Flex 3401 failing/failed?

[LeMarque]

So I have a few of the LC Hydro Cyan/Tangerine pads and thought I'd try them out on the '03 M3 (man, it seems this paint is HARD).

I have the LC adapter 'system' and when I attached the 5+ inch backing plate, I noticed there was some wobble. That is,the plate wasn't snug and I could lift lift/rock it off the cast iron housing approx. 1/16 -3/32".

I then tried the factory plate and it's the same; i.e, not snug. I don't feel any play in the spindle.

I then noticed what looks like grease oozing out from where the spindle fits into the housing:

Is there a Doctor in the house that can prescribe a solution?

 

[Harleyguy]

The grease is normal the wobble is hard to say what the problem is only thing I can think of make sure the backing plate is aligned correctly with the Flex center shaft before tightening the allen screw . I've used all the different size backing plates on my Flex and haven't had a problem yet .

 

[LeMarque]

The grease is normal the wobble is hard to say what the problem is only thing I can think of make sure the backing plate is aligned correctly with the Flex center shaft before tightening the allen screw . I've used all the different size backing plates on my Flex and haven't had a problem yet .

I just don't know. In a previous life, I turned wrench's for 20 years. I'm certain it's seated properly. I'll check again, in case my evil twin brother is playing tricks with me.

 

[Orinda Auto Detail]

I've killed a few flex polishers(don't get me wrong their quality is great I'm sure its the fact I use mine for 20 hours straight on a regular basis) But any time my started to wobble like your describing they died soon after

 

[LeMarque]

I've killed a few flex polishers(don't get me wrong their quality is great I'm sure its the fact I use mine for 20 hours straight on a regular basis) But any time my started to wobble like your describing they died soon after

A buddy of mine who was recognized as one of the top 30 BMW mechanics in the country stopped by and had a look. He thinks it's in tolerance but I'm going to give Flex a call tomorrow.

There's minimal play in what Flex refers to as the output shaft. 32.105 in the below parts diagram.

http://www.ereplacementparts.com/images/flex/XC3401VRG.pdf

So the larger the backing plate the more pronounced the 'wobble'. I checked it against my Megs DA and the DA has a similar amount of play.

I'm just feeling that my Dewalt 849x has no play nor would I want any in a tool that spins that fast with any amount of torque. I may be wrong, but ... I'll post what Flex tells me.

 

[LeMarque]

Sooo...

I talked to Jim at Flex's US repair center and he went to talk to the repair guys and checked with them both new and repaired machines and the long and short of it is ...

'cause it's a DA it's going to have a bit of wobble and the grease is good.

Guess that's the only way a n00b's gonna learn