I have an Intex 12’ metal frame pool with 1.25” lines. I want to purchase the Intex Automatic Pool cleaner, but it says I’ll need the Intex pool with 1.5” lines to connect the vac adapter correctly. I don’t want to cut my liner to add a 1.5” Intex inlet. Is their a part that will screw onto the pool inlet that will then accept the vacuum adapter so I can run it? I have an upgraded pump to support the gallons per minute requirement.
Intex Automatic Pool Cleaner
- Thread starter TennisAce
- Start date
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- Tags
- intex pool vacuum
The adapter that comes with it will fit your standard 1.25” return if it looks like this:
You will need to unscrew the cover plate, which should leave something like this in the pool:
The auto cleaner will screw onto that.
However, be aware that the auto cleaners require a strong pump to work. They say it needs at least 1600 GPH, but keep in mind that that’s the system flow rate and not the pump flow rate. The pump might be rated for 1600GPH, but by the time you connect it to the filter the flow rate will be reduced and it won’t be enough to run the auto cleaner. In fact, even at a system flow rate of 1600GPH people struggle getting the auto cleaner to work well. I think a minimum system flow rate of 2000GPH is really necessary for it.
You will need to unscrew the cover plate, which should leave something like this in the pool:
The auto cleaner will screw onto that.
However, be aware that the auto cleaners require a strong pump to work. They say it needs at least 1600 GPH, but keep in mind that that’s the system flow rate and not the pump flow rate. The pump might be rated for 1600GPH, but by the time you connect it to the filter the flow rate will be reduced and it won’t be enough to run the auto cleaner. In fact, even at a system flow rate of 1600GPH people struggle getting the auto cleaner to work well. I think a minimum system flow rate of 2000GPH is really necessary for it.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 14,349
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I have had one for going on 3 seasons- i used it with my old intex sand filter pump on a summerwaves pool & now on my above ground pool & i love it - “Wall-e” is running right now. I was able to use generic pvc fittings from the hardware store to make it fit on my above ground pool. Since it works on the return side it doesn’t require an air tight attachment i’m sure you’d be able to make an “adapter” for it if need be.
Thanks for the information. I purchased a "normal" pump/filter from the pool store. I think I have a 1HP pump. If the attachment fits my 1.25" line my only concern is now is enough water is able to flow through a 1.25" line to support the cleaner. Also, how do you know it'll fit the 1.25"? Have you tried it before?
Thanks for the information. I purchased a "normal" pump/filter from the pool store. I think I have a 1HP pump. If the attachment fits my 1.25" line my only concern is now is enough water is able to flow through a 1.25" line to support the cleaner. Also, how do you know it'll fit the 1.25"? Have you tried it before?
- Jun 1, 2018
- 14,349
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
This is what i have done to make an adapter to fit the jet/return of my above ground pool. It works just fine. Before that when I used it with my summer waves pool i had to build an adapter too. As the one that comes with it didn’t fit my return for that pool either. I unscrew the return eyeball & screw this in. I think it cost me $1.50 to make this. I already had the pvc glue . I just took my return eyeball & a piece of the intex hose with the female side on it & pieced it together at the hardware store.
Unfortunately this won’t work with the new style of auto cleaner. It no longer uses a 1.5” hose to connect the cleaner to the bulkhead, but rather a 1.25” hose with a proprietary twist lock fitting. That connects to an adapter which screws on to an intex bulkhead.
I have Intex fittings, just an upgraded pump. The confusing thing is the picture of the box on amazon and on Intex say it’s made for the 1.5” fitting from the bigger pools. This is why I’m skeptical about it fitting over my Intex pool with the 1.25” fittings.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 14,349
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
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Id like to see a pic of what u r talking about because I’ve recommended these cleaners to a couple people. The pics provided on amazon & Walmart are just like mine so i didn’t realize there was a change.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 14,349
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Also just maybe don’t use that “end piece” with the fitting on it- the whole hose is just different lengths of the intex style hoses right? My pool is 33’ & came with a suction side auto cleaner that was worthless so i used pieces of its hose @ the cleaner head to make it reach for my size pool also. The op shouldn’t have a problem having enough hoses as his pool is only 12’
The new one is a single long 1 1/4" hose with a twist lock on each end.
I found out that the twist lock collar unscrews easily from the hose.
I have regular AGP fittings in my pool, so I tried inserting the 1 1/4" hose into a piece of 1 1/2" hose, and it worked! No glue required!
I'll take some pictures tomorrow.
I found out that the twist lock collar unscrews easily from the hose.
I have regular AGP fittings in my pool, so I tried inserting the 1 1/4" hose into a piece of 1 1/2" hose, and it worked! No glue required!
I'll take some pictures tomorrow.
First of all....thank you for your time.
The picture of the Intex parts you shared are the same as mine. In the description on the Intex site it says for 1.5” fittings and the same on Amazon. I’ve tried emailing Intex but they’re basically closed because of COVID. If you say it’ll fit my 1.25” fittings at $55 it’s worth a shot buying from amazon. I’m sure I could always return it.
The picture of the Intex parts you shared are the same as mine. In the description on the Intex site it says for 1.5” fittings and the same on Amazon. I’ve tried emailing Intex but they’re basically closed because of COVID. If you say it’ll fit my 1.25” fittings at $55 it’s worth a shot buying from amazon. I’m sure I could always return it.
Yes, there was a change made early this year. As far as I know, the new cleaner has the same model number as the old one, so a lot of the retailers haven’t updated their product information. It’s also possible that someone might still get an older one if they order from a retailer that might have old stock.
In addition to the new hose the new cleaner has new wheels that seem to work better and swivel better than the original ones.
The new hose looks like this:
It connects to the grey adapter with a twist lock fitting:
And then the grey adapter screws into the intex bulkhead. My bulkhead is a 1.5” bulkhead, so it has an inner and outer threaded ring. The cleaner attaches to the inner ring, which is the size of the 1.25” bulkhead, which only has one threaded ring.
If you have the 1.25” bulkhead that I posted a picture of above then it absolutely 100% will fit. And as long as your pump is big enough to run it (and a 1hp pump should be more than enough) then you will be good
- Jun 1, 2018
- 14,349
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Thanks! Does yours get tangled? Since the hose doesn’t have all those free spinning parts? I could see that being an issue in a large pool with this design.
There is one swivel where the hose connects to the cleaner, but even with that it does tend to get a bit twisted. However it seems to only twist to a certain point and as it stretches the hose to reach the distant parts of the pool it will untwist a bit. It doesn’t seem like the limited twisting causes a problem.
We have this exact return but the intex pool cleaner won't screw on to it. It's not the right size?
Post some pictures of your return and the connector from the pool cleaner.
I meant go take pictures of your actual equipment, because what you have shown there will absolutely fit together:
