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Backing plate on the flex

BlueGenCoupe

Asked by BlueGenCoupe,

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BlueGenCoupe

BlueGenCoupe

Posted
Posted

Guys I don't know why but the backing plate on my flex keeps on popping off.

 

This is what it looks like

cfdb45f1-816c-7e4b.jpg

cfdb45f1-8183-1f14.jpg

 

Every time it pops off I loosen the nut , install the little silver piece(tap it in lightly) install the backing plate and tighten the nut.

 

I don't know what else to do. I'm half way through polishing the car and I'm afraid to use it again. Both times it popped it off I was lucky it never did damage.

 

This couldn't have happened at a worse time. Adams is closed for the long weekend, I'm not even close to finished and I have a client coming next Saturday!

38 answers to this question

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gencoupe3dot8

gencoupe3dot8

Posted
Posted

Anthony,

At this point I have to agree with Dave... time to get this looked at by Flex/Adams... but..

 

Part 322.105 is inserted into part 259.148 and held by snap ring 102.091, not clear how part 104.949 is held on... but the assembly looks like it is inserted then held by snap ring 102.105.

 

All in all very odd that this thing would fall apart tho... Flex 3401 vrg is not known for this type of thing as far as I know... have seen reports about part 328.200 getting rubbed by the felt ring.... (I had that problem... sent it back to Adams and they took care of me)!!!

LFairbanks

LFairbanks

Posted
Posted
Chris, how would a snap ring break?

 

 

Nothing you did. Probably just a bad one. Things happen. I guarantee you can find one at an autoparts store, HD, or Lowes.

BlueGenCoupe

BlueGenCoupe

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I don't think the snap ring is the cause. How would that Keep the spindle from popping out?

 

The snap ring is circular, and the spindle slides in the middle of that. The snap ring isn't actling like a clamp and holding it in place..At least I don't think it is..I could be wrong

LFairbanks

LFairbanks

Posted
Posted
I don't think the snap ring is the cause. How would that Keep the spindle from popping out?

 

The snap ring is circular, and the spindle slides in the middle of that. The snap ring isn't actling like a clamp and holding it in place..At least I don't think it is..I could be wrong

 

The spindle is held in place by the snap ring on the bottom of the roller bearing. See my pic below. And that whole assembly is held in place by the snap ring you see on the top where the backing plate is screwed into the spindle. If that makes sense. Let me know and I will try to explain another way. If that snap ring in my pic is broken your spindle is going to come off. There is groove on the spindle and the snap ring snaps into it and holds the spindle in place and the one on top holds the whole assembly you see in my hand in the tool.

 

Below is a pic of the ring your after. Take that snap ring off the top. This is the bottom side.

 

IMG_0390.jpg

BlueGenCoupe

BlueGenCoupe

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Gotcha...I understand now.

 

Im working the night shift now, When I get home Im taking a part that son of a gun apart and I'll let you know how it goes!

LFairbanks

LFairbanks

Posted
Posted

Just make sure you have a pair of snap ring pliers. So that you don't damage the snap rings by twisting them into positions they shouldn't be twisted. You may be able to put them back on with out the snap ring pliers but good luck on getting them off with out a pair without damaging them IMHO.

 

The other thing to remember when you put that last snap ring back on, the first one you remove, remember to push down hard on the spindle. You will hear, see, and feel it snap into place when it goes. Just don't assume that you have pressed down hard enough and it is in. You don't need a hammer either. I just used my thumb to press down on it and a small flat tipped screwdriver to press down on the snap ring at the same time.

BlueGenCoupe

BlueGenCoupe

Posted
  • Author
Posted

So After many messages back and forth with Chris(LFairbank) I think we've came to a conclusion as to why the backing plate keeps on popping off. As seen in the flex parts diagram you see part #322.105(left side of the pic) as the spindle/shaft which holds the backing plate. In the diagram its shown as 1 piece. 3401diagram.png

 

Today I was able to take apart the spindle/shaft to inspect it and this is what I saw.

 

Remember in my first few pics you say the snap ring just floating around...well here it is. It wasn't attached to anything.

27745580.jpg

 

I pulled out the snap ring and then pulled out the rest of the shaft.

 

Here is a pic of LFairbanks Spindle/shaft in one piece

19c440a4.jpg

 

And here is mine(sorry I thought I took a pic of the other piece, but turns out I didn't)

3003b8e1.jpg

e29c4a34.jpg

 

The hole in the middle is where the rest of the shaft is suppose to go. Weird thing is, if it did break, it was the cleanest/semetrical brake I have ever seen.

 

Chris and I are a bit puzzled due to the way it broke apart and/or if there was new design.

BlueGenCoupe

BlueGenCoupe

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Part 322.105 is inserted into part 259.148 and held by snap ring 102.091, not clear how part 104.949 is held on... but the assembly looks like it is inserted then held by snap ring 102.105.

 

That is correct, like shown in the pic above that Chris provided.

 

The way I see it part 104.949 sits at the bottom and everything is pretty much locked into place by part 102.105.

 

Im working the night shift now, when I get home i'll take a nap and get in contact with Ashley and HOPE AND PRAY she can send me out a new one over night!

LFairbanks

LFairbanks

Posted
Posted
Anthony,

At this point I have to agree with Dave... time to get this looked at by Flex/Adams... but..

 

Part 322.105 is inserted into part 259.148 and held by snap ring 102.091, not clear how part 104.949 is held on... but the assembly looks like it is inserted then held by snap ring 102.105.

 

That is correct. Part 104.949 is just a needle bearing that sits in the bottom of the tool, and the end of the spindle sits inside it. It appears from the pics that I have seen that the spindle broke right where that retaining ring goes, part 102.091. Still scratching my head with that one.

Adam

Adam

Posted
Posted
Me personally, I would stop correcting and send it back in to Adams. This is a $300+ machine that needs to be repaired by someone other than the user IMO.

 

Exactly, and why wast time here when we can fix it immediately? Was it purchased from us? Wouldn't it be much quicker to speak with our customer service and get this resolved?

 

I like the direct route!

 

:)

gencoupe3dot8

gencoupe3dot8

Posted
Posted

Regarding the snap ring... it MIGHT be able to be reused by using a pair of snap ring pliers and forcing the rings APART - to adjust the tension

OUTwards, I can't tell if there is a slot the snap ring is supposed to fit it or not.. can you tell? The pliers you are looking for would be something like this:

 

MP-TOOL-027_is?$product_large_1000$

 

Hope you find a solution in time to meet your detail. It has been fun trying to help you!

07RS4

07RS4

Posted
Posted

Man I wish I could help you out Anthony, I haven' had my BP off yet on the Flex. Let me know if you want me too, I can take mine apart and see what may be the root cause.

gencoupe3dot8

gencoupe3dot8

Posted
Posted

Anthony,

Something is wrong with the cam portion that is supposed to fit in the slot in your backing plate.

It looks like you have pulled the cam out from where it is supposed to sit in the portion that stays

attached to the polisher. Backing plate has female slot where the cam

male portion should fit into.... there is a clip that holds that cam portion

(male) in and i don't see it in your pic.

 

So it should look like.. (sorry, no visio)

 

__________bolt & washer _____________[

|---------backing plate h e r e -------------| | Backing plate assembly

___________female slot_______________[

 

felt ring ___male part of cam _____felt ring

____\ cam h e r e (weight attached) /

_____\ rest of polisher attached here /

______+++++++++++++++++++

 

Here's a pic.... [edit] YOU CAN SEE HERE THE SPINDLE HAS A FLANGE THAT IS HELD IN BY A SNAP RING. YOUR SPINDLE

IS IN THE BP, EVEN THOUGH THE SNAP RING IS STILL IN THE BOTTOM PART OF THE POLISHER AND LOOKS

LIKE THE SPINDLE WAS PULLED UP AND THROUGH THE SNAP RING!!!!

 

3401Flex.jpg

 

[m]

gencoupe3dot8

gencoupe3dot8

Posted
Posted

And here's the exploded diagram.

 

3401diagram.png

 

Question, did you unscrew the allen to get the BP off? It looks to me like the cam and the screw are still together....

 

[m]

07RS4

07RS4

Posted
Posted

It looks like the spindle came out, even though the snap ring is still installed....strange.

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