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Thread: PC not spinning

  1. #1

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    How important is it that the pad on the PC be spinning. I just finished doing some polishing with 105 and an orange edge light cutting pad and I had a hard time getting the head to stay spinning. It seemed like any pressure at all stopped it. it also seems like I got good results, so just how much does it matter?

  2. #2

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    I`ve used 6" flat pads with my PC and it will stop spinning and just jiggle in place with the slightest pressure. It takes forever to take out even minor scratches and the deeper scratches just laughed at me. :lol



    I`ve since switched to 5.5" for general polishing and 4" for correction and much happier with the effort and result.



    Francis

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by King Nothing
    How important is it that the pad on the PC be spinning. I just finished doing some polishing with 105 and an orange edge light cutting pad and I had a hard time getting the head to stay spinning. It seemed like any pressure at all stopped it. it also seems like I got good results, so just how much does it matter?


    Are you cleaning the pad on the fly? I have no issue with 105 and a polishing pad with a clean pad. Once the pad gets saturated with product it is less likely to spin.

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by FC_NoVA
    I`ve used 6" flat pads with my PC and it will stop spinning and just jiggle in place with the slightest pressure. It takes forever to take out even minor scratches and the deeper scratches just laughed at me. :lol



    I`ve since switched to 5.5" for general polishing and 4" for correction and much happier with the effort and result.



    Francis
    :2thumbs: What he said. If it doesn`t spin, I`m not using it. It`s suppose to be dual action, not one action (Jiggling).

  5. #5

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    How old is your machine? Ive gone through two, that replicated the exact issue your having. Ended up being brushes which need to be replaced.
    Owner of West Coast Detail Supply.

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  6. #6

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    I have a 4 yr old PC that has got 2 yrs of good use. Since Jan. it has got a lot of use with the KBM. I still have to apply a decent amount of pressure to get the pad to stop spinning. As noted above make sure the pad is kept clean. Its also important to have a clean surface free of bonded contaminants, oils and waxes to experiance a smooth polishing experience. So a few straight IPA wipedowns don`t hurt either.
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  7. #7

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    Your pad migh have been gummed up. How many pads did you use? Mark your backing plate with a straight line verticalky. This way you can truly see how much its spinning.

  8. #8

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    Im using edge 2000 pads. The panels were washed and clayed immediately before polishing. My PC is only a few months old with less than an hour or 2 of use on it

  9. #9

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    6" pads alone are pretty bulky not to mention the edge pads are even bulkier since they`re dual sided.



    I have no experience with these pads but so you don`t have to invest in a new backing plate I would buy some of those 4" dual sided pads that are made for the cyclo. I know AG sells them.

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by FC_NoVA
    I`ve used 6" flat pads with my PC and it will stop spinning and just jiggle in place with the slightest pressure...


    Same experience here, though I suppose "with the slightest pressure" is a subjective, and rather vague, measure that might explain differing experiences.



    Note regarding suggestions that PCs that stop spinning might need service- I`ve had both my PCs for many years and I`ve had one rebuilt. They have both *always* behaved this way. My older one was used (hard) at the St. Louis Autopian g-t-g (where Mike Phillips was coaching people) and I`m 100% certain that they are both operating correctly. With enough pressure they misbehave; they were designed to spin a single sheet of sandpaper with very little applied pressure so I guess it shouldn`t be a big surprise.



    When my one needed rebuilt, the oscillation was what wasn`t being properly driven, the "just jiggling under pressure" was not affected one way or the other before or after the rebuilding. But that was just *my* experience and there`s sure nothing wrong with having a Porter Cable tech check out any PC that`s behaving suspiciously. Rebuilds are cheap anyhow.



    All that having been said, with smaller pads both my PCs keep doing both motions, even when I apply significant pressure.



    So..I use 4" pads exclusively for correction via PC.



    Welcome to Autopia, FC_NoVA!

  11. #11

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    Damn, I have some 4 inch pads but I just bought a complete set of 6 inch pads because everyone here was saying the PC would be able to handle it with 105. Maybe Ill just sell the PC and buy a rotary

  12. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by King Nothing
    Damn, I have some 4 inch pads but I just bought a complete set of 6 inch pads because everyone here was saying the PC would be able to handle it with 105. Maybe Ill just sell the PC and buy a rotary
    I don`t think you read that here. Everyone here is pretty much on the same level that you need at the very least 5.5" pads. The smaller the better.



    The only forum that I`ve been on that reccomens 6" or larger is megsonline

  13. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by King Nothing
    Damn, I have some 4 inch pads but I just bought a complete set of 6 inch pads because everyone here was saying the PC would be able to handle it with 105...


    Didn`t work out for me trying PC/M105/6" pads on my Yukon, had to switch to the Flex for that pad/product combo to work.

    Maybe Ill just sell the PC and buy a rotary


    I would *NOT* do that..at least don`t sell the PC; you`ll need it if (I mean *when* ) the rotary leaves holograms.

  14. #14

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    I just went out and tried one of the 6 inch wave foam pads and it worked pretty well. Only problem is I only have 1 of them LOL.

  15. #15

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    Quote Originally Posted by King Nothing
    I just went out and tried one of the 6 inch wave foam pads and it worked pretty well. Only problem is I only have 1 of them LOL.


    Cool! Just because something doesn`t work for me that doesn`t mean somebody else won`t do well with it and a good experience is always good news.



    One pad should be plenty unless there`s some kind of weird catastrophic failure.



    But once you know you like something, I`d buy a few spares

 

 
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