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My Flex was making noises yesterday

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  • #1

    My Flex was making noises yesterday

    Yesterday I am buffing a car with my Flex 3401VRG and it starts making an unusual noise which didn't sound good and it was really hot. I was doing correction work with it running it on 6 with Ultimate Compound and a LC purple foamed wool pad which was working really well. I took the backing plate off which was a little loose and noticed the felt ring was gone. (I had it open before to add a few drops of oil as I had read on here) The back of the backing plate looked to be okay with no damage and the teeth on the plate were in good shape along with the teeth on the gear in the machine itself, so I am not sure what the noise was, but curious to know how long that felt ring has been off and how important it is?

    Anyone else have issues with their Flex or suggestions? Maybe I am using too much pressure?
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  • #2
    Re: My Flex was making noises yesterday

    I just got a Flex last week, Ill check out if I still have the ring or not. But is it usual for it to get really hot?

    Its mostly the metal piece above the backing plate and the the two bolts that hold the handle on which get the hottest.

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    • #3
      Re: My Flex was making noises yesterday

      I went home for lunch and looked at it again, so I need to correct my first statement. The felt ring on the outer edge of the plastic gear is still there, but since I oiled it, i turned black and seems worn, thus it wasn't sticking up anymore. I popped out the gear and the ring and flipped it over, put a few drops of synthetic oil on it and inserted it back into the machine. Then re-attached the backing plate and fired it up and it sounded okay. I'm not sure about the noise I was hearing unless it was rubbing I guess. I will use it on the car again tonight and maybe be a little more careful with the pressure I am applying and maybe run it on 5 instead of 6.

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      • #4
        Re: My Flex was making noises yesterday

        Double check the gauge ratings of your extension cord. 16 gauge is probably the minimum for a Flex, but consult your owner's manual. If you are using the minimum gauge, you might want to consider going up one or two ratings like a 14 or 12 gauge cord. You also might want to have a look at the brushes if the noise returns.

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        • #5
          Re: My Flex was making noises yesterday

          If the bolt holding the backing plate came loose I would suggest putting a drop of loctite on it. I used a drop of blue loctite on mine and I have never had a problem....knock on wood.
          If its fast, loud, and runs on a flammable liquid...count me in.

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          • #6
            Re: My Flex was making noises yesterday

            CC makes a good point. I use a 12ga extension cord on all my power tools.

            it could have been that....

            That may be what has been the failures for the G110's that I've seen.....

            My dad is an electrician and always has bigger gauge cords to power his tools...... I've used my G100 and my Harbor Freight rotary and none of them get hot and the brushes are wearing evenly.

            Keep us posted!
            Philippians 2:14 - Do all things without grumbling or questioning,

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            • #7
              Re: My Flex was making noises yesterday

              Thanks everyone, I have three panels I still need to polish out tonight when I get home with it, so I will see if it does it again, I really hope it's not the brushes...

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              • #8
                Re: My Flex was making noises yesterday

                Originally posted by Nappers View Post
                CC makes a good point. I use a 12ga extension cord on all my power tools.

                it could have been that....

                That may be what has been the failures for the G110's that I've seen.....

                My dad is an electrician and always has bigger gauge cords to power his tools...... I've used my G100 and my Harbor Freight rotary and none of them get hot and the brushes are wearing evenly.

                Keep us posted!
                It was based on your suggestion in another thread that I made my recommendation here . And I personally followed your advice and bought a 50' 12 gauge cord yesterday from WalMart. My 16 gauge cords were getting warm/hot, not the DA, and I was worried about the load. And after reading the thread about the carbon buildup on the brushes, I decided I would need a larger gauge.

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                • #9
                  Re: My Flex was making noises yesterday



                  I have a 100' cord for my tools, I don't have a garage and I got a patch of lawn then the driveway.....

                  I did use a smaller cord on some tools and the cord gets really hot, so I don't do that anymore.

                  Fireman's favorite cords are those little cords with the 3 way plug on them with fans, t.v.'s and vcr plugged into it.......3 alarm fire anyone?

                  Glad someone listened.....

                  Tom, keep us posted.....
                  Philippians 2:14 - Do all things without grumbling or questioning,

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                  • #10
                    Re: My Flex was making noises yesterday

                    Like any other machine that accepts a backing plate, sometimes they will have to be replaced and won't last as long as the machine itself. It's a good idea to have a spare just in case.

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                    • #11
                      Re: My Flex was making noises yesterday

                      Originally posted by imacarnut View Post
                      Like any other machine that accepts a backing plate, sometimes they will have to be replaced and won't last as long as the machine itself. It's a good idea to have a spare just in case.
                      Good point, I should probably pick up a spare with my next order.

                      I used it tonight after I had tightened the bolt back down on the three side panels of an abused caddy that I mentioned earlier with 105 and a LC purple foamed wool pad and it worked perfect. At this point I'm going to assume the it was caused from the loose backing plate.

                      I also switched from a 14 AWG extension cord to a 12 AWG cord, but the machine still got pretty warm around the metal on the front of the machine, just figure that's just the way it runs.

                      Thanks everyone,

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