PC7424 XP What am i doing wrong???

[badabing]

hello all,

first post. anyway longtime lurker. I've been reading up for the past year and watching all kinds of videos from Mike Phillips, Junkman and others.

Yesterday, I tried out my PC XP for the first time on a real project. Polishing my Vivid Black 2006 HD Dyna SuperGlide. I am trying to get rid of some swirl/scratch marks instilled when someone who was trying to do me a favor wiped the bike down when it was dusty (and dry).

I am also trying to get of some deeper defects that I cant explain how they got there.

Anyway, i was using a Meguiars 3" backing plate with LC Hydro 4" pads with SF4500, M205, and M105 and HD Scratch and Swirl Remover(in that order) trying to remove the defects.

My issues are:

The pad seems to stop spinning with only (what i consider to be moderate pressure) on speed 5 or even 6. I know you are supposed to be around 8 lbs of pressure but i feel like its stopping with less than that. Any less pressure and than what I was using and I feel like I would lose control of the polisher.

Also, after about 30 mins of use, I only got 1 side of the tank done, the backing plate flew off. Upon further inspection, the threads in the backing plate were completely gone. I feel like the backing plate was on tightly because the washer (spacer) that comes in the kit left an indentation in the top of the backing plate.

What am I doing wrong?

[Mike Phillips]

Push harder and you'll see the pad rotate.

There's a weird phenomena that takes place when you just use light pressure and that is the pad will stall out, seem to flutter and even run backwards.

Push down FIRMLY and watch the pad start to rotate.



:)

[tuscarora dave]

That's a first, never heard of the threads being gone from a backing plate arbor like that. It must have loosened up during use and became damaged as it was being used.

Did it damage the threads inside the polisher spindle where the backing plate screws into?

Time to get another backing plate and try again. I'd think what went wrong would be that the backing plate wasn't tightened down enough.

Seems you're working backwards with the products being used too, unless that's how you were trying to go least aggressive first to see what would work to get the correction done on your bike. Did you get to work long enough to make a determination as to which product is going to work for your Vivid Black paint? Sounds like not.

I think it's Forum member TL Mitchel that has a lot of experience on that hard to finish HD paint. You may want to search his threads until your new backing plate arrives.

[Mike Phillips]

Read through each of these too...



DA Polisher Trouble Shooting Guide (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/37769-da-polisher-trouble-shooting-guide.html)


Have you marked the back of your backing plate?

Video: Mark your backing plate to make it easy to see pad rotation (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-car-garage-how-videos/49489-video-mark-your-backing-plate-make-easy-see-pad-rotation.html)


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1423/MarkYourBackingPlate01.jpg

Here's a quick video that show how and why to mark your backing plate to see and monitor pad rotation while doing any correction or polishing steps.



How To Check Pad Rotation on a DA Polisher - YouTube



And give this a read-through also...

Factors that can cause a pad to stop rotating on a DA Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/48955-factors-can-cause-pad-stop-rotating-da-polisher.html)


:)

[Chevota Guy]

I'm pretty new to the PC DA, but my experience is that it is much easier to get pad stall when going over strongly curved surfaces. On relatively flat surfaces, it takes much more pressure to stall the pad. Could just be my technique as I'm stll learning, but Ive managed to do fine on curves, it just takes longer. I consider that somewhat of a safety feature for curves as it helps prevent burn through. Good luck.

[Mike Phillips]

Also, after about 30 mins of use, I only got 1 side of the tank done, the backing plate flew off.

Upon further inspection, the threads in the backing plate were completely gone. I feel like the backing plate was on tightly because the washer (spacer) that comes in the kit left an indentation in the top of the backing plate.

What am I doing wrong?


Like Dave, I've never heard of this before?


A: Either the threads were messed up to start with.

B: It wasn't tight in the spindle and action of the tool and usage ground them off.


I'm not sure what else could explain missing threads? Hopefully the threads inside the spindle are not stripped out.



:)

[Mike Phillips]

I'm pretty new to the PC DA, but my experience is that it is much easier to get pad stall when going over stronly curved surfaces.




That's a great point too...

Motorcycle tanks are bascially one big curved panel.

The most you can do for a situation like this is to use the max speed setting and practice very hard at holding the pad flat to the surface, not at an angle.


Still need to figure out and fix the thread issue on the backing plate and the spindle.


:dunno:

[Mike Phillips]

Anyway, i was using a Meguiars 3" backing plate




This one?



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/874/MspotRepair005_jpg.JPG

[cmoneyinc]

Badabing: I feel your pain. I have a Harley Night train that I have used the PCXP on as well. The tank is very challenging, because as others have mentioned, it's basically one big curved panel. Rest assured that with more practice and patience, you'll be fine. It's way harder than polishing the flat panels of a car, and my tank is way harder than polishing say the rear fender (bobtail) of my bike.

[badabing]

Did it damage the threads inside the polisher spindle where the backing plate screws into?



With the 3" Kit as Mike has shown above, the backing plate is female as is the PC and they give you a male to male adapter. The assembly separated where the backing plate and the adapter connect. The threads in the backing plate (made of plastic?) completely gone. The threads on the adapter are perfect.




Time to get another backing plate and try again. I'd think what went wrong would be that the backing plate wasn't tightened down enough.

Seems you're working backwards with the products being used too, unless that's how you were trying to go least aggressive first to see what would work to get the correction done on your bike. Did you get to work long enough to make a determination as to which product is going to work for your Vivid Black paint? Sounds like not.

I think it's Forum member TL Mitchel that has a lot of experience on that hard to finish HD paint. You may want to search his threads until your new backing plate arrives.

Thanks for the tips. Might get the LC backing plate this time. Different construction. I was working least aggressive to most to see what would work.


Read through each of these too...



DA Polisher Trouble Shooting Guide (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/37769-da-polisher-trouble-shooting-guide.html)


Have you marked the back of your backing plate?

Video: Mark your backing plate to make it easy to see pad rotation (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-car-garage-how-videos/49489-video-mark-your-backing-plate-make-easy-see-pad-rotation.html)


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1423/MarkYourBackingPlate01.jpg

Here's a quick video that show how and why to mark your backing plate to see and monitor pad rotation while doing any correction or polishing steps.


How To Check Pad Rotation on a DA Polisher - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM8PnDooZP8&hd=1)



And give this a read-through also...

Factors that can cause a pad to stop rotating on a DA Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/48955-factors-can-cause-pad-stop-rotating-da-polisher.html)


:)

Backing plate marked. I will re-read the posts and watch the videos again. Thanks.


Like Dave, I've never heard of this before?


A: Either the threads were messed up to start with.

B: It wasn't tight in the spindle and action of the tool and usage ground them off.


I'm not sure what else could explain missing threads? Hopefully the threads inside the spindle are not stripped out.



:)

PC itself is A-OK


That's a great point too...

Motorcycle tanks are bascially one big curved panel.

The most you can do for a situation like this is to use the max speed setting and practice very hard at holding the pad flat to the surface, not at an angle.


Still need to figure out and fix the thread issue on the backing plate and the spindle.


:dunno:

pretty much except for the very top of the tank, it is all curved. very little pad contacting the surface as you come down the sides and under. i tried to use the technique in your video where you did the fender of a 964 porsche (rolling the PC). I am ordering 3" pads with the new backing plate to see if this makes it easier.


This one?



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/874/MspotRepair005_jpg.JPG

That's the one.

[badabing]

Also, while I have everyone's attention. Is the counterweight that is in the PC now (reads "Use 5" Pad only) ok for the 4" or 3" pads I am going to use?

Thanks for all the quick responses.

[Mike Phillips]

With the 3" Kit as Mike has shown above, the backing plate is female as is the PC and they give you a male to male adapter.

The assembly separated where the backing plate and the adapter connect.



When I assemble these I tighten the hell out of them.





The threads in the backing plate (made of plastic?) completely gone. The threads on the adapter are perfect.




This 3" backing plate is not the best construction design for the kind of work you're trying to do.

Here's the one you want...


LC-43-073DA Dual Action 3 Inch Flexible Backing Plate (http://www.autogeek.net/3inch-dual-action-backing-plate.html)





:xyxthumbs:

[cmoneyinc]

Also, while I have everyone's attention. Is the counterweight that is in the PC now (reads "Use 5" Pad only) ok for the 4" or 3" pads I am going to use?

Thanks for all the quick responses.

Yes, you're good to go. If you were using bigger pads like 6"-7.5", you'd probably want to switch to the bigger counterweight.

[parttimer]

Also I thought I saw the 4 inch pads should be used on a lower speed? Or was it just the 3 inch?

Sent from my LG-E970 using Tapatalk 2

[Mike Phillips]

Also I thought I saw the 4 inch pads should be used on a lower speed? Or was it just the 3 inch?

Sent from my LG-E970 using Tapatalk 2


If you're trying to remove swirls and scratches that means you're trying to remove some paint.

If you're trying to remove some paint you need the pad rotating/oscillating over the surface, not just oscillating or vibrating against it.

You run the polisher at a speed that maintains pad rotation. If you can maintain pad rotation on the 3-4 setting then you're good to go.


:xyxthumbs: