Piece of Junk

[CaptJon]

You mean you never heard of a unconditional warranty? I have bought many power tools in my long lifetime and there is always a warranty card with the product. Hell even a cheap $10.00 clock has a warranty card. This is the only time that I have to go to a website and print out a warranty.

What are you lonely or something? I don't want to get in a pissing match about a products warranty. I don't care what you think I was just answering a question. Go ask Griots all the questions you want and pick apart their choice of wording for their warranty. I like it so I purchased it. END OF STORY.

 

[Rsurfer]

Good for you. Keep up your attitude and I'll demote you to a private.Im the MAN

What are you lonely or something? I don't want to get in a pissing match about a products warranty. I don't care what you think I was just answering a question. Go ask Griots all the questions you want and pick apart their choice of wording for their warranty. I like it so I purchased it. END OF STORY.

 

[PeTrol42]

I understand you not wanting another Porter Cable. Kind of a burn me once shame on you...burn me twice shame on me situation. I had the same thing with the Meguires. That machine was built especially for automotive polishing. There were a couple problems with that machine. They showed up when I was half way through the second job the machine was used on. There was a part used on that machine that I could not believe they used.
I don't know much about the Griots...I've heard it has more power than the PC...I have read about more problems with the Griots. As far as warranty goes it is great to have the coverage if something goes wrong...and it sounds like they are great about taking care of customers.
I was looking at the PC schematic on the 7424XP. I don't know if you have the XP or just the 7424 but it looked like the part that broke on yours was a 9.00 part. Granted there would be some work involved but it might be worth looking into. If you can repair it for 10-15.00 and a little labor it would give you a backup machine to use while waiting for a new Griots if that breaks.
Everything said about these machines and quality, warranty, etc. There is a lot to be said about a company that lets people in their factory to watch the machine being built. I would have to say Flex is the best. I like the direct drive also so the machine keeps turning regardless of pressure. There is a pretty substantial price difference but the next machine i will buy will be a Flex.

Hey, thanks for the tip. I'm a pretty handy guy so I might be able to repair it and it would be nice to have a backup DA.

BTW, I had the standard 7424, not the XP. I wonder if they beefed up the spindle on the XP. Either way, I hate the handle on the Porter Cable and the Griot's one looks more comfy for a long polishing session.

 

[PeTrol42]

Customers For Life - 100% Guarantee
At Griot's Garage, we want you as a customer for life. Everything you purchase from us comes with a lifetime guarantee against defect. We want you to enjoy our quality products for 180 days and have fun with them! If you don't like it for any reason during this time, return it for a full refund or credit. After that, you're covered with our lifetime guarantee against defect, in which we will either repair it, replace it, or credit your purchase price if we are able to do neither. Some items have a life span during normal use and they wear out. Our warranty does not include replacement of such items after normal use. Of course our guarantee doesn't cover abuse... But you already knew that.
Customers for life. That's our guarantee.

Good enough for me.

Thanks CaptJon, I was tying to find something like that on their website but I guess I didn't look hard enough.

There's no doubt in my mind about the Lifetime that Griot's offers and they're the ones getting my money.

 

[CEE DOG]

I was using my 7424 today when it broke from the spindle. The spindle looks like it's only 1/8th of an inch thick. What a piece of junk. And I've had it for 5 or 6 years but I've only used it like 10 times.

Does anyone know if the Griot's Garage Polisher is any good because I don't want to buy another Porter Cable.

The GG broke after 2 hours on me.... brand new... I returned it for a Flex 3401 and have had it since.

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

The GG broke after 2 hours on me.... brand new... I returned it for a Flex 3401 and have had it since.

Your not going to have any problems with a quality German built machine.

 

[bimmer325!]

There are A LOT more PC'S that have worked for years and done alot of dirty work. They are dependable and being a Machinist myself...MANY times it is an isolated incident that a tool breaks like that. More often than not is is just stress (metal) cracks that end up being the weak link in a tool with moving parts. does not matter to the person to whom it breaks..it simply sucks for them and no reason is usually good enough. Just bad luck.

 

[Rsurfer]

Good analogy.:xyxthumbs:

There are A LOT more PC'S that have worked for years and done alot of dirty work. They are dependable and being a Machinist myself...MANY times it is an isolated incident that a tool breaks like that. More often than not is is just stress (metal) cracks that end up being the weak link in a tool with moving parts. does not matter to the person to whom it breaks..it simply sucks for them and no reason is usually good enough. Just bad luck.

 

[Blackthorn One]

i'm no legal genius, but i would check exactly what is covered under the "lifetime" warranty. Where exactly is the lifetime warranty mentioned?

It's mentioned in the Griot's Garage catalog. Perhaps on their website as well. I don't know if other stores that sell their products advertise this.

 

[Blackthorn One]

Just reading over this entire thread and thinking about guarantees made me think of the movie Tommy Boy, everyone seen it?

I was thinking about that part where Tommy gets his first sale to the old guy...

Old Manager: "I like your line and I like your prices. But theres a problem. Theres no guarantee on the box"

Tommy: "Heck if something breaks down you can call me, even if I'm at home watching TV."

Richard: "Callahan has guaranteed every part sold since 1925."

Old Manager: "Maybe so. But its not on the box! It should always be on the box. Comforting you, calling out, "I'm good, I'll never let you down, but if I do I'll make things all better."

Richard: "Are brake pads are made of a non-..."

Old Manager: "..Son, if your not talking about a guarante, skip it. My customers need to see that little label looking them right in the eye.

Tommy: "Lets think about this Ted. Why would someone put a guarantee on a box, Hmm very intersting."

Old Manager: "Go on I'm listening."

Tommy: "Here's the way I see it. A guy puts a fancy guarantee on the box, because he wants you to feel all warm and toasty inside."

Old Manager: "Yeah, it makes a man feel good."

Tommy: "Of course it does, why shouldn't it? You figure you put that little box under your pillow at night the Guarantee Fairy might come be and leave a quarter, right Ted?"
...

Old Manager: "But why do they put a guarantee on the box then?"

Tommy: "Because they know all they sold you was a guaranteed piece of crap. Thats all it is isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and name it guaranteed I will, I got spare time.

Old Manager: "Okay, I'll buy from you."

Yes, I remember that scene. As I recall, Tommy says, "I can take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed.'
The manager replies, "What's your point?" Tommy says, " You can buy a guaranteed (piece of junk) from them, or you can buy a quality product from us."
I think of that, too.

 

[Blackthorn One]

Spot on Al! rops:

All mechanical devises will fail at one tome or another. None of us like it but we've all experienced it.

I'm not sure why the XP's fail in this area other than it appears that the wall thickness of the part looks exceptionally thin.

Some indicate that the 1st generation doesn't experience this type of failure. I wonder what changed, if anything, in the design making it the weakest link.

The XP is 4.5 amps vs. the 1st generation is 4.0 amps.

Many use this machines all day every day with out issue then there are situations like this where the tool has less than 10 hours of it and experiences a catastrophic failure.

I tried searching online for specifics regarding this failure but gained little insight. The only thing I did uncover was that some use a thicker wrench to hold the shaft in order for the backing plate to be removed. Wedging the backing plate "can" apply angular forces to this area and could possibly be behind some of the failures.

Has anyone contacted Porter Cable to gain some insight to what's going on here?

From what I have seen posted on various forums, it seems like the 7424 has a solid spindle, while the XP version is hollow. I expect this was done to save weight and make it easier to handle.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

From what I have seen posted on various forums, it seems like the 7424 has a solid spindle, while the XP version is hollow. I expect this was done to save weight and make it easier to handle.

Both the first and now second generation PC's had a threaded spindle assembly, just like the Griot's and Meguiar's polishers. Here's a picture from my article,



The Free Floating Spindle Bearing Assembly - The Story Behind The Story...

Note the Meguiar's versions and the Griot's Garage Versions of the Porter Cable Polisher use a similar design, that is these two other polishers also use a Free Floating Spindle Assembly.


In the below pictures, I'm pointing to what's referred to as the Free Floating Spindle Bearing Assembly of a Porter Cable Dual Action Polisher.

Porter Cable 7424XP with the Backing Plate Removed Exposing the
Counterweight and Free Floating Spindle Bearing Assembly

Close-up

DA Polishers with Free Floating Spindle Bearing Assemblies

From left to right...
Porter Cable 7424XP - Meguiar's G110v2 - Griot's Garage ROP - Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher

Close-ups...

One thing for sure, Porter Cable DA Polishers are behind millions of swirl free cars, I know I buffed out at least a few of those cars...

 

[Rsurfer]

Mike, I believe what Blackthorn One is saying..all the machines have a threaded spindle assembly to accept the male threaded backing plate, but the shaft that connects to the gear is solid on the original 7424 and the newer XP has a hollow shaft. Having a solid shaft would make it stronger IMO.

 

[Blackthorn One]

Mike, I believe what Blackthorn One is saying..all the machines have a threaded spindle assembly to accept the male threaded backing plate, but the shaft that connects to the gear is solid on the original 7424 and the newer XP has a hollow shaft. Having a solid shaft would make it stronger IMO.

Yes, that is what I was saying. Thank you.

 

[BobbyG]

Mike, I believe what Blackthorn One is saying..all the machines have a threaded spindle assembly to accept the male threaded backing plate, but the shaft that connects to the gear is solid on the original 7424 and the newer XP has a hollow shaft. Having a solid shaft would make it stronger IMO.

Guys, great observation!! rops:

Questions that begs to be asked...

1. Is the solid spindle for 1st generation 7424's currently available?
2. Is the solid spindle from the 1st generation 7424 a direct replacement for the 7424xp?

 

[BobbyG]

I did a bit of research and pulled up the exploded parts manual for both the Porter Cable 7424 and the Porter Cable 7424XP.


Porter Cable 7424

• Item # 20
• Part # 872991
• Spindle & Bearing Assembly
• Cost $43.56

Porter Cable 7424XP

• Item # 24
• Part # 872991
• Spindle & Bearing Assembly
• Cost $43.56

Conclusion: The part number for the 1st generation and 2nd generation (XP) are the same....

If someone can get me the drawing for this part I'll take a look at it and have a new one, possibly a redesign, made up....

 

[RMM]

Your not going to have any problems with a quality German built machine.

That's why Germany is the World's biggest exporter of high quality goods (if you exclude Raw Materials and Financial Services, it exports more than China and the US. And if you take into account the GDP, the weight of its exports is far higher than China and light-years away from the US).

 

[Setec Astronomy]

From what I have seen posted on various forums, it seems like the 7424 has a solid spindle, while the XP version is hollow. I expect this was done to save weight and make it easier to handle.

I expect it was done to save $.02 so the CEO could get a bigger bonus.

 

[PeTrol42]

Mike, I believe what Blackthorn One is saying..all the machines have a threaded spindle assembly to accept the male threaded backing plate, but the shaft that connects to the gear is solid on the original 7424 and the newer XP has a hollow shaft. Having a solid shaft would make it stronger IMO.

Yes, you are correct and that is the part that broke on mine.

And there is no possible way that spindle could be hollow because it's micro skinny as it is.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Griot's is the worst quality of them all. Why do you think they offer a lifetime warranty? I'm sure Griot's is making a huge amount of profit on the polisher.