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  1. #1
    puma1824's Avatar
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    Harbor Freight DA Weak Points and Mods

    So ended up purchasing a Harbor Freight DA this past weekend and immediately started modifying / improving the DA to address some identified weak points. I took some pictures along the way to hopefully help others. I can’t take credit for any of these mods as I’ve either read or seen these things posted in different posts while I was researching the HF DA.

    If anyone knows of any more low cost "improvements" please feel free to post

    Weak points and mods:


    Weak backing plate – Purchased/replace backing plate with a high quality 5” plate. (shipped and in the mail so no pic)

    Awkward switch location – Relocated switch to top by rotating body

    Instructions:
    1. Remove 4 screws which attach the metal head to the plastic body.
    2. Carefully pull back plastic body ~ 0.25 – 0.5 in.
    3. Rotate 90 degrees and reinstall screws



    If you accidentally pull the plastic body back too far, which unfortunately I did, you’ll need to remove the bottom half of the plastic body to pull the brushes back. To remove, brushes unscrew bottom screw by the power cord then pull off bottom plastic cover. Unscrew / remove the brush assembly then reinsert the top half.





    Noisy – Cleaned and repacked gears

    Instructions:
    1. Remove red hand grip
    2. Remove backing plate
    3. Remove 4 screws which hold the upper and lower metal assemblies together.



    If you have issues unscrewing use vice grip to break the screw(s) free. I purchased M4 x 0.7 x 16mm screws (total cost ~ $1.00) to replace cheap screws. Also added the convenience of using allen / hex wrench instead of phillips.



    4. Clean out existing grease



    5. Repacked with high quality grease. Use extreme pressure / high temp grease. I used Mobil 1 synthetic grease I had laying around. Sorry no pic hands were a mess and didn`t want to touch phone/camera
    6. Assemble two metal halves
    7. Run at lowest speed working up to highest to remove excessive grease.
    8. Clean service hole and cover with duct tape or other. Some have used 0.25 in plastic plug. I used aluminum tape I had on hand.
    9. Reinstall red hand grip

    To do:
    Short power cord – Replace power cord with 25” 16 gauge power cord – Need to find “cheap” power cord to make this mod worthwhile
    Likes evolocomotive, PPLd liked this post

  2. #2

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    Re: Harbor Freight DA Weak Points and Mods

    Nice article ! I have a couple of the HF DA`s myself. I have been very satisfied with their durability and performance. I have replaced the backing plate and I am going to repack the grease in the gears next. I think that the mods you suggested pretty much take care of all the weak points with the machine . I actually prefer this machine over my PC 7424. It is really a great value.

  3. #3
    jtford95's Avatar
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    Re: Harbor Freight DA Weak Points and Mods

    Great job. Nice right up. Will keep this in mind

  4. #4
    Super Moderator Pats300zx's Avatar
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    Re: Harbor Freight DA Weak Points and Mods

    Great info. Thanks for putting that together.
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  5. #5
    A Miracle Detailing Merlin's Avatar
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    Re: Harbor Freight DA Weak Points and Mods

    Moving the switch looks like a huge improvement!

    Great write up!

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    Merlin

  6. #6
    Wax Waster Ronkh's Avatar
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    Re: Harbor Freight DA Weak Points and Mods

    that`s a lot of work

    great idea with the switch
    Formerly the "Best Detailer", now just Super Wax Waster Man. Not necessarily tactful, but normally right. It`s good to be da King !!!

  7. #7
    Long Time Member GearHead_1's Avatar
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    Re: Harbor Freight DA Weak Points and Mods

    What was your motivation on the grease change? No doubt there are higher quality lubricants available but had you experienced a need first hand? There appears to be enough grease in there originally to have it actually be a resistance issue. Is the bearing open or sealed?
    A society willing to trade liberty for temporary security deserves neither and will lose both
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  8. #8
    tropicsteve's Avatar
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    Re: Harbor Freight DA Weak Points and Mods

    great info. thanks for taking the time to write it up.

  9. #9
    puma1824's Avatar
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    Re: Harbor Freight DA Weak Points and Mods

    Quote Originally Posted by Ronkh View Post
    that`s a lot of work

    great idea with the switch
    Actually took about 20-30 min tops to do everything. That`s including the slight delay when I pulled the plastic body too far from the metal head. I believe time spent was well worth it.

    Quote Originally Posted by GearHead_1 View Post
    What was your motivation on the grease change? No doubt there are higher quality lubricants available but had you experienced a need first hand? There appears to be enough grease in there originally to have it actually be a resistance issue. Is the bearing open or sealed?
    Noise was the motivator. Stock grease wasn`t as packed as it is now. See pic below. You`ll notice flat crown gear barely has any grease on it. Packing with high quality grease greatly reduce the noise. I`m tempted to buying a second one to install either a soft interior brush pad or a smaller 3" backplate. If I do I`ll take some dB ratings stock vs modded.


  10. #10

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    Re: Harbor Freight DA Weak Points and Mods

    Goof right up tu i did all this but the backing plate I have a few ? What is the thread size for the plate ? Did you put a 3 in plate on one yet ? Did it work and any problems using it ?

    Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

  11. #11

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    Re: Harbor Freight DA Weak Points and Mods

    Did regreasing reduce the noise?

    I`m a novice and was thinkimg of buying the HF da. But too many Amazon horror stories about melting and other breakdowns.

 

 

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