XC 3401 VRG Backing plate rubbing on ring gear

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Alekss

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I was recently working on a white car and noticed what I though at first was fine black dust coming out of my flex 3401.
At first I thought it was coming from the inside of the machine, however after removing the backing plate I notice it is rubbing against the ring gear.
Any ideas as to why this is happening?
Please see pics below of scuff marks on both mating parts.



 
do you have the backing plate seated correctly? it needs to sit flat with the plate/ flex gear wheels aligned correctly.. sometimes you have to turn the gear wheel to have it match up/ seat correctly
 
Does the felt ring have any lubrication? Also you can try flipping the felt ring to see if it raises up some.
 
I thought I had everything seated correctly, it felt like it.
And I have never lubricated the felt ring until today actually. As this issue came up I tried searching to see If I can find a solution so the felt ring lubrication came up. Bought some air tool oil, etc.

You think it's OK to keep using the backing plate the way it is now?
 
can you put it back together and retake a profile pic of the machine?
 
okay..so lets think about this.. you have now lubed the ring.. i used mobil 1 synthetic ..bc as mike p said..thats whats laying around ...
question is using the ring now that there has been some wear.

the seating of the backing plate happens in 2 places.

seat correctly in the gear teeth/ ring

2nd area..is the center housing where the locking nut attaches to the plate

from the view of the pictures.. i probably have this wrong.but initially based on the wear section being isolated to 30 percent of the gear ring .. it seems to me that the gear ring was not seated correctly..

if the wear was due to no lubrication.. you would notice the wear throughout the whole face more evenly disbursed wear pattern.

given the wear is on 1 section .. 30 percent section..it seems like the plate was not seated correctly and may have been slightly lopsided..which would explain wear in that isolated area.. given the flex rotates.. only the lopsided area would show wear as depicted in the pictures.

that set aside. primary question ..is continue using the plate ..? if it was me.. i would have already ordered a replacement plate, b/c i would not want to doubt the integrity of my tool,

simply solution..if it bothers you.. its better to simply order another plate ..install it and then focus on the polishing..

if using this piece will cause you OCD distress as you are polishing.. i would spend the money for replacement and remove the stress, given the polishing process itself is exhausting without worrying if the plate is compromised..

good luck with you decision.. i think your eyes would be the best judge on whether you will still confidence in your tool.
 
one final thought on the initial issue..
was the locking nut loose when you removed it? if the nut loosened up..that would cause the wear..as the plate was loose and would be the same issue as an incorrectly seated plate.

btw.. if you never lubed the ring... and it seems like you just bought the flex ..

the locking nut does not ship "tight" from the factory.. the nut is not tightened securely.. you would want to tighten the nut on a newly received unit..

i think most discover this when they first receive the unit, and go to lube the ring..so they remove the nut.. which is shipped a bit loose from the factory...

did you tighten the nut prior to usage?
 
That's what I thought as well, it is seated correctly, and was like that when I removed it. I always ensure the plate is seated correctly before polishing.
This polishes has been used a few times now (a few cars) and I did use a 6" backing plate with it as well.
The main reason I never used any oil on the felt ring is simply because flex did not specify it, or at least I did not see that in the manual.
Anyway, I will investigate this further and report back.
Thanks for all your help.
 
If you order a new plate it won't have the metal washer in the middle. The new ones are all plastic and IMO not as good
 
If it was seated correctly and im not doubting it was ..co tact your merchant for guidance on warranty...

Ive glanced at a few other posts where folks have had flex backing plate issues ...

You will proba ly have to send your unit in for assessment...

Gl and keep us posted
 
I had this issue with the larger backing plate. I didn't lubricate the felt and this happened, got way worse than this. I was also putting quite a bit of pressure and I don't thing it was flat enough.

Called flex and they sent (or I bought) a new felt ring and backing plate. Lubricated this time and haven't had the issue since.
 
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