My Flex is acting funny..

[StuDLei]

I'm currently staying at my mother-in-laws for the next month and since I've been here I've had some issues with my Flex 3401.

Let me explain...

I'll be using the Flex and everything will be fine, but then all of a sudden it will drop rpms. This is without me pressing down too hard or hitting the speed setting or anything like that. It's almost like it's not getting enough power. Sometimes it'll speed back up and other times it won't. It has never completely died, it's just almost as if it's not getting enough juice.

I'm not an electrian, but is it possible that the extension cord (hers) that I'm using isn't very good or something? Usually it slows down for a second and picks back up and sometimes goes back and forth between the two, but today, after detailing for about 15 minutes it started to slow down and stay that way.

I've had the machine for a few years, but I've only used it on maybe 10 seperate occassions. It's clean and well kept. It never did this anywhere else but at my mother-in-laws.

I haven't tried a new cord yet; I need to buy one. Any reccommendations? Is this the most likely problem? She lives in a five year old house, so it's not like it's plugged into anything shady or something.

[StuDLei]

Oh, it's your typical orange outdoor cord, maybe a bit smaller than what I've used in the past? I'm not sure.

[StuDLei]

Just went and looked, it's only 16gauge, but I'm guessing it's 100ft, but according to some research I did on here, that should be more than capable? I noticed the cord had some cuts in it though- no wire showing, but the casing has some nicks in it. We're in the process of moving and have the entire garage packed with stuff, so I could only look at about 10 ft. of the cord right now. Maybe it has other spots that are breaking. Either way, I'm going to go buy a nice extension cord tomorrow. We're moving into a house next month, so I'll need one anways.

[1oldsalt]

There could be a few things going on here. If the house has one of the new "smart Meters" on it that could be one issue. The power company can and does constantly adjust the power going to the house. Second thing, if there are too many houses in the area without the proper number of transformers you will get surging like that.
One thing you can do to test is plug in a house fan and listen to it run for a while. It's best if there is not too much background noise. If you can hear it dim and surge you know the problem is not with your Flex or your cord.

[habeba86]

If it was the extension cord having too much resistance it should drop the rpm all the time, so it would seem kinda doggy all the time. Its probably a power issue with the wirng of the house or power going to the house. Check the plug voltage with a meter.

[Rsurfer]

Try plugging it directly into a socket.

[StuDLei]

Originally Posted by 1oldsalt

There could be a few things going on here. If the house has one of the new "smart Meters" on it that could be one issue. The power company can and does constantly adjust the power going to the house. Second thing, if there are too many houses in the area without the proper number of transformers you will get surging like that.
One thing you can do to test is plug in a house fan and listen to it run for a while. It's best if there is not too much background noise. If you can hear it dim and surge you know the problem is not with your Flex or your cord.

Hmm. We let our fan run all night in our room as white noise, I've never heard it "dip" that I can recall. I've never really listened for it either though.

It's frustrating because I'm buffing on speed 5 and then the rpms drop like I switched to 3. It will go back and forth sporadically; a few seconds it's fine, a few it's not-- back and forth. Sometimes instead of a few seconds that interval will change to a minute, you get the idea.

[StuDLei]

Originally Posted by habeba86

If it was the extension cord having too much resistance it should drop the rpm all the time, so it would seem kinda doggy all the time. Its probably a power issue with the wirng of the house or power going to the house. Check the plug voltage with a meter.

If it was a house issue, wouldn't the vacuum and stuff do the same thing? Never witnessed it.

Originally Posted by Rsurfer

Try plugging it directly into a socket.

I tried this and it runs fine, but it wasn't under pressure at all. I wasn't polishing because the cord isn't long enough.

[jpegs13]

100' 16ga extension cord is the problem, too long and too light. As the wire heats up, you'll notice a voltage drop. Use a max 50' extension cord and at least 12ga.
Your fan has a small draw, hence the reason you won't hear it dip in RPM.

[1oldsalt]

Originally Posted by jpegs13

Your fan has a small draw, hence the reason you won't hear it dip in RPM.

Good point jpegs13. I didn't think of that. My fan is from the 1940's. Probably draws a lot more than new ones.