Rupes 21 polisher, ISSUE!!!!!!!!?????????

Derek Short

Derek Short

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Just purchased a brand new rupes 21 from AG and used it for the first time this weekend....

I am having an issue with it....

As soon as I turned it out and started on a test spot on the hood I noticed all these little black specs starting to show up all over the hood... Come to find out it looks to be rubber form the rubber top side of the backing plate....

Anyone else experienced this before? I used it a little bit more thinking ti would go away but still get the black little specs all over the car.....

I tried to spin the wheel to see if it moved freely and it does seem a little stiff or tight. It does still move but doesn't spin like my GG6 does....

Any info would be much appreciated... I plan to call AG about the issue tomorrow...

Really not happy right now with the unit after dropping 400 bucks for it...
 
No, sorry, i dont have that issue with mine. I performed the KB washer method to distance the backing plate from that rubber drag brake.
However, try taking off the backing plate and carefully study how the backing plate mates to the rupes. The backing plate can be put on wrong. Yours might be. I found it a little annoying that rupes does not give the operator the option of locking the rupes spindle when trying to keep it still/ from spinning/moving while the backing plate is installed.
PLease keep this thread updated. I want to know how customer service handles this issue.
 
You need the washer mod it's rubbing and the black protector. You can get a washer from Kevin Brown it's free.
 
Pureshine said:
You need the washer mod it's rubbing and the black protector. You can get a washer from Kevin Brown it's free.
Click to expand...


Really I need a washer to fix my $400 tool? For that cost of the tool I'd expect it to be test and working perfectly before I event receive it.

But if that is what I have to do then so be it.

How do I get in contact with the Kevin Brown guy?
got a e-mail or phone number?


Thanks for the info.

I will keep this thread updated as I find out what happens.

Still plan to call AG about the issue....
 
you would like a kb washer method, but back to my question. Are you willing to remove the backing plate and re-install itperfectly only to then see if customer service really needs to be called. Something's telling me that your backing plate is on cock-eyed.
 
expdetailing said:
you would like a kb washer method, but back to my question. Are you willing to remove the backing plate and re-install itperfectly only to then see if customer service really needs to be called. Something's telling me that your backing plate is on cock-eyed.
Click to expand...

I am willing to mess with it myself but not if its going to be a issue with returning it or swapping it out for another....

From the feedback I am getting it sounds like ill be needing that washer.
Just really dissapointed that I need to hassle with modding a polisher after paying top dollar for a so-called best money can buy currently....
 
Flex 3401!! It's all you need.

Sorry to hear about your luck - my Rupes LHR15 just died a couple weeks ago. Who knows, maybe it's a fluke but I'm less than impressed.
 
Derek Short said:
Just purchased a brand new rupes 21 from AG and used it for the first time this weekend....

I am having an issue with it....

As soon as I turned it out and started on a test spot on the hood I noticed all these little black specs starting to show up all over the hood... Come to find out it looks to be rubber form the rubber top side of the backing plate....

Anyone else experienced this before? I used it a little bit more thinking ti would go away but still get the black little specs all over the car.....

I tried to spin the wheel to see if it moved freely and it does seem a little stiff or tight. It does still move but doesn't spin like my GG6 does....

Any info would be much appreciated... I plan to call AG about the issue tomorrow...

Really not happy right now with the unit after dropping 400 bucks for it...
Click to expand...

Derek Short said:
Really I need a washer to fix my $400 tool? For that cost of the tool I'd expect it to be test and working perfectly before I event receive it.

But if that is what I have to do then so be it.

How do I get in contact with the Kevin Brown guy?
got a e-mail or phone number?


Thanks for the info.

I will keep this thread updated as I find out what happens.

Still plan to call AG about the issue....
Click to expand...

Derek Short said:
I am willing to mess with it myself but not if its going to be a issue with returning it or swapping it out for another....

From the feedback I am getting it sounds like ill be needing that washer.
Just really dissapointed that I need to hassle with modding a polisher after paying top dollar for a so-called best money can buy currently....
Click to expand...

There is no reason that a $400 machine should be modified for it to work properly.

Hopefully you can get this sorted without having to modify it.
 
You don't need a washer mod. To say you need that so "pieces" don't fly out of the machine is not correct.

My guess is the "pieces" that are flying out are flecks of dried grease that is factory installed between the BP. It's a very light coat.

The BP is meant not to free spin - the BP doesn't dig into the machine; washer mod or not. The Rupes is a pretty high quality machine - let's get this sorted.

Can you show us some pics?
 
Derek Short said:
As soon as I turned it out and started on a test spot on the hood I noticed all these little black specs starting to show up all over the hood... Come to find out it looks to be rubber form the rubber top side of the backing plate....

Anyone else experienced this before? I used it a little bit more thinking ti would go away but still get the black little specs all over the car.....

I tried to spin the wheel to see if it moved freely and it does seem a little stiff or tight. It does still move but doesn't spin like my GG6 does....

Any info would be much appreciated... I plan to call AG about the issue tomorrow...

Really not happy right now with the unit after dropping 400 bucks for it...
Click to expand...


First, the little black residue is just some break in from where the rubber shroud rubs against the backing plate. It won't harm anything nor affect the quality of the tool.

I've actually never seen where this issue continues?



Derek Short said:
Really I need a washer to fix my $400 tool? For that cost of the tool I'd expect it to be test and working perfectly before I event receive it.
Click to expand...

Rupes does not recommend installing the washer between the spindle and the backing plate. This is a tweak of the tool Kevin Brown came up with to take the Rupes engineered design of putting some drag against the backing plate (to provide 50% oscillation and 50% rotation), and remove the drag factor.

By installing the washer you lose the drag and lose oscillation while increasing rotation.

I'm not weighing in whether this is a good idea or a bad idea as forum consensus has already been formed and one thing I've learned after typing on detailing forums for 20 years now is that once the Genie is out of the bottle it's hard to put him back in.

I've been to Rupes in Italy, was their guest at their National Sales Meeting. Was invited to participate in their discussions as well as test out new products. Here's three threads I created after my trip.


Meet Guido Valentini the Presidente of Rupes

Top Secret Pictures – How Rupes Bigfoot Polishers are made!

Rupes Bigfoot Orbital Polishers Virtual Museum Tour - Milan, Italy



Rupes is a top notch company and make high quality tools.


If you install the washer mod that's up to you. I'm just telling you the official Rupes position on this topic.


:xyxthumbs:
 
I have the Rupes 15 polisher and I also noticed some black flecks when I first used it. It cleared up rather quickly and has been fine since. I would say by about halfway through the first car it stopped. I did not do the KB washer modification that many here recommend. I found that using good technique and absorbing the learning curve on the Rupes machine was all that was needed. So far I don't feel it is necessary.
 
The same thing happened to me the first time I used my Rupes 21. I also thought it was just some sort of odd break in routine. Come to find out the rubber shroud was actually catching on the backing plate and bending completely over and snapping flat with every rotation. This was causing chunks of rubber to fly off the shroud as the machine was in use.

In order to fix this problem I placed 2x 8mm washers between the backing plate and the spindle. This gave the plate enough clearance so it was no longer contacting the rubber shroud. The machine also works better with the washer mod installed.

Sent from my N9810 using AG Online
 
I polished out a GTI this past weekend and who whole time while doing the car I had that issue. seems to clear up a little bit towards the end of the job. but still saw the black specs of rubber....

Still unsure what I want to do about it. maybe do another 1 or 2 cars.... if still have the issue may have to do the mod... Wish rubes would have corrected this when in the R and D phase.
 
I bought a Rupes 21 just a few days ago and so far after 8 cars I am still getting black specs which I have found to be rubber from the shroud and not "grease" as someone thought above. With a free spin on a metal pan with a junk pad due to the pad collecting the black flakes on a 2015 Escalade I was able to watch and see the rubber shroud hit and slowly be torn away. I have gone through 4 pads and set the rupes aside till I fix it and picked up my flex to do the rest of my work. Love the 21mm throw of rupes but its not worth messing up a flawless finish with a machine set so high!
I have other pics of the pad turning black from the rubber dust but it wont upload for some reason from phone.
 
I'll have to take a picture of mine. The rubber shroud was literally getting torn apart from being bent into/under the backing plate with each rotation. After installing the washer mod I've used it daily and have had no issues.
 
I had the same thing happen to me. This has also happened to several local detailers I know. It eventually went away after polishing test panels with it.

I don't run the machine with washers btw.

You can also razor blade the shroud for clearance or just space it out with the washer....or sell the poor machine to me. :)
 
Ever since Kevin Brown introduced the washer mod there has been a split in opinions. From reading the comments from the factory reps and meeting the techs at SEMA for me it came down to personal preference. Rupes will tell you all over the world the 21 is used without a washer mod. Kevin goes into great detail explaining exactly his ideas behind his " mod ". I have tried it both ways multiple times and have stuck with using the washer which IMO fits my style of correcting paint. So to answer those that think Rupes didn't do there homework , they have. I believe the 21 to be a quality machine. I just happen to like it with the " mod " . I own three Rupes machines and soon will pull the trigger on my fourth.
 
I have the same issue with my Rupes 15. I only have a single 8 mm washer installed.

I was trying to check the alignment of the washer and possibly add one more but I managed to strip the head with my cheap HF Allen socket!

So I'm gonna live with it for now or attempt to file the shroud down a hair if it doesn't break in after a few more hours.
 
I've been running my Rupes 21 with the washer mod for 27 months now and never had a single issue. I did try polishing a few panels when I first got the tool without the washer, and the tool worked fine but the pad didn't spin freely, which is an issue for me when blowing out pads. The addition of the washer gives more correction power since it's not being slowed by the shroud and I have not looked back once since adding the washer. I really don't know why people make such a big deal about adding a washer either??? It takes 30 second and simply opens the gap between the plate and the shroud....
 
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