Need a little help here. I think my flex BP melted.

havlykke

New member
So I was only 35-40 minutes into my polishing session today, when I smelled something burning. I stopped working immediately and inspected my flex to find where the smell was coming from. I took off the backing plate and saw this. I didn't take off the backing plate before this happened so I don't know what it looked like before. But I'm pretty sure it didn't look like this.



Also when I run it now it doesn't sound right. It doesn't sound like the machine is running smoothly like it did before. I think maybe when the backing plate melted some of the plastic is now getting in the way when the plate spins.



I think I may have to have the BP replaced and maybe the metal part that the BP attaches to. This sucks. :grrr



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oh yeah, can one of you flex owners out there take a picture of your backing plate and machine without the backing plate on so I can assess the damage done to mine? Thanks guys!
 
will the backing plate be an issue with the flex if ran at speed 6 for periods of time? it has been an issue for some who have done the same with the PC...



sorry to take the thread off-topic havlykke...
 
Call Power House Dist...and email them the pics...did you check to see if the backing plate was on tight when you got it..mine was sorta loose and I had to tighten it up...or it would of leaned to one side...



but powerhouse will take care of you..they are the Flex repair center and great people also...I would say the plate may have been loose a bit ...



Al
 
Mine is doing the EXACT same thing. It seems to happen when I use smaller pads and lean on the flex a bit. I did make sure the BP was on tight...



havlykke, let me know how they handle this so I know if it is worth pursuing.
 
You should not have to lean on the machine...right pad and polish and the machine weight should do fine....doing a old test hood I have using a green CCS pad and menz and just the weight of the machine cleared it right up...even did a prep sol wipe down...



Al
 
Just to give everyone an update....I e-mailed Phil at Detailer's Domain to see if he could help me with my melting backing plate. (that is where I bought my Flex). He said that he would forward on my e-mail to the President of Flex NA and to give him 24 hours. Within an hour, Phil e-mailed me back asking for my address because Flex was going to send me out a replacement backing plate a.s.a.p. So my new backing plate is on its way. Absolutely amazing customer service from both Phil at Detailer's Domain and Flex NA. I really appreciate that in a company.



As for my problem, I am not going to apply pressure like I was. I wasn't applying a whole lot of pressure to begin with but I think I was using it too much like I used to use my PC. I'm going to take Al's advice and just make sure I have the correct pad/polish combo and not rely on pressure to remove the defects. You live you learn.
 
havlykke said:
Just to give everyone an update....I e-mailed Phil at Detailer's Domain to see if he could help me with my melting backing plate. (that is where I bought my Flex). He said that he would forward on my e-mail to the President of Flex NA and to give him 24 hours. Within an hour, Phil e-mailed me back asking for my address because Flex was going to send me out a replacement backing plate a.s.a.p. So my new backing plate is on its way. Absolutely amazing customer service from both Phil at Detailer's Domain and Flex NA. I really appreciate that in a company.



As for my problem, I am not going to apply pressure like I was. I wasn't applying a whole lot of pressure to begin with but I think I was using it too much like I used to use my PC. I'm going to take Al's advice and just make sure I have the correct pad/polish combo and not rely on pressure to remove the defects. You live you learn.



Yep, you can count on Phil to take care of you...
 
Still, IMHO, a $300 power tool should not have these issues when applying a little pressure.

This sounds like a design defect of some kind.



havlykke said:
As for my problem, I am not going to apply pressure like I was. I wasn't applying a whole lot of pressure to begin with but I think I was using it too much like I used to use my PC. I'm going to take Al's advice and just make sure I have the correct pad/polish combo and not rely on pressure to remove the defects. You live you learn.
 
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