Flex help guys please

[ExpressThis13]

Ok so Ive been having an issue with my flex thus far this year. I could hold the pad in place with no forced rotation and I knew something was wrong I thought I had messed up something in the flex until Dylan had done the recent ask the shine doc video talking about PM care of the polishers and I had noticed the backing plate was wrong. Well apparently someone had removed the factory backing plate to put the smaller pad on it and then had replaced it with the backing plate from the PC so needless to say this whole time my flex had just been a pc in a simple sense. Now I did find the original backing plate that came with my flex but here is the problem. The factory hex screw/bolt and washer are missing. I have found a website that sells the screw and washer for 99c each (awesome) so could imagine my excitment but then it calculates shipping. $6 shipping for small screw and washer? If anyone has any info where I could a screw and washer that would make me have my flex back I would be forever grateful.

[LFairbanks]

It is what it is.  If you want it, that is what it is going to cost.  I once paid $8 for shipping for 1 spring that was no bigger than your fingernail on your pinky.  And the box it came in was like a 6x6x6.

[Junior]

So what is the question?

[ExpressThis13]

alternatives

[ledger64]

bite the bullet and buy it.  it is what it is

[egott_91]

If you know the size, try a local hardware store? Who knows. Or just pay the $8 and have OE parts

[ExpressThis13]

I dont have a clue what the size is. I was hoping for Dylan to chime in since they sell and service them. Ive torn apart my garage looking for it. I have one last spot that just came to mind I wil check in the morning ive no luck I will just bite the bullet and order it online. Hate to pay 8$ for a screw and washer but oh well. cheaper than replacing the entire backing plate I suppose.

[Junior]

Yeah I wouldnt mess around with anything else. You could end up causing more harm and more cost in the end.

[Team Adam's]

I honestly don't know the specs off hand, but even our replacement plates don't come with new washers or bolts.

 

Here's the service diagram, but it doesn't include dims on the hardware

http://www.flexnorthamerica.com/docs/XC3401VRG.pdf

[ledger64]

Looks like mine is a 5/16 bolt with a 20 pitch thread that's 1/2 long

[ledger64]

Or it could be metric #8 wwith a 1.25 pitch. Same length

[neohio]

I am going to go with 5/16-20. I bought a tap to relocate a handle on one of their other pipe polishing tools. I'm not sure the length, but the size is common to other equipment they manufacture.

[07stanggt]

Buy the original !! Nothing is going to be as bad as the backing plate coming off from vibration and leaving a nice dent with paint missing on your vehicle,that will be the result. I learned the hard way !!!! Won't do that again nor should you. 

[LFairbanks]

I find it odd how people try and save a dollar, and in the long run it ends up costing them more.  Suck it up and buy the right part.

[ledger64]

Don't shoot the messenger :-)  I agree whole heartedly with you.  just not everyone else does...get the right part the first time but I guess that is up to the OP.  I am sure too that wherever he sourced the part from for that price probably has something else he could buy as well to make himself feel better about the shipping cost.  Hey truckers and logistic's companies need to eat too right!!!!

Edited June 30, 2015 by ledger64

[Team Adam's]

I have searched high and low, while I can find the part online, I can't find the specs. It is somewhere around 5/16-20, but if I've learned anything in my hunt for hardware in the past its that "LOOKS LIKE" and "FITS LIKE" are two very different things. I am STILL on the hunt for a bolt that holds an accent piece on my wheels and while I've found plenty of close fits, I haven't found the right one.

 

Sure - $6 on shipping a tiny part is a bummer, but the piece of mind of having the CORRECT part show up is worth a lot, plus its not like you'll have to ever do this again. Provided you don't lose the bolt you'll never need to buy another one. Get one less coffee at Starbucks this week and the cost of shipping is offset