blkyukon
New member
- Mar 18, 2006
- 184
- 0
FLEX XC3401 problem
- Thread starter gasterus
- Start date
Weird, following link in my e-mail notifications of new posts took me beyond it, thank you for pointing it out to me.
Picture is worth a thousand words, thank you for posting it! I have to laugh as I have never closely inspected that area, that felt always appeared to me as teflon-like ring glued onto surface of housing, that is how I was always referring to it. I will now have when I get back home look at it again and finally schedule appointment with optician.It looks like this was melted to the backing plate and pulled out of the machine:
Clearance between plate and housing is, according to Dave from Powerhouse, measured by him as 0.035" (approximately 1/32"). Looking at my two units they both are approximately having that clearance and neither one of them has yet (to knock in the wood) done this. However, both of them have been re-tightened mercilessly moment they have arrived, both of them have been double-washered moment I could, and I always (ever since RO 150 FEQ taught me that lesson) pay attention that there is no tilting / off-center pressure as forced rotation machines (especially of vertical orientation) have mean out-of-control if "edge" of bp gets snagged / digs in.
Still I wish Flex would come up with a way to prevent this. I will have to try to contact them.
mingraygt
New member
- Apr 8, 2006
- 479
- 0
Then I think that the VENDOR should have some better quality control.
mingraygt
New member
- Apr 8, 2006
- 479
- 0
Thats cool man! You would think that they would check and re-check before they were shipped out. But I know that dont always happen.
Deep Gloss Auto Salon
New member
- Jun 16, 2007
- 2,038
- 0
I am not here to discuss what vendors should or shouldn't do.. simply to get to the bottom of this and hopefully save someone else from the smell of burning plastic and interuption of a polishing session
While I agree with you, it should also be good habit to ensure all adjustable pieces of any unit (new or prior to ANY use) are at the desired setting, adjustment, torque.
As owners of comoditties, we must accept a level of responsibility and not always cast all reasonable responsibility elsewhere...
- Thread starter
- #48
Only use moderate pressure with mine...treat it like a rotary polisher, but I didn't tighten the BP from the start.
m4gician
New member
- Apr 28, 2007
- 343
- 0
No I haven't experienced this burning backing plate however I think I have the updated backign plate not the original one.
Deep Gloss Auto Salon
New member
- Jun 16, 2007
- 2,038
- 0
So does the OP.. you can identify the original BP #1 by the outer diameter of 5.5" and #2 by the white padding between the velcro and the plastic BP itself.
I am not convinced that this is a new vs old BP issue.. I am initially begining to think that it is an issue of the BP not being tightened combined with pressure / uneven pressure applied to the machine
Glad you aren't seeing this with your machine
blkyukon
New member
- Mar 18, 2006
- 184
- 0
I've posted info/my findings about this issue here
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-rover-black-detail-lots-pics.html#post176148
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-rover-black-detail-lots-pics.html#post176148
napster_08
New member
- Apr 15, 2008
- 7
- 0
can someone provide a video on how the new flex works without the backing plate cause im confused if that paper ring also rotate when the polisher starts?
So what is the issue? Just tighten that nut and follow advice above.
yeah but i dont want that to not be the solution!
i need to call AG tomorrow, i went to my account and i see no order!!
double damn!
Showroom Shine
New member
- Apr 19, 2007
- 860
- 0
I have owned the Flex XC 3401 for about 5 months. I've used it at least twice a week since owning it. Even if I used it on the wife's or my detail truck. I had probably used it 10 maybe 15 times before I ever checked the backing plate. For some reason I decided to get out the wrench and check to see how tight the plate was. To my surprise the hex head bolt was very loose. I'm glad nothing ever happened. I tightened the plate and the Bale handle. I never had any trouble with it , thank goodness. I would suggest that everyone who gets one check it before using it. Better safe than sorry. :righton:
Exactly. For same reason I would like to suggest that everyone checks/tighten the bolt every time before they start working with it as these backing plates are not self-tightening and everything that "vibrates" has a chance of getting loose over the period of time so few seconds of pre-work check are good practice with any power tool.
Elenzer868951
New member
- Apr 28, 2008
- 1
- 0
Hello Guys...
This is my very first posting on this site. I'm just a starter when it comes to car detailing but I've already read a lot and watched several detailing videos. I have a passion for cars and wanted to start my own auto-detailing business. I've already made over $2K investment for starter kits. I'm still trying to decide whether to get the Flex or the Porter Cable at this point. I know with the ongoing issue with the Flex, some may suggest to get the Porter Cable or wait.
Since most of you are the experts, please provide some guidelines as to which Detailing Machine should I get.
This is my very first posting on this site. I'm just a starter when it comes to car detailing but I've already read a lot and watched several detailing videos. I have a passion for cars and wanted to start my own auto-detailing business. I've already made over $2K investment for starter kits. I'm still trying to decide whether to get the Flex or the Porter Cable at this point. I know with the ongoing issue with the Flex, some may suggest to get the Porter Cable or wait.
Since most of you are the experts, please provide some guidelines as to which Detailing Machine should I get.
From everything I see there is nothing that would indicate there is a single issue with Flex, much less an ongoing one.
Flex is being used by at least hundreds of owners and only few have reported a "problem". Out of those few they all seem to fall in catgeory of "did not check the tool prior to using it, thus did not find bolt might need tightening, and used tool in incorrect manner".
Thus I tend to feel there is no issue with Flex whatsoever.
If I were you I would get Flex, do pre-inspection in manner described numerous times, and use it in correct manner as described numerous times.
When deciding keep in mind please that PC is not perfect. If you search you will find there were many reports of backing plate flying off on PC and even hitting and damaging the car in the process.
Therefore you can not think in terms of "PC is perfect" (as it is not) and "I will take incorrect use of Flex by owner as tool's flaw".
Please notice no owner that reported "problem" with Flex came back to report problem is reocurring once they were told to tighten bp and not use offset pressure.