Polaris 280 wheel tilted

I had recently done maintenance on the Polaris, and when replacing the wheels had put the back wheel on upside down. The axle is off center on the mounting block, so upside down means the back wheel is a little farther away from the idler wheel than it should be. The effect is that the wheel touches the idler wheel, and looks fine, but when in the water and under pressure it loses contact with the idler wheel, so you don't get power from the back wheel. I found this by putting marks on each of the wheels to count rotations while the Polaris was moving around the pool. It was then easy to see that the back wheel was slipping.

The horizontal threaded end plumbs into the pool return line, and the vertical threaded end (on top) plumbs into the Polaris return line.
This is a dedicated return line for pressure side pool cleaners that has been pre-plumbed into the pool when it was built.

If you pool does not have that cleaner return line Polaris has a kit for an "over the deck" mount. Each installation is not identical and it would be best to have someone on site to set you straight. Most pool guys will stop by for a minute or two and show you "what connects where" at no charge (expect to be invoiced if it turns into a lengthy Q&A). Google image may help. The 280 is an excellent cleaner, good luck with the install!

Try moving the float closest to backup valve slightly. This can help it stay flat on bottom. Mine was riding on its back wheel and kept climbing too high and getting tail stuck in skimmer...and now it is riding smooth across pool floor now.

there are several things that may cause the unit to run in circles. #1 never roll the hose when the unit is out of the water. Infact every year you should remove the entire unit from the pool and lay the hoses straight on the deck in the warm sun light. 1 to 3 days is usually enough use rocks if you need to in order to force th hose to stay straight. the hoses have memory and when you roll them up and lay them outside the pool this starts the problem. you also need to see if all three wheels turn in sequence. you can grab ahold of the single wheel on the left side and be sure it spins forward and backward without resistance. additonally the right front wheel should spin at the same time. there is a gear that runs between both front wheels and when the booster pump runs the gears spin and turn the front wheels. the back wheel turns from the tension placed on it by the small wheel between the two tires on the right side. over time the metal gears can wear out the plastic grooves inside the large wheels. if there is too much wear on one of the wheels you can remove one of the front tires and swap it with the back tire since it does not need the gear or grooves to turn. another issue is the directional jet located under the fitting the whip hose attaches. this uses the water pressure to direct the unit in different directions if the nipple is pointed to 12 noon this causes the unit to climb more 6 am will limit the climbing the urge. when pointed to the left it cause the unit to vere to the right and vice verse. 808-871-POOL

1. debris in the water management system (hoses inside the cleaner)
2. black gears in cleaner need replacing (360/380)
3. belt kit (polaris 360/380) or drive shaft need replacing (180/280)
4. teeth on inside of wheels are worn out (polaris 180/280 only)

Check your wheel RPM. With these automatic pool cleaners, you can manually adjust the RPM. Low RPM could be the cause of the problem. To check the RPM, first mark a single wheel side tire, Turn the pump on, hold the cleaner under water and count the wheel revolutions for one minute. If the RPM is less than 28, you might need to remove the blue restrictor disk from the UWF or adjust the gate valve on the booster pump. Also, this may sound simple, but make sure there is no debris lodged in the wheels/axles. Check your filter screen in your in-line filter and make sure that it is clear of debris. You will also want to check your hoses, connections, and swivel to make sure that there are no leaks.

Back wheel does not drive. What can it be?