New Product Announcement - Smaller Backing Plate for Flex XC3401

[VISITOR]

anyway of showing a pic with a 4" pad on the backing plate?

 

[Nick McKees37]

anyway of showing a pic with a 4" pad on the backing plate?

4" CCS pad on the new 4 3/8" backing plate.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Looks like you're holding a miniature top hat :laughing:

 

[Bunky]

It does not look like it is for 4-in pads. If it is, then you might as well use a 5.5-inch on the standard plate..

 

[VISITOR]

It does not look like it is for 4-in pads. If it is, then you might as well use a 5.5-inch on the standard plate..

agreed, you can just use 5.5" pads with the velcro extended all the way to the edge with the regular backing plate...

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I disagree. I'd much rather use the 4 3/8" backing plate with 5.5" pads, much more room for error!

agreed, you can just use 5.5" pads with the velcro extended all the way to the edge with the regular backing plate...

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[VISITOR]

I disagree. I'd much rather use the 4 3/8" backing plate with 5.5" pads, much more room for error!

while there is less room for error, having it smaller to fit 4" pads gives more of an option for the user to have two backing plates. you can just use 6.5" pads for the majority of the work already and just swap over to a 5.5" for tigher areas, but then again you can just use the DA with a smaller backing plate and 4" pads just as easy...

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

while there is less room for error, having it smaller to fit 4" pads gives more of an option for the user to have two backing plates. you can just use 6.5" pads for the majority of the work already and just swap over to a 5.5" for tigher areas, but then again you can just use the DA with a smaller backing plate and 4" pads just as easy...

Obviously, if you're using 5.5" pads, the pad doesn't extend to the edge of the backing plate, therefore, giving more slack for error.

I think coming out with the 4 3/8" BP for us that have the 3401 is relatively pointless, but for those who already have 5.5" pads and want a 3401, this BP is perfect. I see no need to buy this BP when I can use 6.5" pads with the 3401 and 4" pads with the Griot's.

 

[Nick McKees37]

agreed, you can just use 5.5" pads with the velcro extended all the way to the edge with the regular backing plate...

I wanted to show what the exposed edge looks like with the popular Hydro-Tech 5.5" pad on the OEM Flex backing plate.

 

[VISITOR]

Obviously, if you're using 5.5" pads, the pad doesn't extend to the edge of the backing plate, therefore, giving more slack for error.

I think coming out with the 4 3/8" BP for us that have the 3401 is relatively pointless, but for those who already have 5.5" pads and want a 3401, this BP is perfect. I see no need to buy this BP when I can use 6.5" pads with the 3401 and 4" pads with the Griot's.

just like i said in my first sentence. "having it smaller to fit 4" pads gives more of an option for the user to have two backing plates"...

 

[ROMEO]

At long last, as promised, I cut down a Flex 3401 backing plate to fit a 5.5 inch pad and gave it a trial run.

I should have done this when I first got my Flex - what a difference!

While I have never had problems using / controlling the Flex with 6.5" pads, using the smaller 5.5" was much easier - well balanced and controlled, reduced vibration, gets into smaller areas, and the pads are less expensive. There is a small (1/8 to 1/4") shoulder left around the pad and with just a little care posed no problems with running up to a body transition.

It is almost like using a different tool with all the benefits of the Flex. Now what do I do with all of my 6.5" pads?

5.5" Pad on backing plate before circumcision (pad just fits on plate)

The "operation"

5.5" plate and mounted pad

If you are in the Denver area and would lilke to try this circumcised backing (through August of this year), just PM me and we'll make arrangements. I have the following 5.5" pads:

Yellow CCS
White Flat
Red CCS
Black CCS
Tangerine Hydro
Cyan Hydro

Regards,
GEWB

I was gonna be suggesting doing this in order to fit a 4" pad, but after looking at it with the red pad, it seems as if this one doesn't have as much edge as the stock BP...



Also, we seem to have 3-4 different threads going on, maybe they can be merged?

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

just like i said in my first sentence. "having it smaller to fit 4" pads gives more of an option for the user to have two backing plates"...

I know, I agree with you. I was just calrifying on the other part that the 4 3/8" BP is much better for 5.5" pads compared to the stock 5.5" BP.

 

[VISITOR]

I know, I agree with you. I was just calrifying on the other part that the 4 3/8" BP is much better for 5.5" pads compared to the stock 5.5" BP.

while i'll say that you can't count me out for purchasing one of these just yet, it's highly unlikeable that i will (we'll see). while this new backing plate does offer room for error (yes, we all make mistakes at one time or another), it's not to say with extreme caution that one could not use a 5.5" (velcro extended to the edge) pad with the original backing plate. i already have a few DA's and one has the 4" pad set up which is ready to go. in anycase, we'll see what the final production backing plate looks like and go from there...

 

[john b]

Obviously, if you're using 5.5" pads, the pad doesn't extend to the edge of the backing plate, therefore, giving more slack for error.

I think coming out with the 4 3/8" BP for us that have the 3401 is relatively pointless, but for those who already have 5.5" pads and want a 3401, this BP is perfect. I see no need to buy this BP when I can use 6.5" pads with the 3401 and 4" pads with the Griot's.

i agree

 

[Kaban]

So is the backing plate size FINAL? Is it really going to be 4-3/8" in diameter or is that unknown at this point?

I see you can already pre-order it on the Autogeek website, so I wonder what happens to all the people that placed the order and find out it will be a different size than the prototype.

 

[Bunky]

So is the backing plate size FINAL? Is it really going to be 4-3/8" in diameter or is that unknown at this point?

I seriously doubt the diameter would change. There is too much engineering / tooling involved in making these.

 

[ScottB]

Im getting one ...

 

[Kaban]

I seriously doubt the diameter would change. There is too much engineering / tooling involved in making these.

Well, I agree with you.

However, look closer at the prototype pictures... It's clearly just the original 5.5" backing plate that has been trimmed down. I am more than certain it's just the original plate shaved off. I mean....you can still see ribs on side of the plate... there is no way in hell Flex will release the final product to look like the one we are now seeing in the pictures.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I see you can already pre-order it on the Autogeek website, so I wonder what happens to all the people that placed the order and find out it will be a different size than the prototype.

Autogeek would not have you pre-order an item when they don't know if it'll change before release. That wouldn't make any sense.

 

[feslope]

Well, I agree with you.

However, look closer at the prototype pictures... It's clearly just the original 5.5" backing plate that has been trimmed down. I am more than certain it's just the original plate shaved off. I mean....you can still see ribs on side of the plate... there is no way in hell Flex will release the final product to look like the one we are now seeing in the pictures.

Don't bet on it.