Lubricating the Felt Ring on the Flex 3401

Mike Phillips · 03-29-2011, 02:50 PM

Lubricating the Felt Ring on the Flex 3401

First there is no official recommendation from Flex on this procedure but most owners of the Flex 3401 like to lubricate the Felt Ring to ensure there are no issues between it and the hard plastic backing material that it comes into contact with during operation.

For preventative maintenance reasons, it's okay to lubricate the felt ring after purchase and periodically depending upon how much use your Flex 3401 sees.

What to use?I went to NAPA and purchased some Air Tool Lubricant, (see picture), but any light machine oil should work including the traditional 3-in-1 Oil.

Here's the felt ring on the Flex 3401

Here I've placed some oil on my finger ...

and then spread it onto the felt ring...

You can see the oil penetrate into the felt to lubricate it and from here it will migrate through the felt...

You could also place some drops around the felt ring and then spread it and work it in using your finger...

This brand new Flex 3401 is ready to go to work for a new project next week...

**BobbyG** · 03-29-2011, 02:55 PM

Now that's exactly the way I would have done it!!

Thanks Mike!!

**termigator** · 03-29-2011, 02:56 PM

Cool. It's been a couple of years since I purchased the Flex. Never did oil the ring. Guess it couldn't hurt at this point.

**fredcandetail** · 08-21-2011, 09:48 AM

What's the mechanical reason behind doing this? Does it assist with reducing heat build up between the two parts? Are thEy known to wear out prematurely If this isn't done? I've done about 20-30 cars with it and haven't lubed it but definitely will... I have some gUn lube, I think that would work....

**BobbyG** · 08-21-2011, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by fredcandetail

What's the mechanical reason behind doing this? Does it assist with reducing heat build up between the two parts? Are thEy known to wear out prematurely If this isn't done? I've done about 20-30 cars with it and haven't lubed it but definitely will... I have some gUn lube, I think that would work....

The mechanical reason is friction due to force and rotation.

A lubricating film here is important in my opinion and cannot hurt but will only help. I clean mine and lube it twice annually however I use a light high pressure transparent grease.

Mike Phillips · 03-30-2012, 10:33 AM

***Bump***

Dang, just went to look for this article on my article list and it's not listed...

Time to update the article list...

**Johny B** · 09-02-2012, 02:37 PM

Hi,
Just done it with 3- in-1 oil.I have not yet used my new Flex 3401 purchased 3 weeks ago.
Felt seemed thirsty...ha ha ha

**MinnBobber** · 09-02-2012, 03:08 PM

Mike,
previously I had searched and read a very long thread on oiling the 3401 and near the end you had contacted the folks at Flex directly.
As I recall, they said the earlier model Flex needed this oil but it was NOT NECESSARY and not advised on the newer 3401s. I think it said the newer model's felt did not touch the rotating part or something like that and oil was not needed.

Please clarify.
Thanks

I have a new 3401 and was going to oil until I found that post .

**Rsurfer** · 09-02-2012, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by MinnBobber

Mike,
previously I had searched and read a very long thread on oiling the 3401 and near the end you had contacted the folks at Flex directly.
As I recall, they said the earlier model Flex needed this oil but it was NOT NECESSARY and not advised on the newer 3401s. I think it said the newer model's felt did not touch the rotating part or something like that and oil was not needed.

Please clarify.
Thanks

I have a new 3401 and was going to oil until I found that post .

Can you link that post..must have missed it.

**MinnBobber** · 09-02-2012, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by Rsurfer

Can you link that post..must have missed it.

don't know how to do a link--can someone give instructions, but here is where I saw it and
someone can do a link please.

Post was 3/29/11 by Top Banana titled "Oiling the Flex 3401 Felt Ring".
On page 3 of that thread, Mike responds on 4/19/2012:
.................................................. .............................................

Re: Oiling the Flex 3401 felt ring
At some point in time it is believed that some number of people had issues related to the Flex 3401.

Someone, not me, came up with the solution to lubricate the felt ring.

I spoke with Bob Eichelberg last week about this and he said there is no reason to lubricate the felt ring and no one needs to lubricate the felt ring.

My article was merely for the purposes of showing people how to do it if they chose to do it.

I've only lubricated one felt ring in my life and it's the one in the pictures. I've never lubricated any of the other Flex 3401 polishers in our garage and never had any problems.

We shot a brand new Flex video last week and we did "not" address or show this topic.

FWIW