Cleaner pods work great when up in the water, but wont move when it touches the pool bottom
Sounds like the turbine or a-frame bearings are bad. A turbine kit with a-frames will be a solution. Also check the pod shoes for wear, should be a good 1/4" or better.
The most common reason the Hayward Navigator stops moving is there is something blocking the mouth of the cleaner. Pull the cleaner out of the water while the equipment is turned off and make sure the cleaner is not clogged with debris or plugged with a pool toy. Also, make sure that all the internal components are properly installed.
Not Enough Suction - Next, verify that there is enough suction to allow the cleaner to work properly. While the pool equipment is on, lift the Hayward Navigator to just below the surface of the water and feel to see if there is a reasonable amount of suction getting to the cleaner. If there doesn't seem to be enough pressure, make sure all baskets are clear of debris, the main pool filter is clean, and that the diverter valve is open to the pool cleaner.
Small Debris Inside the Navigator - If there seems to be enough suction getting to the Navigator, but the pods are not moving back and forth, there is probably some small debris inside the cleaner that is stopping the turbine from moving. In order to remove any debris from inside the cleaner, remove the small access cover from the bottom of the cleaner by loosening the one screw until the plate pulls off. Use your fingers or the hose to clean the inside of the cleaner out.
If following these simple troubleshooting tips doesn't correct your cleaner issue, there is probably a mechanical issue. Take your cleaner into a local swimming pool retailer or have a service company out to assist (though most pool stores will not ever charge you for labor to make repairs!)
Thank you for posting your question on Fix Ya! I hope to have been of some help to you regarding this issue and if you need some additional clarification, please feel free to let me know what happened with your cleaner! We also appreciate your feedback in letting the world know if you were satisfied with our help!
The Ugly Pool Guy
www.WeFixUglyPools.com
Cleaners depend on several factors to make them operate. There must be enough water flow past the turbine. Use a vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1" vacuum per section of hose.
Second, the four small "shoes" must be able to grip the pool surface. Make sure that the "shoes" are not worn out and that the surface of the pool is not slippery because of a buildup of algae. Note: some algae is clear, be sure to feel the underwater pool surface.
Third, the shoes and "pods" must be working correctly. Any wear in the "drive train" can cause problems. To check for wear, hold the left and right "pods" in your hands and firmly, try to rock the pods. All force on the pods should be transferred to the turbine and no "play" should be evident.
As a test, hold the cleaner by the hose. Keep the cleaner below water with the pump running. Hold the cleaner off the bottom of the pool and observe, the cleaner should: rotate right - not rotate - rotate left - not rotate - rotate right - etc. All the time, the "pods" should be kicking. If you can reach under the cleaner and stop the pods with your hand, there is either excessive wear on the internal parts or inadequate suction. Remember to check the vacuum reading before calling for assistance.
The hose might be too short.
As a test, hold the cleaner by the hose. Keep the cleaner below water with the pump running. Hold the cleaner off the bottom of the pool and observe, the cleaner should: rotate right - not rotate - rotate left - not rotate - rotate right - etc. All the time, the "pods" should be kicking. If the cleaner is not doing the "test" movements, it should be taking in and rebuilt. You can do this yourself or take the cleaner to your local retail store for assistance.
Please give us some feedback on how we were able to help you out!
-The Ugly Pool Guy, WeFixUglyPools.com
FRONT HAYWARD BUMPERS:
839 views
Usually answered in minutes!
×