Porter Cable 7424XP and vibration on setting 6

[sperrinejr]

I recently purchased a PC 7424XP and was trying it out for the first time. I was compounding out some scratches on my truck. I had it set between 2 and 4. I cranked it up to 6 to get out some heavier scratches and the Lake Country pad just flew off the machine while using it. It broke right where it joined in the center of the pad. I was using a foam cutting pad velcroed to the backing pad. There was a lot of vibration at the #6 setting. I had the correct counter weight on. Is so much vibration normal? Maybe I was not applying enough pressure to the pad? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

[Fly bye]

If you lift the machine away from the surface you are working on, the pad will fly off, especially on setting 6.

It broke right where it joined in the center of the pad.

could you elaborate?

[Mike Phillips]

You know to never turn it on unless the face of the pad is against the paint?

That is NEVER operate it while holding it in the air?

[jmp09fg2]

What size pads? Could be a variety of things.

[2003 GMC Denali]

You know to never turn it on unless the face of the pad is against the paint?

That is NEVER operate it while holding it in the air?

Is it just too much for the DA mechanism to be free-wheeling ?

[Fly bye]

Is it just too much for the DA mechanism to be free-wheeling ?

The PC moves in small, but rapid movements. Even though there is a counter weight, the pad is still off center during random orbit. The Centrifugal force that is generated during random orbit will cause the pad to be thrown off.



Edit: Unless there is at least some light force pressing on the pad.

[5.4 Shelby]

I assume you are talking about at high speed settings. I run mine frequently in the air on speed 2 or 3 for pad drying.

[zinc02gt]

I've NEVER had a pad fly off and I've dried MANY pads with speed 6 in the open air. Are you using the proper counter weight?

[sperrinejr]

I took a picture of the backing pad (now in two pieces) showing where it broke. I did have the machine against the paint when it flew off after breaking. Not sure if I had turned it on prior to being in contact with the paint surface or not. I bought a DVD which explains how to use the PC 7424XP.....probably should have bought that first. And yes, I did have the proper counter weight on. I was using a 6.5" pad.

[Fly bye]

That's a backing plate