My pool opened 0ct 2017, and the Racer LS included with the pool has been used 2 hr/day during warmer weather and 1 hr/day over Texas' "winter" under a solar cover. Generally fine cleaning performance (some concerns about scuffing, but thats another thread... ;-)).
Yesterday noted it was stuck at base of a wall, with only one wheel rotating. Normally, it would climb up wall, turn at waterline, and scoot back down. Took my first look at how it works, including a couple useful videos online (links for the curious here: Racer® LS Pressure-Side Inground Pool Cleaner - YouTube and old model inside view Breakdown of a Pentair Racer Cleaner - YouTube).
Took me a while to gather that much online information is for the PRE-2017 "Racer", which had a known flaw in design of the front wheel axles. see Pentair Racer - Broken Drive Wheel at Frame and amazon's highest rated review Amazon.com : Pentair 360228 Kreepy Krauly Racer Pressure-Side Inground Pool Cleaner : Garden Outdoor.
However, the new Racer LS lacks the front scrubber and has a redesigned axle which is NOT a part of the main chassis, but a separate part. So old discussions don't necessarily apply to my issue.
In or out of water, the L wheel engages the drive gear, but the R wheel freely turns.
I took off and compared the two front wheels, which are driven by a small drive gear. On the R side, the wheel gear teeth were visibly worn down, on the L, they were sharper. Note, there is some play in the bearings of the wheel that allow rotation on the axle, i.e., neither wheel is so rigid, but seem equal. I tried "rotating the wheels" to see if the non-worn L wheel would fully engage the R drive gear, and vise versa. I found that the original R (worn down) wheel fully engaged the L drive gear, but the L (not worn down) gear would not engage the R drive gear.
So, rotation is an insufficient fix, and issue seems to be the "alignment".
Took a second look, the drive gear on the R is about 3/16" shorter than on the L, so it only grabs part of the wheel gear. that part of the R drive gear is also worn down. This unequal alignment led to slippage, and the rotating R drive gear has progressively ground down its own teeth and the teeth on the R wheel.
Haven't contacted PB or Pentair as yet. I don't see any repair experience with the newer LS model in the board or elsewhere online. Seems this is the first LS repair thread. Think I now have a diagnosis, and we'll see how PB and Pentair view this. Any suggestions/alternative ideas very welcome.
Yesterday noted it was stuck at base of a wall, with only one wheel rotating. Normally, it would climb up wall, turn at waterline, and scoot back down. Took my first look at how it works, including a couple useful videos online (links for the curious here: Racer® LS Pressure-Side Inground Pool Cleaner - YouTube and old model inside view Breakdown of a Pentair Racer Cleaner - YouTube).
Took me a while to gather that much online information is for the PRE-2017 "Racer", which had a known flaw in design of the front wheel axles. see Pentair Racer - Broken Drive Wheel at Frame and amazon's highest rated review Amazon.com : Pentair 360228 Kreepy Krauly Racer Pressure-Side Inground Pool Cleaner : Garden Outdoor.
However, the new Racer LS lacks the front scrubber and has a redesigned axle which is NOT a part of the main chassis, but a separate part. So old discussions don't necessarily apply to my issue.
In or out of water, the L wheel engages the drive gear, but the R wheel freely turns.
I took off and compared the two front wheels, which are driven by a small drive gear. On the R side, the wheel gear teeth were visibly worn down, on the L, they were sharper. Note, there is some play in the bearings of the wheel that allow rotation on the axle, i.e., neither wheel is so rigid, but seem equal. I tried "rotating the wheels" to see if the non-worn L wheel would fully engage the R drive gear, and vise versa. I found that the original R (worn down) wheel fully engaged the L drive gear, but the L (not worn down) gear would not engage the R drive gear.
So, rotation is an insufficient fix, and issue seems to be the "alignment".
Took a second look, the drive gear on the R is about 3/16" shorter than on the L, so it only grabs part of the wheel gear. that part of the R drive gear is also worn down. This unequal alignment led to slippage, and the rotating R drive gear has progressively ground down its own teeth and the teeth on the R wheel.
Haven't contacted PB or Pentair as yet. I don't see any repair experience with the newer LS model in the board or elsewhere online. Seems this is the first LS repair thread. Think I now have a diagnosis, and we'll see how PB and Pentair view this. Any suggestions/alternative ideas very welcome.
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