Flex Problems, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Excessive Detail]

This is a warning to all who use the flex. So I was buffing a car today and it had some paint marks on it from a little hit and run, so I started to put some pressure on the flex. Everything was going fine until I started to notice what I thought was compound dust, but it actually turned out the be plastic dust and smoke. Apparently putting pressure on the flex caused the backing plate to rub up against something in the head of the flex, I can't really tell what, but I kept buffing and backed off, but I could still smell the plastic burning and then a thin circular peice of plastic came off from between the backing and head of the flex. I guess when I put pressure on it it caused it to tear the plastic and just kept tearing, luckly my flex still works fine, still smell a little funny, I'll take a closer look at it tommorrow, so basically be careful not to put to much pressure on your flex when using it.

[killrflake]

Never had any problem like you mention with my Flex, but then again I never had to lean on it either. I'll be watching to see if anyone raises their hand with a like situation. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

[supercharged]

Originally Posted by Excessive Detail

This is a warning to all who use the flex. So I was buffing a car today and it had some paint marks on it from a little hit and run, so I started to put some pressure on the flex. Everything was going fine until I started to notice what I thought was compound dust, but it actually turned out the be plastic dust and smoke. Apparently putting pressure on the flex caused the backing plate to rub up against something in the head of the flex, I can't really tell what, but I kept buffing and backed off, but I could still smell the plastic burning and then a thin circular peice of plastic came off from between the backing and head of the flex. I guess when I put pressure on it it caused it to tear the plastic and just kept tearing, luckly my flex still works fine, still smell a little funny, I'll take a closer look at it tommorrow, so basically be careful not to put to much pressure on your flex when using it.

Yeah, I've noticed that too. I was buffing out swirls out of Maxima, and could smell burning plastic...

[Lasthope05]

Its still relatively new so there will be problems with it. I just cant buy any new buffer without seeing how it holds up. Thats why I love my good old dewalt. Maybe they will have a recall on all the flexes that were sold?

[ZoranC]

Few reports of bearing down issue have been done here and on MOL (search for words "Flex" and "bearing").

Please contact Dave at Powerhouse, report it to him, and let us know what he told you. PM me if you need his e-mail. Number is in your manual.

In the meantime I am suspecting this is due to off center pressure being applied that resulted in metal housing biting into backing plate. Some use this tool as they would rotary, under slight angle, and/or with too much pressure (Flex does not need as much pressure as "PCs" do) and that might be leading to it. Also, PCs bog down when too much load has been exerted on them, Flex has enough power to keep on grinding.

[ZoranC]

Originally Posted by supercharged

Yeah, I've noticed that too. I was buffing out swirls out of Maxima, and could smell burning plastic...

Did you ever before report that publicly?

[blkyukon]

Excessive Detail check your hex screw on the backing plate and make sure it's not loose....when I got my Flex, all the screws on mine needed to be tightened. If the backing plate is loose I could see it causing excessive rubbing when pressure is applied.

With that being said, I can see if you do apply pressure on an angle (using the edge of a pad) that it can cause the backing plate to rub too.


When I was testing the Flex I did apply pressure and never experienced any "plastic burning". I don't normally use pressure with it though...if I need more cutting, I just slow down the passes.

Originally Posted by Lasthope05

Its still relatively new so there will be problems with it. I just cant buy any new buffer without seeing how it holds up. Thats why I love my good old dewalt. Maybe they will have a recall on all the flexes that were sold?

The Flex 3401 is new but not that new....IIRC, the Flex XC 3401 was released over a year ago.

[ZoranC]

Originally Posted by blkyukon

Excessive Detail check your hex screw on the backing plate and make sure it's not loose....when I got my Flex, all the screws on mine needed to be tightened. If the backing plate is loose I could see it causing excessive rubbing when pressure is applied.

Kind of design for mating between backing plate and post that Flex uses will allow for some "play" no matter how hard you tighten that screw if offset pressure is used. Check it out.

Still, even with such design it took me decent bit of pressure to make them touch.

[ZoranC]

Originally Posted by blkyukon

The Flex 3401 is new but not that new....IIRC, the Flex XC 3401 was released over a year ago.

Flex was announced over a year ago but it was not released over a year ago. I do not know exact date when they started shipping in Europe.

[Z06-Goose]

I doubt this is an indication of a flaw with the Flex...JMO
Double check the BP hex screw as mentioned
Did you lean on it at an angle, or while it was flat?