atgonzales
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- Oct 5, 2013
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Flex and Mike Phillips, BOTH outstanding...
First full job using my XFE7
- Thread starter DaveT435
- Start date
:iagree:
Mike@DedicatedPerfection
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- Feb 26, 2011
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Wow. Sorry to read about what happened Dave.
I know you are in good hands now with Mike/Bob/FLEX. The fine folks at FLEX take quality control very seriously.
I know you are in good hands now with Mike/Bob/FLEX. The fine folks at FLEX take quality control very seriously.
DaveT435
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- Jun 23, 2012
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- Thread starter
- #24
After taking a break and cooling down a little I switched to the 5" backing plate and kept going. I'm not too concerned about it. As I mentioned, your going to have a percentage of defective products with any manufactured products. I honestly believe the percentage for Flex is extremely low.
I'll probably actually keep the XFE7 and sell the Rupes 15 Mark II. They are both excellent products, and I'll still have three other Rupes machines. The size and the quietness of the XFE7 are the main reasons I prefer it over the Mark II.
DaveT435
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- Jun 23, 2012
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- #25
You're so right Mike! Within a few hours of Mike telling me he had sent an email to Bob I received a phone call from him.
It was a pleasure speaking to both these gentlemen on the phone. They are both very professional, friendly, and it's obvious their concern is genuine. In this day and age of "pass the buck" or "ignore the problem, it will go away" it's nice to deal with people who step up and try to help.
VISITOR
Active member
- May 10, 2007
- 9,859
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to me customer service/support is just as important as the product themselves. i'm not going to put money into someone's wallet that doesn't back up/stand behind their products. i don't care how good they are. simple as that...
glad that mike and bob/flex are there to help you out!
swanicyouth
New member
- Mar 3, 2011
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It's great this is getting taken care of, but I dunno. This is supposed to be top of the line gear - and this happens. Mebbe OK if it's a fluke - but there have been multiple posts about backing plates ripping off these things.
Like who's to say the new one will be fine for 6 mos and then the same thing will happen? I have a PC that I bought in like 2006 or something that still works perfectly...
This maybe a good advert for for Rupes or even Griots. I know there are lotsa good feels in this thread cuz it all worked out great and there are good people at AG / Flex....
But who out there would trust this thing on their car after seeing this?
Like who's to say the new one will be fine for 6 mos and then the same thing will happen? I have a PC that I bought in like 2006 or something that still works perfectly...
This maybe a good advert for for Rupes or even Griots. I know there are lotsa good feels in this thread cuz it all worked out great and there are good people at AG / Flex....
But who out there would trust this thing on their car after seeing this?
kkritsilas
New member
- Oct 6, 2016
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Flex (or for that matter, Rupes, Porter Cable, or Griot's Garage) are known for putting out quality equipment. The track record of the XC 3401 is excellent, as is the reputation of all of their rotary polishers, whether they be automotive oriented (PE series, 3403), or their industrial polishers (L 1503, and other marble/concrete polishers).
Flex screwed up the XFE7-15, their first kick at the can for long throw free spinning DAs. They really never went into general availability, and they were revised to become the XFE7-150 in which they fixed the air flow, and by extension the over heating issues. The XFE7-150 IS generally available. It is in use by quite a few people, and it from the lack of complaints, it seems to be holding up.
I don't know which version of the XFE7 you have. In either case, I'm sure that Autogeek/Flex will address the issue, either by replacing the unit or by repairing it. I think the odds of you having a problem with the replacement unit are extremely low. Is the probability zero? No, it never is for a manufactured product.
Push comes to shove, sell the replacement unit and buy something else. I think that there are a lot of people on this board wthat would jump at the chance to buy your replacement unit. You can then move on to a Rupes or a GG unit.
Flex screwed up the XFE7-15, their first kick at the can for long throw free spinning DAs. They really never went into general availability, and they were revised to become the XFE7-150 in which they fixed the air flow, and by extension the over heating issues. The XFE7-150 IS generally available. It is in use by quite a few people, and it from the lack of complaints, it seems to be holding up.
I don't know which version of the XFE7 you have. In either case, I'm sure that Autogeek/Flex will address the issue, either by replacing the unit or by repairing it. I think the odds of you having a problem with the replacement unit are extremely low. Is the probability zero? No, it never is for a manufactured product.
Push comes to shove, sell the replacement unit and buy something else. I think that there are a lot of people on this board wthat would jump at the chance to buy your replacement unit. You can then move on to a Rupes or a GG unit.
DaveT435
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- Jun 23, 2012
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- Thread starter
- #31
I've got four Rupes machines, a G21, this Flex, and my first PC. I've had a 3401, PE14, and a PE8. The 3401 and PE 14 were too hard on my back (I have serious back problems) I may actually go back and give the PE14 another try because of how quickly you can remove heavy defects with a rotary. The PE8 I sold after I got the ibird. The ibird was a better fit for my needs. As you can see I'm not loyal to any brand. I judge machines on their design, comfort, and performance.
I didn't see anything else about backing plates coming apart on these. I may not be typing the right wording into the search engine. I checked this machine a few times during use because I know heat was an issue with the first version. I didn't notice any excessive heat. Definitely a lot cooler running that the 3401. I had checked it before when I was testing the machine out, but it was only about 60 degrees out at that time. It was getting a lot more work this use and the temperature was in the 90s.
My initial reaction after this happened was negative. I just put a big gouge in the paint. I think any of us would have been ready to throw the machine in the trash immediately after something like this happened. After I cooled off and thought things through I went ahead and finished the car with that machine. I've talked about defect percentages throughout this thread, you can't mass produce a product and be 100% defect free. Other than the first version of this machine complaints or problems with Flex products on the forum have been pretty much non existent. For me there is enough positive things about this machine, and I have enough confidence in Flex tools to keep running it. If I have another problem with it obviously my opinion will change drastically.
Mike@ShineStruck
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- Apr 17, 2015
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Dave, give the PO5000c a go man..virtually no vibration, less then xfe7-15 and boss G21
as for the backing plates, it happened with version 1...to my knowledge this is the 4th BP mentioned to break off a version 2...but only you and another guy on FB confirmed it was in fact a version 2..other two just stated it was following the picture
rlmccarty2000
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- Dec 23, 2013
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You are a better man than me. After the backing plate came off I could never trust it again. I'm a Rupes guy and I've never had any problems with their products (except for some pads). Good luck with the Flex polisher, I really hope it gives you years of trouble free performance.
VISITOR
Active member
- May 10, 2007
- 9,859
- 3
this reminds many years ago when the PCXP first came out, a handful of people had the shaft break off and some damaged the paint similiar to what the OP experienced. no man made product is perfect and sometimes unfortunate things like this happen...