FLEX XC3401 problem

[blkyukon]

Still, can anybody tell me where that brownish tube is coming from as neither of my XCs has it?

It looks like this was melted to the backing plate and pulled out of the machine:

[MadOzodi]

^^

Nice pickup blkyukon! Of course, if I had my Flex, I'd have been able to spot that also.

*checks his 12" pythons and compares them to blkyukon's avatar pic and hangs head in shame*

[ZoranC]

Did Al's response in post #11 not cover it? I'm not sure if that's what you're talking about.

Weird, following link in my e-mail notifications of new posts took me beyond it, thank you for pointing it out to me.

[ZoranC]

It looks like this was melted to the backing plate and pulled out of the machine:

Picture is worth a thousand words, thank you for posting it! I have to laugh as I have never closely inspected that area, that felt always appeared to me as teflon-like ring glued onto surface of housing, that is how I was always referring to it. I will now have when I get back home look at it again and finally schedule appointment with optician.

Clearance between plate and housing is, according to Dave from Powerhouse, measured by him as 0.035" (approximately 1/32"). Looking at my two units they both are approximately having that clearance and neither one of them has yet (to knock in the wood) done this. However, both of them have been re-tightened mercilessly moment they have arrived, both of them have been double-washered moment I could, and I always (ever since RO 150 FEQ taught me that lesson) pay attention that there is no tilting / off-center pressure as forced rotation machines (especially of vertical orientation) have mean out-of-control if "edge" of bp gets snagged / digs in.

Still I wish Flex would come up with a way to prevent this. I will have to try to contact them.

[mingraygt]

Obviously your perception is incorrect as users HAVE had the need to tighten on receipt - keep in mind the units that were shipped out with the new BP were retrofitted by the vendor and NOT flex.. this retrofit COULD lend itself to loose BP's

Then I think that the VENDOR should have some better quality control.

[mingraygt]

I see no flaw in logic behind what you are saying. With that being said (and please do not misunderstand what I am about to say) personally I know it is humans we deal with so I always inspect what I receive.

Thats cool man! You would think that they would check and re-check before they were shipped out. But I know that dont always happen.

[Deep Gloss Auto Salon]

Then I think that the VENDOR should have some better quality control.

I am not here to discuss what vendors should or shouldn't do.. simply to get to the bottom of this and hopefully save someone else from the smell of burning plastic and interuption of a polishing session

While I agree with you, it should also be good habit to ensure all adjustable pieces of any unit (new or prior to ANY use) are at the desired setting, adjustment, torque.

As owners of comoditties, we must accept a level of responsibility and not always cast all reasonable responsibility elsewhere...

[gasterus]

My question to everyone that has had this problem...what kind of pressure are you applying?

When I tested it I applied moderate to heavy pressure (for a few passes) with no ill effect.

Are you applying pressure at an angle/on the side of the pad? There is very little clearance between the BP and machine...I don't think it was designed for heavy pressure.



A few things I noticed with the Flex 3401 is you don't need to add pressure like with a PC/UDM for it to cut...if you need more cut slow down the passes. The direct drive with slower passes will help with the cutting abilities of the machine. I have never felt the need to add more then light/moderate pressure (only at times) and use nothing more then the weight of the machine 95% of the time.

I personally polish with it like I do with a rotary & let the machine speed/pad/polish do the work.

Only use moderate pressure with mine...treat it like a rotary polisher, but I didn't tighten the BP from the start.

[m4gician]

And have you experienced this "burning BP"?

No I haven't experienced this burning backing plate however I think I have the updated backign plate not the original one.

[Deep Gloss Auto Salon]

No I haven't experienced this burning backing plate however I think I have the updated backign plate not the original one.

So does the OP.. you can identify the original BP #1 by the outer diameter of 5.5" and #2 by the white padding between the velcro and the plastic BP itself.

I am not convinced that this is a new vs old BP issue.. I am initially begining to think that it is an issue of the BP not being tightened combined with pressure / uneven pressure applied to the machine

Glad you aren't seeing this with your machine