Lubricating the Felt Ring on the Flex 3401

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Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.

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Lubricating the Felt Ring on the Flex 3401


First there is no official recommendation from Flex on this procedure but most owners of the Flex 3401 like to lubricate the Felt Ring to ensure there are no issues between it and the hard plastic backing material that it comes into contact with during operation.

For preventative maintenance reasons, it's okay to lubricate the felt ring after purchase and periodically depending upon how much use your Flex 3401 sees.

What to use?I went to NAPA and purchased some Air Tool Lubricant, (see picture), but any light machine oil should work including the traditional 3-in-1 Oil.


Here's the felt ring on the Flex 3401
Oiling3401Flex01.jpg



Here I've placed some oil on my finger ...
Oiling3401Flex02.jpg



and then spread it onto the felt ring...
Oiling3401Flex03.jpg



You can see the oil penetrate into the felt to lubricate it and from here it will migrate through the felt...
Oiling3401Flex04.jpg



You could also place some drops around the felt ring and then spread it and work it in using your finger...
Oiling3401Flex05.jpg



This brand new Flex 3401 is ready to go to work for a new project next week...
Oiling3401Flex06.jpg



xyxthumbs.gif
 
Now that's exactly the way I would have done it!! :props:

Thanks Mike!!
 
Cool. It's been a couple of years since I purchased the Flex. Never did oil the ring. Guess it couldn't hurt at this point.:xyxthumbs:
 
What's the mechanical reason behind doing this? Does it assist with reducing heat build up between the two parts? Are thEy known to wear out prematurely If this isn't done? I've done about 20-30 cars with it and haven't lubed it but definitely will... I have some gUn lube, I think that would work....
 
fredcandetail said:
What's the mechanical reason behind doing this? Does it assist with reducing heat build up between the two parts? Are thEy known to wear out prematurely If this isn't done? I've done about 20-30 cars with it and haven't lubed it but definitely will... I have some gUn lube, I think that would work....
Click to expand...

The mechanical reason is friction due to force and rotation.

A lubricating film here is important in my opinion and cannot hurt but will only help. I clean mine and lube it twice annually however I use a light high pressure transparent grease.
 
Hi,
Just done it with 3- in-1 oil.I have not yet used my new Flex 3401 purchased 3 weeks ago.
Felt seemed thirsty...ha ha ha
 
Mike,
previously I had searched and read a very long thread on oiling the 3401 and near the end you had contacted the folks at Flex directly.
As I recall, they said the earlier model Flex needed this oil but it was NOT NECESSARY and not advised on the newer 3401s. I think it said the newer model's felt did not touch the rotating part or something like that and oil was not needed.

Please clarify.
Thanks

I have a new 3401 and was going to oil until I found that post .
 
MinnBobber said:
Mike,
previously I had searched and read a very long thread on oiling the 3401 and near the end you had contacted the folks at Flex directly.
As I recall, they said the earlier model Flex needed this oil but it was NOT NECESSARY and not advised on the newer 3401s. I think it said the newer model's felt did not touch the rotating part or something like that and oil was not needed.

Please clarify.
Thanks

I have a new 3401 and was going to oil until I found that post .
Click to expand...

Can you link that post..must have missed it.
 
Rsurfer said:
Can you link that post..must have missed it.
Click to expand...

don't know how to do a link--can someone give instructions, but here is where I saw it and
someone can do a link please.

Post was 3/29/11 by Top Banana titled "Oiling the Flex 3401 Felt Ring".
On page 3 of that thread, Mike responds on 4/19/2012:
...............................................................................................

Re: Oiling the Flex 3401 felt ring
At some point in time it is believed that some number of people had issues related to the Flex 3401.

Someone, not me, came up with the solution to lubricate the felt ring.

I spoke with Bob Eichelberg last week about this and he said there is no reason to lubricate the felt ring and no one needs to lubricate the felt ring.

My article was merely for the purposes of showing people how to do it if they chose to do it.

I've only lubricated one felt ring in my life and it's the one in the pictures. I've never lubricated any of the other Flex 3401 polishers in our garage and never had any problems.

We shot a brand new Flex video last week and we did "not" address or show this topic.


FWIW
 
Speaking of the felt ring I was using my 3401 last week and the felt ring became bound between the metal body and the backing plate and would not allow it to spin anymore. I don't know why it happened and how to get a new one or if I have to send it in for replacement
 
Hi,
As already told in a previous post I've oiled the flelt on my new Flex 3401 following Mike's advice and hope this will not cause any issue. It was raining today so I was unable to use it as I don't have a garage.
Regards,
Johny Feed back please
 
kingweb50 said:
Speaking of the felt ring I was using my 3401 last week and the felt ring became bound between the metal body and the backing plate and would not allow it to spin anymore. I don't know why it happened and how to get a new one or if I have to send it in for replacement
Click to expand...
Did it get hot or started to smoke? Are you saying that the backing plate doesn't spin?
 
no the felt ring "bent" in between the backing plate and it stopped spinning I removed it and it spins again but the felt ring is ripped
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Just a guess....

Sounds like it bound up due to friction from pressure and pulled out and then bound up...

No way to put it back in and lube it?



:)
Click to expand...

no it tore. I found one online at the flex parts distributer but for a few dollar fet ring they want 12 dollars to ship it so I will continue looking
 
So Mike, what's the official recommendation on lubricating the felt? Just received my Flex 3401 today and after reading through this thread I'm going to wait until I hear your thoughts. I'm uncertain of the way to proceed.
 
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