Polaris 280 Repair

        This is the cleaning system that most pool men have in their pools, their mother's pool, sister's pools, ... if they know what they are doing. I have a customer that has the precursor to this one, the Polaris 180, the sucker is 25 years old. They put a rebuild kit on it every 5 years or so, and replace the bag about once a year, and this thing, only running 10 minutes a day, keeps the pool bottom spotless. The 280 has the same drive mechanism, and is just as reliable, but has twice the opening for picking up debris. This cleaner will even pick up small river rock, screw drivers, ex girlfriends, ... oops, nope, not those, but it will pretty much pick up anything loose on the bottom of the pool that can be picked up. The one thing it doesn't do is steps and love seats.  
 
          Most problems associated with a Polaris 280 are associated with improperly cutting the hose kit during installation. Unfortunately, once cut, you know what you are doing, hire someone who does.u can't just buy another swivel, reattach the hoses, and recut them to the correct size. You will need to buy another hose kit, and recut it properly. This is one of those things you need to get right the first time, and if you aren't absolutely sure that you are going to cut it correctly, hire someone to do it.
 
            The next problem that is common, is a failure to adjust the hose float, tail jet and the rear jet properly.
 
        The hose float is designed to adjust how far the cleaner climbs the walls. Push it all the way in, and if your water level is too high, the cleaner will climb right out of the pool. Note: This cleaner does do windows. It just doesn't wipe off the water after washing them down. Pull the hose float out to reduce the climb. Usually about 3/4" to an 1" will give you the perfect balance between cleaning the walls, and not soaking everything on the outside of the pool. Note: If there are any leaks in the hose float, it won't work, so replace it. If in doubt, unscrew it and shake it. If you hear water, replace it.
 
                The Tail Jet is meant to keep the tail of the Polaris gently sweeping along the bottom. Open the screw too mush and it will whip around everywhere but the bottom. Open it too little and it won't move at all. Since the tail movement is responsible for all dust and dirt pickup, in association with main drain suction. (Note: If you do not have 3/4 of your pools suction set to the main drain, not only will you have a problem with cloudy and/or green water, regardless of the cleaning system you use, but this cleaner will not pick up anything smaller than the holes in the bag. With drain suction, this is the best cleaner, not only for debris, but for dirt as well.) I normally start with this fitting closed, then open it about a turn and check to see if it is moving properly. Too wildly and I close it a quarter turn. Not quite enough, I open it a quarter turn.
 
                Adjustment of the rear jet is what allows you to control the direction that the cleaner turns. What you are looking for is completely random patterns. Moving the jet up raises the nose of the cleaner and pushes the tail down. Moving the Jet down lowers the nose and raises the tail off the floor. Moving the Jet Right pushes the cleaner to the right, moving it left moves the cleaner to the left. You want all of the cleaner to stay on the surface of the pool unless the backup jet is working. Normal starting position for adjustment is the jet all the way up, and slightly right of center. If it is going to the left more than half the time, move the jet to the left a small fraction. If it is moving to the right too often, move the jet to the right a fraction. Ideally, when the cleaner hits a wall perfectly square, it should climb up almost straight, and you should not be able to guess what direction it will turn to. 50% of the time it should turn to the right, and 50% to the left, is what you are shooting for.
 
        If you have further questions, send me an e-mail. aawesomeinc@hotmail.com
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