Polaris spins on itself

[jberrymd]

Greetings. With this quarantine situation I have been trying to knock out some honey-dos. While working on pool I have noticed that when the back-up valve begins the Polaris moves backwards but almost Immediately the valve seems to double back and the hose ends up twisted and sometimes wrapped around the sweeper unit and the adjustable float on backside.
The only thing I can think of is maybe the swivels need replaced? Maybe the hose has some memory and since it’s still not warm in water hasn’t fully softened?
anyone else see this issue?

 

[ajw22]

My Polaris 380 is running fine in 50 degree water.

Hard to say what could be the problem without a hands on examination. Backup valve? Swivels? Hose? You can throw parts at it.

Take a video and show us the misbehavior, put it in YouTube and link to it here, and maybe we will see something.

 

[jberrymd]

I have checked the length of the hose and it is perfect. I have replaced the swivels and also repositioned the floats. The twisting up is better, but there are still times I find my Polaris like shown in the picture. Anyone else have suggestions?

 

[ajw22]

I don't like the way your floats are positioned on the hose. Let me take pics of mine tomorrow as it si dark here now.

I would like to compare the positioning of stuff on your hose versus mine.

If you don't get a post from me by Friday post a reminder.

 

[mguzzy]

Try putting some lube on swivels. If they are binding at all that could causing it to twist up. I tried WD40 once and then I had slicks in the pool,...yuck

 

[jberrymd]

I don't like the way your floats are positioned on the hose.

I have moved them around a bit to try to find the sweet spot to keep it from spinning and tangling. I have tried to see if they needed to be replaced also, but they do not seem to be water logged. I appreciate the help.

 

[ajw22]

Below are some pictures of my Polaris 380 and the position of the floats. I think your problem is one of or a combination of these things:

• Position of the floats
• Too much booster pump pressure making the backup valve too wild on backup
• Inflexible hose

Note that the backup valve is 30 inches from the cleaner. The first float is 6 feet from the cleaner. See the way the hose sits in the water with the first float keeping the hose vertical int he deep end.

The tape measure I have laid out is 30 feet and my hose is about 40 feet. The next 3 floats are spaced about 30' - 36' and the last 4 floats are spaced about 24".

Your first float is too close to the backup valve. Lay out your hose straight and show me where your other floats are. I think you may have too many floats too close together.

Is your hose nice and flexible and lays flat when on the ground?

Polaris 380 at rest.jpg

• ajw22
• Jun 18, 2020

Polaris 380.jpg

• ajw22
• Jun 18, 2020

Polaris 380 Hose 1 (Large).jpg

• ajw22
• Jun 18, 2020

Polaris 380 Hose 2 (Large).jpg

• ajw22
• Jun 18, 2020

Polaris 380 Hose 3 (Large).jpg

• ajw22
• Jun 18, 2020

Polaris 380 Hose 4 (Large).jpg

• ajw22
• Jun 18, 2020

 

[jberrymd]

Thank you very much for taking the time and making the effort to get pics and reply to my thread.
My valve is 36 inches from cleaner and the first float is 48”. Second float is 66”. Third float (after swivel) is nine feet from cleaner (109”) then 142 and 180”. I have four floats on the last section of hose.
I agree the floats are not spaced correctly and I may need to shorten my hose to the cleaner.

The hose is very flexible. It lays flat. But my booster may be too strong. How do I dial that back?

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

Your first float is too close to the backup valve.

I recently replaced my backup valve and the instructions say to put the float right behind it.

 

[ajw22]

But my booster may be too strong. How do I dial that back?

You use the blue or red restrictor discs in the UWF. See page 7 in https://www.royalswimmingpools.com/Polaris380_manual.pdf

Also see page 4 for hose setup.

 

[Victor Newman]

I had this problem with our 2006 Pentair Legend LL105. I fooled with the floats as shown in the literature to no avail. I finally removed all the floats I could get at.....put on new swivels and......started placing and taping on the the hose.....three to six inch cut up pieces of pool noodles. Starting closest to the wall fitting and not so much down the line. It took about a half hour per day for 3 days to finally work without tangling. (I am too dumb to post photos)...