Important* new flex polisher question

i dont know why its doing it it seems like the backing plate just isnt secure to the tool. i can easily wiggle it back and forth rapidly and make a noise while doing it. then when i turn on the machine i can hear it bouncing. the backing plate itself is not secure to the tool like the g15 is. the allen screw and the washer are there and they are tight but the backing plate is not secure. the allen screw is tightened down all the way. there's not much to it just the short allen screw and the washer thats it.

im sorry but can you guys point me to the number for customer service?
 
spazzz said:
It is the factory backing plate I shaved down to 5 inches. It clicks back and forth when I tug on it, always has.

It has worked great for 3 years.
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mines definitely not working great. this isnt my only da i have four of them,
 
DaveT435 said:
That's really strange, the way the parts are manufactured I don't really see what would cause that except a cross threaded screw or the backing plate itself broken. So obviously you've removed the backing plate and put it back on? Can you actually see what's broken? I want you to understand I'm not doubting you in any way, just curious because in the years I've been on here I've never heard of anything like this on here. With any manufactured product there is going to be a percentage of defects. Flex percentage seems to be very low. Can you actually see what's broken, have you turned the machine on a low speed with the backing plate off to try to see where the problem is?
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i don't want to start getting into trying to fix it they can do that. i just want a new one. im sure you can understand this is a very expensive tool for me. thank you though for trying to help ill let you know how it turns out.

edit: i found the info for customer service at the top of the store page. i sent them a message and will call tomorrow,
 
anyone know if the autogeek office will be open today?
 
I posted the pics for reference, I was hoping you would post pics for comparison.

Mine is the apparent working variance.
 
fightnews said:
i don't want to start getting into trying to fix it they can do that. i just want a new one. im sure you can understand this is a very expensive tool for me. thank you though for trying to help ill let you know how it turns out.

edit: i found the info for customer service at the top of the store page. i sent them a message and will call tomorrow,
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I understand completely, if it isn't right they need to give you a new one. Having had one of those machines I just can't figure what it would possibly be. The two obvious things that come to mind are the one I mentioned, and the too long screw someone else mentioned. Obviously it's neither of those. It'll be interest to find out what the problem is.
 
DaveT435 said:
I understand completely, if it isn't right they need to give you a new one. Having had one of those machines I just can't figure what it would possibly be. The two obvious things that come to mind are the one I mentioned, and the too long screw someone else mentioned. Obviously it's neither of those. It'll be interest to find out what the problem is.
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It sure sounds like the screw is to long and is bottoming out.
 
spazzz said:
I posted the pics for reference, I was hoping you would post pics for comparison.

Mine is the apparent working variance.
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im sorry i dont have a camera. i see your pushing it up? mines loose, it will move up and down by shaking the tool. at high speed it wobbles like crazy. the actual backing plate is loose. as in its not secure to the machine. i have a g15 long throw polisher. the backing plate is secure to the machine. its not loose and doesn't move up and down off the machine at all

DaveT435 said:
I understand completely, if it isn't right they need to give you a new one. Having had one of those machines I just can't figure what it would possibly be. The two obvious things that come to mind are the one I mentioned, and the too long screw someone else mentioned. Obviously it's neither of those. It'll be interest to find out what the problem is.
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i think the backing plate tolerance is off

Rsurfer said:
It sure sounds like the screw is to long and is bottoming out.
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its not bottoming out
 
fightnews said:
im sorry i dont have a camera. i see your pushing it up? mines loose, it will move up and down by shaking the tool. at high speed it wobbles like crazy. the actual backing plate is loose. as in its not secure to the machine. i have a g15 long throw polisher. the backing plate is secure to the machine. its not loose and doesn't move up and down off the machine at all

i think the backing plate tolerance is off

its not bottoming out
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If you can't tighten the screw anymore without over tightening and the plate is not snug to the spindle and wobbles, then the screw is too long and bottoming out.
 
Have you taken the hex head bolt out to see how the threads look? or the backing plate is cracked on the spindle notch?
 
Rsurfer said:
If you can't tighten the screw anymore without over tightening and the plate is not snug to the spindle and wobbles, then the screw is too long and bottoming out.
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fightnews, I'm not saying what is/isn't wrong with the machine, but being a mechanic for the last 30 years, I really have to lean toward Rsurfer's opinion.

I have received machines, kits, pump assemblies, you name it with the wrong sized machine screws. And I'm talking like an M8x2.5 vs. an M8x3 which was a huge difference, and created just the problem you describe.

Either way, I hope you get a new machine. Just for your own peace of mind. Certainly sucks to pay top $$ for something that doesn't work smooth as silk from the get-go.

Good luck, man.
 
So what's the update?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Rsurfer said:
If you can't tighten the screw anymore without over tightening and the plate is not snug to the spindle and wobbles, then the screw is too long and bottoming out.
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No it means the tolerance on the backing plate is not right. i got a new one and its the same way. i guess it just doesn't effect performance that much.

Listen, I have and use tools professionally. I've been doing plumbing and pipe-fitting since i was 15, I'm 38 now. I personally own thousands of dollars worth of tools. The allen screw is not to short, and it is not cross threaded, the backing plate is loose. I've had two of them now and they are both the same. They both came like that from the factory. Tightening the allen screw more does not fix it.

I used the new flex today. I guess it does not effect performance enough for people to complain BUT you can move the backing plate up and down of the felt gasket. Imagine the tool lying in a horizontal position with the velcro pad looking up. You can wiggle the backing plate up and down. It is not secure like the griots garage BOSS G15.

If you care about my opinion i believe its because the tolerance is off on the fit of the backing plate. And the fact that the backing plate is made of 100% plastic.

Apparently its not enough of an issue for people to complain about but it definitely has to effect performance even if it only in a small, hardly noticeable way.


I appreciate everyone trying to help but I don't understand why people have to keep bringing up the same simple errors. It's like nobody believes you when you say there is a problem....
 
PaulMys said:
fightnews, I'm not saying what is/isn't wrong with the machine, but being a mechanic for the last 30 years, I really have to lean toward Rsurfer's opinion.

I have received machines, kits, pump assemblies, you name it with the wrong sized machine screws. And I'm talking like an M8x2.5 vs. an M8x3 which was a huge difference, and created just the problem you describe.

Either way, I hope you get a new machine. Just for your own peace of mind. Certainly sucks to pay top $$ for something that doesn't work smooth as silk from the get-go.

Good luck, man.
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Ok fine, i'll go into my garage right now and band-saw a couple threads off the factoy bolt.... I know for a fact the bolt being to long was never the issue because the first thing i did when i noticed the problem was add an extra washer. I'm a mechanic too, i don't work on engines but I'm definitely a professional mechanic in the plumbing/pipe-fitting trade, and have been for almost 25 years. I know as much as anybody when it comes to dealing with power tools.

In case anyone reading doesn't get that, the extra washer lifts up the bolt effectively making it shorter.
 
Eldorado2k said:
So what's the update?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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I got a new one bro, It works great with the LC 4" backing plate and the 5" hybrid pads. The 6.5" pads are another story. I'm going to fix the backing plate issue myself when i get around to it since I have an entire garage filled with hardware. I'll post an update when I do it to see if it works any better but im not in a hurry because i like using the 5" pads better.

For what it's worth the Lake country 4" backing plate has a metal washer at the connection. The flex factory backing plate is all plastic. Maybe that's why it works better???
 
Hey Fight I trust your mechanic knowledge but this thread of yours is bothering the snot out of me.

As you have seen there is a little wiggle room side to side and up/down from the felt from my pictures. It hasn't been a problem.

--------Are you using the factory washer under the factory allen bolt from the factory plate? ---------

I have the LC interchangeable system where you have to use the LC bolt.

If you want pictures of the plates or tool let me know and I will post them up. I honestly didn't think a new tool was going to fix anything.
 
spazzz said:
Hey Fight I trust your mechanic knowledge but this thread of yours is bothering the snot out of me.

As you have seen there is a little wiggle room side to side and up/down from the felt from my pictures. It hasn't been a problem.

--------Are you using the factory washer under the factory allen bolt from the factory plate? ---------

I have the LC interchangeable system where you have to use the LC bolt.

If you want pictures of the plates or tool let me know and I will post them up. I honestly didn't think a new tool was going to fix anything.
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Is the LC bolt longer than the OE bolt?
 
LC on left - stock on right

bolts_zpsspsvp6u4.jpg
 
QUOTE=spazzz;1469645]LC on left - stock on right

bolts_zpsspsvp6u4.jpg
[/QUOTE]

I had a customer that got the LC backing plate, but when he went back to the 5.5" OE backing plate he used the LC screw and had the same problem the OP has. Because the LC screw is longer, it's bottoming out and cannot snug down the OE backing plate.

I don't know if the OP got the LC plates, if he did, this sounds like the problem.

BTW thanks for the time to post the pictures.
 
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