I need help with PC

[imported_series1]

Ok I said I was going to get a PC at Lowes but decided to do some research first. I heard that the Lowes 7336 comes with a 6'' counterweight. On the counterweight it says use only a 6'' pad. I would like to get the pads from the autopia store the 6.5'' ones. Would it be ok to use the the velcro 5 inch flexible backing plate ( and the pads) with the 6" counterweight. Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh I need help I'm so confused

:nixweiss

 

[Raven]

The 7336 works just fine with the 6.5 inch pads. If you do a search you will see the most people prefer using the 6 oz counter weight with those pads. It's a great machine, go grab one.

 

[togwt]

~One man’s opinion / observations ~



Counterweights:



Is a half-moon shaped piece of metal attached to the rotating shaft of the tool, this smoothes out the random orbit action by providing a counter balance to the elliptical orbit of the rotating backing pad. If you change the pad size you must also change the counterweight or suffer unnecessary vibration and possible damage to the tool. Counterweights are attached with two Torx fasteners; size T15.



There are two different counter-weights, which are clearly marked to indicate use with either the 5-inch, or

6-inch backing pad. Therefore with a 6-inch backing pad for polishing you should use the 6-inch, 0.140 oz. counterweight PN 699933. The vibrations that are generated at higher speeds when using a 5-inch weight and a 6-inch pad are unacceptable for most people. For the 5-inch backing pad (or smaller) for polishing you should use the 5-inch, 0.120 oz PN 874011 counterweight.



A Porter-Cable company representative confirms that the increased vibrations can lead to bearing damage within the PC's drive assembly. My advice, use the right counterweight.



~Hope this helps~



Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/ Jon

justadumbarchitect * so I question everything *

 

[imported_Macgirl1]

This has always worried me also, but I follow what the machine says. 6" counterweight with a 6" BACKING PLATE, or 5" counterweight with a 5" BACKING PLATE. I can't say that I notice much difference in the vibration using either combo, but I prefer the 5" backing plate with the 6-6.5" pads. You can always order the counterweight later if you feel the need to try it.

 

[Accumulator]

As best I can tell, using the 6" counterweight with smaller pads/backing plates will not hurt the machine, just *possibly* decrease its effectiveness a little (and not enough to matter). I've been using the 6" counterweight on mine with *all* pads/backing plates for years, no problem. Actually, the PC that needed repaired was the one I used with a 5" counterweight/backing plate combo back when "regular pads" were smaller than they are now (more like 5.5").



Less vibration seems to be good, lighter pads and backing plates, plus the larger counterweight, equals less vibration. Just IMO, of course. And FWIW, most of the PC reps I've spoken with are more knowledgeable about its use as a sander than they are about all the different things we use when employing it to polish cars.