For a machine that is supposed to be "professional grade" there sure does seem to be a lot of issues with it: Overheating ? Melting parts? Shutting down? Backing plate shearing off?
After using my 3401 on my cars, I've used it (or allowed others to use it -supervised) on perhaps a dozen cars.
It gets warm under extended use, but not hot.
I have the standard backing plate and the LC changeable back plate set up. I have not melted any of them.
It has never shut down.
Since i lubed the ring when it was new, I was certain that everything was tight before I used it for the first time.
Plain and simple - no issues whatsoever.
Would I buy another - without a second thought. It's a magnificent tool.
BTW, we've used it (in a garage) when the outside temperature was 110+. Still no issues.
I added the Flex PE14-2-150 to my arsenel at the last no exclusions sale. That was so we could use the CarPro velvet and denim pads on a couple of cars with bad orange peel, but we haven't done them yet.
Jim
Last edited by jgg85234; 09-08-2013 at 12:25 PM.
Reason: Added outside temperature
Hey guys,
Longtime lurker here, I bought a flex 3401 recently about a couple of months ago and I have an issue. I opened up the inside of the flex and noticed some brown spots on the gear? Also, when I'm polishing I notice a choppy/delay sound like it's working harder...Can somebody tell me what I can do about this?
The part you are calling the gear is not the gear, it is the counterweight.
The brown is just some surface rust on that part and will not effect operation.
The part you are calling the gear is not the gear, it is the counterweight.
The brown is just some surface rust on that part and will not effect operation.
Recently my 3401 would not run at 6. It would at 5, but would then bog down on 6. I removed the BP and oiled the ring again. (I had only done it once when I got it 1.5 years ago). Problem resolved.
Recently my 3401 would not run at 6. It would at 5, but would then bog down on 6. I removed the BP and oiled the ring again. (I had only done it once when I got it 1.5 years ago). Problem resolved.
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...
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Originally Posted by swanicyouth
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