

You can contact them if it's still under warranty. Here's a link to their service page on their website.

Service Information - Flex North America, Inc. - Your Supplier for All Power Tools

They may be using a different website since you are in Australia.
 
Mine is out of warranty, purchased back in 2012.

Any ideas?
 
I think my issue had to do with the bearings, but not exactly sure. You may want to contact them anyway and see if they know what it is or what they charge to fix it.
 
FrankS said:
I have noticed a chirping sound coming from my Flex 3401 polisher that I haven’t heard before. The sound is heard when I first start using it and after a while the sound goes away. Any idea what this could be. The polisher is about 1-1/2 years old and I have only buffed out about 5 vehicles.
Click to expand...


Ok guys, this took me a long time to figure this out. Finally found this forum and it got me going on the correct path. If your FLEX 3401 is making a squeaking or chirping sound here is how to fix it. Or at least how I did.

Take the backing plate off. Then take off the four screws that hold the houseing. Obviously, this is beneath the backing plate. After you take the housing off you will see a gear that spins sticking out of the middle of the unit. I sprayed the hell out of that with some Fluid Film Lubricant. Sound went away! You can run the buffer with everything off to confirm before putting it back together.

So relieved as I thought I was going to need to send in for repair or buy a new one. Not sure if the fluid film will last. I should have had the correct machine grease whatever type that may be but I did not have any. I'll post back and let you know how long this lasted. But if you don't here from me the fluid film is still working. Maybe someone can let us know what is the correct grease and where to buy it.

Now if I was going to have had to buy a new buffer, after tons of research, I would not have bought a flex but the Rupes Bigfoot lhr15 mark II. But that is a different topic.
 
erieautodetail said:
Now if I was going to have had to buy a new buffer, after tons of research, I would not have bought a flex but the Rupes Bigfoot lhr15 mark II. But that is a different topic.
Click to expand...

no one polisher or brand is going to be exempt from having any problems/issues, it happens to the best of them...
 
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