Who loves their Polaris 380?

[jenmenke]

I am curious: I hear people say all the time how much they LOVE their Polaris 380. I've had one for 4 years and pretty much hate it. Am I the only one? I'd love to hear comments from owners.

If I had a nickle for every hour I've spent dinking around with the jet in the back to make it run a circuit of the whole pool, I'd be rich. I don't even have any obstacles. It cleans the pool just OK (20x40 rectangle with 8 1/2' deep end). It's never totally clean. I've talked to a specialist at Polaris (really, really great customer service, I'll give them that.), posted on the old forum for tips, etc. Now I just want to know if I'm the only one...

[cleancloths]

I've got the same Polaris and the same size pool, and mine Polaris works great. I've had it 8 years and have changed the belts once or twice, other than that it is the greatest machine invented by man.

[aylad]

I love mine, too--the only problem I've had with it in 4 years is that I've replaced the belts once, the wheels once, and the backup valve once--but then again it "lives" in my pool, and is used year-round since I live in a very warm climate. I would absolutely buy another one!

18 x 36 IG liner pool....
Janet

[larry2338]

We've had ours 1 year and are extremely happy with it. Only thing I had to adjust was the water pressure exiting the 'tail'. It would occasionally come up out of the water and spray the windows of the house with salty water which looks pretty crummy when the water evaporates and you're left with a salt film on the glass. I got tired of washing windows so I just cut the pressure back a little and no more problem. We would definitely recommend the 380.

[ytngt]

As you have noticed, the polaris 380 is either loved or hated...

I loved my old 280 until the dog destroyed it, the trade in program got me into a new 380. For the first year I could not get the thing adjusted right, but one day I lucked up on a perfect setting for my pool. The 380 has been great ever since... It's all in the setup (luck)!

[markphin]

I love mine as well. Thing is worth it's weight in gold. I have had 4 seasons and just replaced the belts and wheels at end of last season.
Make sure your hose is the proper length, you also want to have the adjustment nosle at about 11:00.

[Charrua2]

I have the Polaris 180 and was always struggling with it because it would go in circles in the deep end of the pool and not go up to the shallow end. I played around with the little jet in the back and that never helped. Finally, what worked was to move the direction of the hose that connects to the robot. My polaris would constantly run in circles towards the side with the one wheel. What I did was turn the hose towards the two-wheel side to the 4 oclock position from the normal 6 oclock position (i.e., if your looking from above and the two wheel side is on the right). Now it covers the entire pool.

[donfranko]

Love it. Only had it one year but it works like a charm (knock wood). I bought a new bag because the original got a few holes. Probably from overloading or twigs - my bad.

It also occasionaly shoots out water on the deck but my pool is far away from the house so it only wets the pavers.

[bbb]

I inherited an old beat up one when I bought my house - it wasn't working quite right and didn't even have a backup valve. So I ordered a rebuild kit off eBay last year (essentially an entire new 380, including the backup valve, except for one part - the inner plastic base - for much less money), rebuilt it (it was easy - I had posted the story in the old forum), and it works great. So put me in the "love it" category too.

[jenmenke]

Man. Makes me really wonder what the deal is with ME? Or better; with my Polaris. So NO ONE ELSE sits there at the side of their pool and watches it endlessly. Watches it go back over the same spots over and over. ...Then tweak the directional nozzle on the back and watch it some more.

I have put on new wheels. Polaris sent me a new timer valves that backs it up twice as often, which has helped some, but it also has increased the time it takes to clean because it is spending so much time backing up and away instead of cleaning.

It DOES eventually clean the pool. It does miss large areas on the incline between the deep and shallow ends. I use a brush and redistribute the dirt and keep it going. I DO use the sand/silt bag because it works better for me. I just can't imagine buying one of these knowing what I know over something like a Dolphin. But I guess I'm really in the minority. And it makes me wonder if my cleaner is a lemon.