Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 27
  1. #1
    Detailing Stare keeotee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Northeast Ohio
    Posts
    658
    Post Thanks / Like

    What in the world happened to my backing plate?

    I was using my pc 7424 tonight on a friends jeep, and I started getting some wobbling and all of a sudden the pad came off.

    So, I inspected the backing plate and it was really hot and in fact, the center area had melted, was very hot to the touch and the velcro was warping and some lesser melting occurring in some other spots on the backing plate.

    I`m attaching a pic of it. Any ideas what might have caused this? I can`t tell if the backing plate failed or the pc itself. Although the way it got so hot, and primarily in the center of the backing plate, I`m leaning towards the pc itself.

    Any thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions as to what it might be or what is going on with this thing? It`s only about 4 months old!
    Attached Images Attached Images
    If the wolf howls by the light of the moon in the dark of the night...

  2. #2
    Founder Poorboy's World Poorboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Boca Raton, Fl
    Posts
    14,543
    Post Thanks / Like
    looks like the pc overheated ....do you crank it up to 6 for extended periods of time? ...return it, it has a 1 year warranty... right?
    life is short ..do it while you can

    e-mail info@poorboysworld.com

  3. #3
    Detailing Stare keeotee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Northeast Ohio
    Posts
    658
    Post Thanks / Like
    Steve,

    I had it up to 6 for maybe 3 minutes at most. Almost always I run it at 5 or 5.5. I`m sure it does have at least a 1 year warranty. I was betting it was the pc. I couldn`t imagine the backing plate being at fault in any way.

    Ok, I guess I should ask this question then as a followup: does it hurt it to run it for long periods at 5 or 5.5? Isn`t that the standard setting for a swirl remover?
    If the wolf howls by the light of the moon in the dark of the night...

  4. #4
    Founder Poorboy's World Poorboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Boca Raton, Fl
    Posts
    14,543
    Post Thanks / Like
    well basically most people over use this machine...it is really intended for light work not the kind of work a rotary will do...it should be able to sustain the 5-5.5 speeds for a good amount of time, but mine sounds like it`s ready to explode when I crank it up to 6 ....
    look at it this way...you truck is capable of red lining, but would you really keep it there for too long?
    life is short ..do it while you can

    e-mail info@poorboysworld.com

  5. #5
    Detailing Stare keeotee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Northeast Ohio
    Posts
    658
    Post Thanks / Like
    Gotchya - thanks Steve.
    If the wolf howls by the light of the moon in the dark of the night...

  6. #6
    Car Detailing Whore
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Moore, OK
    Posts
    1,319
    Post Thanks / Like
    Originally posted by Poorboy

    look at it this way...you truck is capable of red lining, but would you really keep it there for too long?
    Just to hijack a thread with random pointless knowledge...

    I have seen a Honda CRX with no oil in it whatsoever redline for 8 minutes, and then still manage to start and run for another 4 minutes before it caught fire.
    http://tassadar.ezekial.net

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Calgary, Canada
    Posts
    393
    Post Thanks / Like
    Originally posted by Tassadar
    Just to hijack a thread with random pointless knowledge...

    I have seen a Honda CRX with no oil in it whatsoever redline for 8 minutes, and then still manage to start and run for another 4 minutes before it caught fire.
    That`s hilarious.

    Thanks for the laugh.

    I`m not sure I agree with Poorboy tho. If a machine is designed to run at a certain speed, it should be capable of maintaining that performance for extended periods. (I`m an electrical engineer by the way - motors are my business).

    However, having said that, common sense dictates that things last longer when they are taken care of.

  8. #8
    Recovering Postaholic rhillstr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Columbus, OH
    Posts
    386
    Post Thanks / Like
    I would tend to agree. While the PC sounds like it wants to barf when run at 6 it should be able to do so for extended periods without trouble. Porter Cable is a top notch tool company with a strong reputation, I doubt they would create a setting on their dial the tool couldn`t handle. Motors get hot for two reasons to my knowledge (maybe more, let`s ask the engineer!). A short such as if some water or other conducting material penetrated the casing, or it was overloaded such as run on 6 with very heavy pressure. Like Steve said, it`s not a rotory...
    Ask a question, be a fool for a minute. Don`t ask a question, be a fool forever.
    -Chinese Proverb

  9. #9
    OI812's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    592
    Post Thanks / Like
    So freedre what are you saying? I agree that things last longer when they are taken care of. Are you saying the machine wasn`t taken care of, or do you have a secret to the machines maintance that you could share with all of us? I have a PC 7424, and when I turn it off after running it, the bearings make alot of noise. My PC is probably only 3 months old. If there is some maintance or lubrication points on it please let us know.

  10. #10
    Founder Poorboy's World Poorboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Boca Raton, Fl
    Posts
    14,543
    Post Thanks / Like
    Originally posted by freedre
    I`m not sure I agree with Poorboy tho. If a machine is designed to run at a certain speed, it should be capable of maintaining that performance for extended periods. (I`m an electrical engineer by the way - motors are my business).

    However, having said that, common sense dictates that things last longer when they are taken care of.
    I would agree but there are other factors involved such as a rubber velcro backing plate...I believe these machines were first intended for wood work not auto finishes, and I also have seen backing plates with holes in them for attaching sand paper which would allow more cooling..

    I`m not an engineer , but I did once stay at a Holiday Inn Express
    life is short ..do it while you can

    e-mail info@poorboysworld.com

  11. #11

    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Folcroft, PA
    Posts
    299
    Post Thanks / Like
    Just some more insight. I have spoken to Porter Cable on various occasions while designing the Edge2000 DA foam pads and have been told by their engineers that the machine is being used for and I quote "the wrong applications". The PC is really a sander for use with sandpaper very close to the orbital head of the machine. It has found a niche as a polishing tool for applying and removing wax but never was intended to compound or buff and especially not at speeds above 5. While I understand that many people use the machine for this purpose it is not surprising that the machine will break down, over heat, and wear out prematurely. Porter Cable says if you want to buff with compound they make a rotary buffer for that job. If you want your PC to last keep your speeds below 5 if you intend on using it for a buffing process, this way at least you will not beat up the machine too bad. Just my thoughts.

    Aaron Krause (President & CEO)
    777 Henderson Blvd.
    Suites # 1 & 2
    Folcroft, PA 19032
    ---------------------------------------
    Æ’v Phone: (610) 583-4883
    Æ’¢ Fax: (610) 583-4885
    Æ’x Email: aaron@dedicationtodetail.com
    Website: www.edgepads.com

  12. #12
    Owner and Tech. Rep Nickc0844's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Atlanta (Woodstock), Georgia
    Posts
    1,680
    Post Thanks / Like
    I just had to return mine in for repair last week, and it forced me to buy another NEW PC. There is a weak connection in the positive/negetive when I took the housing off. It will take 4-6 weeks to be repaired. :angry

    While the 7424 and the 7336 have found a niche in auto detailing, it certainly cannot handle major paint repair. This is where a rotary comes into play. Now, PC does make a 7428 rotary, but I personally like the Makita.

    The moral of the story is this: Use Poorboy`s and the new Edge 2000 DA pads, and use them ALOT.
    Nick Carberry
    ~Detailing high-end cars with quality products~

  13. #13

    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Calgary, Canada
    Posts
    393
    Post Thanks / Like
    Originally posted by OI812
    So freedre what are you saying? I agree that things last longer when they are taken care of. Are you saying the machine wasn`t taken care of, or do you have a secret to the machines maintance that you could share with all of us? I have a PC 7424, and when I turn it off after running it, the bearings make alot of noise. My PC is probably only 3 months old. If there is some maintance or lubrication points on it please let us know.
    OUCH!

    Sorry, I didn`t mean to insult anyone.

    No, to all of the above. I simply mean that if a machine has a setting of `5` (or 6 or a zillion) it should be able to run at that speed. It will not fail from overheating, because it has a built in sensor that will shut it off if it exceeds 60 degrees C over ambient. In other words, if you are in Southern California on a nice 30 degree C summer day, the machine will get up to 90 degrees C (almost the boiling point of water) before it will shut itself down to prevent overheating. Most people feel that if a machine is hot to the touch, it is overheated - this is not the case. For the machine, it is business as usual.

    Let me say this about your particular situation tho - if your bearings are noisy - STOP USE IMMEDIATELY!! There is something wrong with the bearings and continuing to use the machine will damage it severely! Get the bearings replaced (the machine is designed for that). It "shouldn`t" cost you more than $10.

    I understand the manufacturer saying that the machine is being used for something for which it was not designed, but I have been in this business for more than 35 years and I don`t have any sympathy for statements like that at all. To heck with that. It`s a machine, dammit. If it is going to break, don`t sell the darn things. Shame on you Porter Cable.

  14. #14
    Detailing Stare keeotee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Northeast Ohio
    Posts
    658
    Post Thanks / Like
    It`s my porty and I`ll cry if I want to, cry if I... oh sorry.

    I bought a new one today and I`ll keep the speeds at 5, maybe up to 5.5.

    I would agree that if the dial says 6, it ought to do 6, but then again I had a car once where the speedo read higher than it would go!! I had one once where the speedo ended before the car would - loved that car.

    But, I work with computers, so I wouldn`t know about what the pc can and cannot do. I can say that I did not use excessive pressure as I could see that too much pressure at all would bog the thing down and not allow the full range of motion - obviously this is defeating the purpose of the machine at least in that regard..

    Well, I will say this though, why doesn`t dumb Porter Cable make a machine for what we use it for - I mean DUH. Are they like waiting for a market or something? Did I say DUH already!!

    I figured returning it would take quite some time before I got it back, so I`m not going to wait. My order is in to Dwayne for Monday morning.

    EDIT: Oh, I should add another thought to this. I have read many posts concerning the pc 7424 and so many have had theirs it seems for a very long time without trouble. I imagine I`m one of the few to perhaps get a bad one. It happens (and apparently I`m not the only one in this thread, but still...). Sometimes a bad one gets through. I`ve no qualms about getting another one.
    Last edited by keeotee; 06-19-2004 at 06:01 PM.
    If the wolf howls by the light of the moon in the dark of the night...

  15. #15
    Recovering Postaholic rhillstr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Columbus, OH
    Posts
    386
    Post Thanks / Like
    Hmmm... interesting. Porter-Cable claims the 7336 was not intended to be used for polishing, yet they attach a foam pad and relabel it the 7424 polisher. All this was done with the knowledge that the little bugger cannot handle the load? They never bothered to beef up the motor or change the gearing so it could handle the load? I could see Craftsman or Black and Decker pulling a stunt like this but Porter-Cable has a solid reputation which they built by NOT doing this. I am not saying you are wrong Aaron, I am just sitting here scratching my noggin` in wonderment and confusion.
    Now that this little "skeleton" has come out of the closet, I see a HUGE argument for using small pads on your PC! I was using 8.5" and 7.5" monsters, perhaps we should not be exceeding 6" pads? What do you think Aaron?
    Ask a question, be a fool for a minute. Don`t ask a question, be a fool forever.
    -Chinese Proverb

 

 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 04-03-2012, 11:28 AM
  2. Which backing plate would be best?
    By PGA2B in forum Polishing With a Rotary Polisher
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 08-30-2011, 09:31 PM
  3. backing plate..
    By dubbkidd in forum Car Detailing
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-12-2007, 11:20 PM
  4. Need a new backing plate for PC?
    By twopu in forum Car Detailing Product Discussion
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-26-2006, 06:04 AM
  5. Flexible backing plate vs. regular backing plate?
    By kb798 in forum Car Detailing
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-09-2004, 12:20 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •