I have a Prowler 920 that won't fully pass the startup. It moves about 5' in the water and then shuts down. Out of the water it moves forward, back, and spins the impeller. I replaced the cable and it was no help. I took the motor unit apart to find a little water in the bottom of it. Then I blew water out of the impeller motor. Has anyone successfully repaired the impeller motor? I watched the youtube video with bearing fix, but not sure if will fix my issue.
Maytronics Drive Motor Repair
- Thread starter mfifield01
- Start date
I've never tried it but it's on my list. I have an 830 that "died" a couple weeks back... it was shutting down because the impeller motor wouldn't spin - I could turn it by hand but it was pretty tight. Luckily I had an 820 for spare parts so I swapped the whole motor assembly but I do want to do the bearing replacement.
It sounds like your impeller spins... is it sticking or hard to turn by hand?
It sounds like your impeller spins... is it sticking or hard to turn by hand?
It seems to be spinning free. I took the impeller motor apart and cleaned it out. I could see noticeable wear. The bearings seemed to be in good shape. I put it back together and was able to get it to pass the startup test and run for about 15 minutes. I threw in the towel and called Marina. I ordered another Prowler 920. At least I have backup parts for the new one.
I would leave the Prowler in the water when I was on vacation and just set the schedule. Not sure if this was a factor in the early water leakage. I plan to only keep the new one in the water when in use. I got 32 months out of the this one.
I would leave the Prowler in the water when I was on vacation and just set the schedule. Not sure if this was a factor in the early water leakage. I plan to only keep the new one in the water when in use. I got 32 months out of the this one.
- May 23, 2015
- 25,692
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
The impeller motor can be repaired with new bearings and new carbon brushes. But that’s not the only motor. The drive motor can also go bad and that is not easily repaired at all. There are no motor spares out there except from sketchy overseas eBay sellers that basically scavenge old robot parts and sell them as “refurbished”.
What you’ll discover is that it makes no sense to repair these robots. They are consumables. You use them for as long as they will work and then you toss them in the trash and buy new. Repairing them might buy you another year or two of life but they will continue to fail. That’s just how they are designed.
My opinion is don’t waste your time on it.
What you’ll discover is that it makes no sense to repair these robots. They are consumables. You use them for as long as they will work and then you toss them in the trash and buy new. Repairing them might buy you another year or two of life but they will continue to fail. That’s just how they are designed.
My opinion is don’t waste your time on it.
Has anyone put additional sealant around the exterior of the impeller motor or box itself? I have some unopened 3M 5200 (from previous boating years) and thought about sealing things after warranty is up.
- May 23, 2015
- 25,692
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
In my experience, glueing anything shut is a short term fix and long term trainwreck. I would just clean up all the seals, line everything with a good layer of silicone grease and then reassemble. If it continues to leak, then it’s just time to go. Sometimes the leak isn’t the body seal but the internal shaft seal for the motors. Rotating shaft seals have very finite lifetimes and once they go they’re done.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,670
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
My Active20 has been working now for 8 years. I replaced a cable and the filters. It lives in the pool most of the year.
I suspect many people run these cleaners daily. I also believe they have a finite number of uses. We run ours at most twice a week in swim season and most times once per week.
I suspect many people run these cleaners daily. I also believe they have a finite number of uses. We run ours at most twice a week in swim season and most times once per week.
I used Boss 820 pool lube on all of the seals when I put it back together. I'd like to know the intrusion point. My thought was around sealing my new one after the 2 year warranty expires.
I wish I could figure out how to get 8 years out of it. In the summer, I run it 2-3 times a week. In spring, it's 5-7 times a week. How deep is your pool?
- May 3, 2014
- 62,670
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
We have a small pool. But I let it run its normal time run. But I believe the units have a finite number of runs in them. So using them daily reduces their lifespan.
I asked about depth, since it relates to IP ratings on devices. They rate devices to withstand a certain depth for a certain time. Water pressure on seals would be higher as depth increases. I believe mine failed due to water/moisture intrusion. There were times that it would sit in my deep end for days. The deep end is 6'.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,670
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Depth is just under 6'. But I keep the cleaner on a shelf that is about 18 inches deep when it is not running.
@mfifield01 great point about the IP rating and depth, and @mknauss I like your shelf trick... I should have been doing that all along!
Great idea. I can put it on the sun shelf if I want to run on a schedule the next day.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,670
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
My theory is the unit is designed to be in the water. So keeping it in the water is best. It is submerged by about 2-3 inches of water over the top of the unit.
I think this statement was/is my issue. I think the water (small amount) was coming through the impeller motor shaft. I cleaned the impeller motor, ran it, and then took it apart again. A few drops of water were at the bottom of the impeller motor.
- May 23, 2015
- 25,692
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
If the shaft seal leaks, the motor is toast or will be soon. You can find spare parts on eBay but they’ll just be someone else’s discarded bot parts. Only you can decide if it’s worth your time and money to fix what you have or buy new.