Polaris 380 Needs Tow Truck-help

[cooper96]

Polaris 380 stalled. Wheels don't turn at all. Two years old. Booster pump working, sweeper working, backup working, jets clear. Opened and all belts/hoses appear fine. Do notice a fair amount of gurgling at the check valve near the pool but it may be my imagination that it's more than usual. Any suggestions?

[thepoolman1]

Can you manually turn the wheels? If so, check the wall screen in the fitting at the end of the hose. If not, you probably have something stuck in the gears inside the body or they have jammed due to wear allowing them to "wobble" into each other.

[cooper96]

wheels turn easily manually. someone suggested that a drive jet (my term) may be clogged. i'm guessing there's a jet that points at the drive wheel. i'm going to try that with their POLARIS TOOL (paper clip) and will let you know

[cooper96]

opened it up. cleared the jet and freed the gears. all good- thanks

[rlanthony@excite.com]

i am having the same problem but slightly different with my 380. Wheels turn very slowly, jets weak, tail scribber limp. I cleaned the pool filter, checked the filter to the polaris, checked water flow to the cleaner, all as far as I can tell ok.The polaris used to work lazily when the pump was off just drifting on bleed water, no more though. Do I need to take this thing apart? What are the most probable causes?

Rick

[markphin]

Rick,
I just had the exact same problem as you do. After doing all else as indicated above. I took the whole thing apart. Tuns out that the wire tie that clamps one of the internal hoses broke and the hose came off, thus spraying water inside the unit instead of through the venturis. However it is somewhat hidden, you not only have to take the blue body off but also the "sub" frame attached by 4 screws. Then you can see all the hoses. Since I had apart, I replaced alot of stuff, bearings, wheels, gears etc.
I fired it up and good as new.

[rlanthony@excite.com]

Mark,

Thanks, I took the thing apart and visually inspected the unit. Looked good, but when it is running a whole lot of water comes out the body, I thought it was water that was to drive the turbine. I guess I will take it apart completely and inspect the whole works, hose clamps included. How much water should leave the body due to turbine water? It seems like more than it should be to me. I guess if a hose clamp has failed there is not enough pressure to drive the whole system. Currently the jets to the bag don't even inflate the bag completely.


Also, I checked the impeller, clean as a whistle. Cleaned the whole filter system, pot filter, cartridge filter etc....One more question, how much pressure should be coming from the feed hose, seems somewhat weak, good flow but not a whole lot of pressure. I guess when pressured through the small ports in the cleaner the pressure rises. I did change the pressure ring from the small one to the larger one ( red to blue, I think), runs a little bit better, but still not enought pressure to run the system

Thanks, I'll let you know.
Rick

[markphin]

Rick,
I'll bet that is the problem. There is a hose that is not visible without completely taking apart. If that is not it, call Polaris, they are great. They sent me a whole bunch of different replacement parts free of charge, including a PVC contraption to test the water pressure, guage not included. You hook it up to the end of the feeder hose. the pressure should be between 28-32 psi. Mine was exactly 29. So I knew that was not the problem, which led me down the road of complete disassembly. If you don't have adequate pressure at the end of the hose. Check at the wall next, to be sure it isn't something in the hose itself, like the back-up valve. Keep in mind the pressure will drop as the back-up valve kicks in.
Good Luck! Let me know how you make out.
Mark

[rlanthony@excite.com]

Mark,
You were right on the money! I took the whole assembly apart and low and behold the hose clamp was off the turbine jet. Replaced with a thick wire tie as that is what was on it before and works like new. I thought I was losing my mind.
Thanks,
Rick

[shadowman]

I inherited a Polaris 380 with my house and pool and I think it is great. In the past 2 years I have replaced a leaky float and put a new hose clamp on for the exact same problem you were talking about. I run it for 60 to 90 minutes a day and it works fine.