Len,
I got a Flexi 5 on demo for a while and thought it was crap as a pile lifter. Then I realised that the entire suction system, pipes, slots, curves were blocked up with lint. Whoever had it before me had been dry vaccing with it and kept the vac motor on when agitating wet prepsray and hence all the wet lint clogging up the works.
The vac motor isn't covered if you have it on when wet agitating, it it even say DRY VAC ONLY on the housing.
As soon as I got it working as it should, it quickly became apparent that it was a stunning piece of equipment that helps produce fantastic carpet cleaning.
Simon