RUPES LK900E 5" Backing Plate

LK900E 5 Inch Backing Plate for Tight Panels

The RUPES LK900E 5 inch backing plate (part 980.037) is RUPES's 125 mm hook-and-loop plate for the RUPES LK900E Mille gear-driven polisher. The Mille's manual lists both a 125 mm and a 150 mm plate, and this is the smaller one for bumpers, pillars, mirror housings, and the curved edges of a hood. Unlike a BigFoot plate, it does not hang on one center screw. It bolts to the Mille's aluminium support through six holes, each fastened with a RUPES 9.614 backing plate screw and its two washers, over a six-hole gasket.

For flat panels, pair it with the RUPES LK900E 6" backing plate (981.089), which covers more paint per pass. Both bolt to the same six-hole pattern, so a swap uses the same screws and washers. RUPES's manual says to line up all six holes over the gasket first and only then tighten the screws. After that, give the Mille a short test run and watch for wobble.

What Makes it Great:

🎯 125 mm Reach: The smaller face gets the Mille's forced rotation into curves and tight areas where a 6-inch pad rides up on the edge.

🔩 Six-Point Bolt Pattern: Fastening at six points instead of one keeps the plate from rocking when the gears push it through a heavy cut.

🔁 Same Mount as the 6-Inch Plate: The 5- and 6-inch Mille plates share one bolt pattern, gasket, and hardware, so changing sizes needs no extra parts.

🏭 Factory Mille Part: This is RUPES's own 980.037 for the LK900E, made to the dimensions of the plate the polisher was designed around.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which LK900E plate size do I need, 5 or 6 inch?

Use the 5-inch plate on curves, bumpers, and narrow panels, and the 6-inch plate on hoods, roofs, and doors. Both use the same six screws, so keeping one of each on hand lets you match the plate to the panel.

Does the LK900E backing plate fit other RUPES polishers?

No. The Mille's six-screw plate mounts only to the LK900E's aluminium support. BigFoot random orbitals like the LHR15 take center-screw plates, and the LH19E rotary takes a threaded plate.

What is a gear-driven polisher?

A gear-driven polisher like the LK900E turns the backing plate through gears, so it keeps rotating while the pad is pressed against the paint. A free-spinning random orbital can slow down under pressure, which is why gear-driven machines are used for heavier correction.

Specifications:

Installation (Best Practices):