Flex 3401 VRG Headcount - Page 33

Atlantic Euro · 05-26-08, 05:06

Here's your image

So is there a reason I can't use just the lock washer? My concern is reducing the depth of the bolt in whatever housing it is targeted for.

Really appreciate the help/insight - mine is on the way and I'm going to be very unhappy if I start spraying chunks of it around...

alicecooper · 05-26-08, 12:33

When you get your flex and take it apart, you'll understand it better. That picture of a lock washer really makes it look very, very thick. I believe that picture was done in macro mode. The lock washer I am using is not as thick as the one in the picture appears, and the bp bolt is plenty long enough to give you plenty of depth.

The bottom line is, when you see the actual size of the top surface of stud the bolt goes into, there really ain't much area there to keep the bp perfectly parallel, especially with the very tight tolerances on the o\s circumference of the bp where people are getting the rubbing and wear, and using anything other than a perfectly parallel pad pressure. The bp is plastic, which in itself is going to, pardon the term "flex". If the part of the bp that goes around the stud was metal, then I believe there would be lesser of a chance of it flexing.

So the whole point is to make the contact surface of the bp bolt as large and stiff as possible to prevent as much "flexing" as possible.

I hope I made sense. I ain't had my coffee yet this morning. As I said before, it's been working for me, so far.

alicecooper · 05-26-08, 01:02

I must make a retraction from an error on my part. The part of the bp that goes around the stud is metal.
You made me very curious to see if I had any wear on the o\s circumference of the bp, so I just went and took mine apart and check it. There is no wear or marks whatsoever, not even a scratch. But having it apart in daylight, and looking closer, I see it is metal. When I 1st picked it up, back in early spring, and took it apart, it was late at night, and the metal is painted black, just like the plastic. Sorry 'bout that!

Atlantic Euro · 05-26-08, 06:52

Sorry to be such a dunce - it looks like there is already either a washer or a "cap" on the bolt.

A pic would be really appreciated!

BK_DC · 05-26-08, 07:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnuckleBuckett

Yesterday. What is happening (look closer) is that the backing plate is heating by rubbing against the shiny steel case. We likely have the same issue. It seems to me that putting pressure on the pad causes the backing plate to collide with the case causing quite a mess.

[...] Anyone else have a similar issue?

Exact same issue here. It is fortunate I checked this thread, because I never would have known what happened.

For me, it was weeks ago that I was working on a couple of REALLY bad stains from bird crap (bird crap of biblical proportions) on the trunk, and I had to put a decent amount of pressure on the pad. All of a sudden, the polisher blew out a bunch of smoke, and it freaked me out. I immediately shut it off. My initial reaction was that I must have burned the paint, but I realized that was unlikely and the smoke seemed to have come from the polisher itself. Then I was worried I'd burned out the motor by using pressure, but it's not like I was standing on it. Also, it seemed to be working fine again right afterwards. I decided to have a beer, then take it easy on the rest of the trunk lid. No more problems after that.

Your post and the one from Coltagious have made me go grab my machine and take a look. The backing plate edges are a bit chewed up and look melted. They look like Coltagious's photo, except my felt ring didn't melt and stick to my plate.

There's barely any tolerance back there and I can see how the plate might hit the housing. I'm sure that's what happened to mine.

I'll try to stay posted to see if anyone else has any problems with this. So far for me, other than giving me a near-heart attack when seeing the smoke, this hasn't caused any problem, but it can't be right.

Coltagious · 05-27-08, 12:42

Alice cooper:

Thanks for the pic explanation. Things are much clearer now on how I should go about using the flex. Will try to get the felt ring off the BP and add a locking washer.

rsevt · 06-04-08, 05:52

Thanks for the details. I am a new flex owner and will definitiely apply this fix.

Mitchubishievo · 06-13-08, 06:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by BK_DC

Exact same issue here. It is fortunate I checked this thread, because I never would have known what happened.

For me, it was weeks ago that I was working on a couple of REALLY bad stains from bird crap (bird crap of biblical proportions) on the trunk, and I had to put a decent amount of pressure on the pad. All of a sudden, the polisher blew out a bunch of smoke, and it freaked me out. I immediately shut it off. My initial reaction was that I must have burned the paint, but I realized that was unlikely and the smoke seemed to have come from the polisher itself. Then I was worried I'd burned out the motor by using pressure, but it's not like I was standing on it. Also, it seemed to be working fine again right afterwards. I decided to have a beer, then take it easy on the rest of the trunk lid. No more problems after that.

Your post and the one from Coltagious have made me go grab my machine and take a look. The backing plate edges are a bit chewed up and look melted. They look like Coltagious's photo, except my felt ring didn't melt and stick to my plate.

There's barely any tolerance back there and I can see how the plate might hit the housing. I'm sure that's what happened to mine.

I'll try to stay posted to see if anyone else has any problems with this. So far for me, other than giving me a near-heart attack when seeing the smoke, this hasn't caused any problem, but it can't be right.

I WAS JUST ABOUT TO POST A THREAD ABOUT THIS!!!!

My heart absolutely stopped yesterday while using the flex because there were CHUNKS of the backing plate just coming off!

KnuckleBuckett · 06-13-08, 12:39

FYI

Detailer Domain does not deal with the warranty issues if you purchase it from them. They pass you to their supplier. I think this is to cut out the middle man and save time.

Anyhoo. I contacted them and was sent a new felt ring and backing plate with no issues at all.

You are supposed to soak the felt ring in a light motor oil and then get rid of the excess, before installation.

Then remove the backing plate and tighten the new plate.

Atlantic Euro · 06-13-08, 04:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnuckleBuckett

FYI

Detailer Domain does not deal with the warranty issues if you purchase it from them. They pass you to their supplier. I think this is to cut out the middle man and save time.

Anyhoo. I contacted them and was sent a new felt ring and backing plate with no issues at all.

You are supposed to soak the felt ring in a light motor oil and then get rid of the excess, before installation.

Then remove the backing plate and tighten the new plate.

I don't recall seeing anything like that in the manual - maybe I should look at it...

I hit mine pretty well w/ silicone spray and it seems to be fine...

04LemansZ · 07-11-08, 11:28

Newb question...I've seen to "moisten" or "soak" the felt ring...how is everyone doing this, are you actually soaking the entire ring, or just dabbing it with oil here and there?

I've got my first two flex details lined up this weekend and want to be sure everything is good to go.

KnuckleBuckett · 07-11-08, 12:30

I poured Mobil 1 into a ziplock. Zipped it in and worked it around until it got a good soaking. Took it out and thoroughly wiped it dry with lots of paper towels.