Backing plate completely de-threaded
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 3
From: Indy IN
Backing plate completely de-threaded
Somehow while polishing a car recently I managed to de-thread my backing plate to my PC 7336 so there are no threads left at all. It happened real quick, started to feel odd and way too much vibration, I shut it off and the backing plate and pad fell out. Should I even try to get another backing pad and screw it in to the polisher? I know the metal from the threads will be up in where you screw the backing plate into so there may not be any way to ever make a new plate screw in correctly. I guess even if I have to replace it I did at least get years of use with this being the first ever problem, go Porter Cable!
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 14,104
Likes: 244
From: South Florida
Sounds like a perfect opportunity to upgrade to the newer PC-XP or Griots Random Orbital. You might be able to service unit, but at pricing normally an upgrade is smarter move. We carry the Flex also which is the supreme upgrade but outside PC pricing.
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 795
Likes: 0
From: Albany NY
I'm guessing what happened is the backing plate was just slightly loose during usage and it may have been grinding on the threading and wearing it down. You can bring it to a local Porter Cable Service shop and get an estimate on repairing it. However if that becomes costly you may want to get the new Porter Cable 7424XP Random Orbital Buffer which is a bit more powerful version of the same tool. It comes with a bigger motor and more cutting power. Additionally it comes with a one year full warranty with service and a three year limited warranty. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Greg @ DI
Greg @ DI
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 0
From: Richardson Texas
Before you spend the money to get a new one pc. What brand backing plate did you have? The yellow ones from lake country have a tendency to go bad. I have seen several of LC's backing plates with no threads of them anymore. I would clean the threads in the pc and order the factory porter cable backing plate. I'm a detailer and my pc and pc brand backing plate have seen a lot of use over the last 4years and they both are still going strong.
