Am I doing something wrong? Polaris 360 pressure side cleaner never seems to work well for long.

[Skenn81]

This model does not use a booster pump so I do not have one.

So am I doing something wrong? I feel like this thing needs maximum RPMs to move around and it needs the valves to be set to almost 100% Polaris just to try to move around. I have had it cleaned and repaired many times so it's basically new inside. I replaced to quick connection point last year so that's fresh and new. I have replaced almost all of the tubing so nothing is leaking or cracked or spraying water. I clean the filter by the pump almost every month. I have taken it out of the water and have watched the wheels spin and they are doing just what they are supposed to be doing.

Nothing seems to matter, for all of the years we have lived here it gets stuck in corners, it doesn't move very well, and I really do need to keep the valves cranked over to it's side just to keep it moving. Every once in a while it blasts around and I did post pictures when we replaced the valve that it almost went up the wall and out of the pool, but those times seem rare and mostly it just shuffles around and hardly moves.

Right now the pump is moving water at 2400 RPMs, valve turned almost all the way to Polaris return, and its currently sitting next to the steps not moving. Besides running my pump at 100% and cutting off the water flow from all of the other returns, is there something I am missing about how this is supposed to operate?

 

[HermanTX]

Have you checked the filter that is in hose connection by wall? That can restrict a lot of flow if dirty.
Have you checked the tires? If they are gummy then they won't have much traction.
There is no harm in having the full flow go to the cleaner if it is just for a hour or 2. Some people have their pool off for 12 hours so there is no harm in not have circulation through the main returns while the cleaner is on. It appears you have a dedicated line for the cleaner so that makes it easier to divert the full flow for the cleaner.

 

[Bperry]

This model does not use a booster pump so I do not have one.

So am I doing something wrong? I feel like this thing needs maximum RPMs to move around and it needs the valves to be set to almost 100% Polaris just to try to move around. I have had it cleaned and repaired many times so it's basically new inside. I replaced to quick connection point last year so that's fresh and new. I have replaced almost all of the tubing so nothing is leaking or cracked or spraying water. I clean the filter by the pump almost every month. I have taken it out of the water and have watched the wheels spin and they are doing just what they are supposed to be doing.

Nothing seems to matter, for all of the years we have lived here it gets stuck in corners, it doesn't move very well, and I really do need to keep the valves cranked over to it's side just to keep it moving. Every once in a while it blasts around and I did post pictures when we replaced the valve that it almost went up the wall and out of the pool, but those times seem rare and mostly it just shuffles around and hardly moves.

Right now the pump is moving water at 2400 RPMs, valve turned almost all the way to Polaris return, and its currently sitting next to the steps not moving. Besides running my pump at 100% and cutting off the water flow from all of the other returns, is there something I am missing about how this is supposed to operate?

I’ll second the filter check above. I hated mine for the same reasons. Sometimes little specs of dirt get in the line and lodge in the little jets inside the Polaris preventing the pump from turning as fast. You might try a shot of compressed air backwards through the jets if the filter check doesn’t reveal anything.

 

[Skenn81]

This filter?





I can try turning it 100% to the Polaris. This is the valve setup:



When I lift it up from the ground and watch the wheels they are spinning smoothly and freely. When I put it back down on the ground it doesnt go as fast. For checking the tires, they dont seem to be gummy, just feel like a very smooth plastic. I am not sure if those have ever been replaced, not sure how I can tell though, they look bright white.

I did move it over to 100% Polaris and it started to move a little more than before, even at 1500 RPMs on the pump, the lower speed I use. I was always worried putting it 100% would break something.

If anyone else has one of these, what RPM do you run your pump at in order to make it push itself all around? My cleaning/high speed RPM I have set at 2500.

 

[1poolman1]

This filter?

View attachment 473105

View attachment 473106

I can try turning it 100% to the Polaris. This is the valve setup:

View attachment 473111

When I lift it up from the ground and watch the wheels they are spinning smoothly and freely. When I put it back down on the ground it doesnt go as fast. For checking the tires, they dont seem to be gummy, just feel like a very smooth plastic. I am not sure if those have ever been replaced, not sure how I can tell though, they look bright white.

I did move it over to 100% Polaris and it started to move a little more than before, even at 1500 RPMs on the pump, the lower speed I use. I was always worried putting it 100% would break something.

If anyone else has one of these, what RPM do you run your pump at in order to make it push itself all around? My cleaning/high speed RPM I have set at 2500.

Have you checked the belts that actually run the wheels? When were they last replaced? With the Polaris off the ground the wheels can spin easily but once there is a load on the wheels the belts can slip.

 

[Bperry]

This filter?

View attachment 473105

View attachment 473106

I can try turning it 100% to the Polaris. This is the valve setup:

View attachment 473111

When I lift it up from the ground and watch the wheels they are spinning smoothly and freely. When I put it back down on the ground it doesnt go as fast. For checking the tires, they dont seem to be gummy, just feel like a very smooth plastic. I am not sure if those have ever been replaced, not sure how I can tell though, they look bright white.

I did move it over to 100% Polaris and it started to move a little more than before, even at 1500 RPMs on the pump, the lower speed I use. I was always worried putting it 100% would break something.

If anyone else has one of these, what RPM do you run your pump at in order to make it push itself all around? My cleaning/high speed RPM I have set at 2500.

Yes, that’s the filter to clean.

 

[ajw22]

When did you last replace the wheel bearings?

Any friction in the Polaris drive train slows it up and causes movement problems. There becomes a time when too many things are worn internally and it is time to buy a new one. They wear out and you may be surprised how well a new 360 cleaner moves in your pool.

The Polaris pressure cleaners are deigned to run with a booster pump that ensures consistent proper drive water flow. Your 360 is a compromise and relying on the return system flow varies with the filter condition. You manually need to fiddle with it instead of it being set and forget.

So some of your problems are probably coming from the 360 getting worn out and some from ot having a booster pump.

 

[Skenn81]

The belts and internals of the 360 were last replaced about a year ago. I brought it in for service and they tore it down and replaced the innards. For a brief period of time when I first replaced the worn out quick connect fitting on the wall it was able to climb to the edge of the pool and had so much power it was going all over the place. Like always it eventually slowed down and not does't move much.

About not having a booster pump, since it's the 360 all I can do is adjust the valves, right? I know it's different for every pool and person, but are their recommendations on what RPMs to run on high cleaning speed? I should be getting in the range of 30 RPMs on the wheel if I take it out and count for 60 seconds?

 

[ajw22]

The belts and internals of the 360 were last replaced about a year ago. I brought it in for service and they tore it down and replaced the innards. For a brief period of time when I first replaced the worn out quick connect fitting on the wall it was able to climb to the edge of the pool and had so much power it was going all over the place. Like always it eventually slowed down and not does't move much.

So you saw how well the 360 works when everything on it is working to spec. Components wear on it and it has a delicate balance in its operation. You need to check all the hoses and fittings to ensure you are not losing water flow. And the cleaner may need another tuneup and bearing replacement.

About not having a booster pump, since it's the 360 all I can do is adjust the valves, right? I know it's different for every pool and person, but are there ou can see recommendations on what RPMs to run on high cleaning speed? I should be getting in the range of 30 RPMs on the wheel if I take it out and count for 60 seconds?

You can see the correct wheel RPM when the 360 is out of the pool and it will not move properly in the water when it has internal issues and high component friction.

 

[Skenn81]

I am going to also replace my cartridge filter. Last time that was replaced was 2019 so I think it might be time? I know we are supposed to do it based on pressure but as I didn't track that when the filter was new I don't know what it should be. I moved in that year so had no idea what I was doing. I am cleaning the filter every month now to keep things moving. Is $102 a good price for a Porpoise PP-B6-M filter? Hayward CX900RE is oem. I don't buy them enough, obviously, to know what I should be paying for a filter in 2023. There are tons of clones and other brands I see that cost half the price but I don't want to get junk. I see people here say they only clean it a few times a year while I am over there cleaning it every few weeks.


I decided to run the whole thing without the filter for a little while. Once I did that the 360 first almost shot out of the pool and then once things settled down it moved along all over the place at 2200 RPMs and the valve turned down from 100%. It moved all around and did its thing when the cartridge was removed from the housing by the pump.


What about the backup valve? Pool store said a new one is $160 now, I almost fell over. I see generics online for $40 but will that just blow up? How do I even know if my backup valve is working?


So think it's worth taking it in for another tune up? They have done a good job in the past. Belths was watching it closely a little while ago and noticed that when thr cleaner is jutting around the wheels every once in a while stuttered. The jets on the unit all look clear, water is shooting up and out through the net from the bottom.

 

[ajw22]

I am cleaning the filter every month now to keep things moving.

Florida builders install filters that are too small and thus require cleaning too often. A larger filter would require cleaning less often.

Do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to confirm your filter is not being clogged by algae.

Is $102 a good price for a Porpoise PP-B6-M filter? Hayward CX900RE is oem. I don't buy them enough, obviously, to know what I should be paying for a filter in 2023. There are tons of clones and other brands I see that cost half the price but I don't want to get junk. I see people here say they only clean it a few times a year while I am over there cleaning it every few weeks.

I don’t know about your cartridge.

I decided to run the whole thing without the filter for a little while. Once I did that the 360 first almost shot out of the pool and then once things settled down it moved along all over the place at 2200 RPMs and the valve turned down from 100%. It moved all around and did its thing when the cartridge was removed from the housing by the pump.

Does your 360 move well now with the cartridge removed?

What about the backup valve? Pool store said a new one is $160 now, I almost fell over. I see generics online for $40 but will that just blow up? How do I even know if my backup valve is working?

What about the backup valve?

Does your backup valve cycle properly and pull the 360 out of corners?

Polaris Pool Cleaners - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

The backup valve is in the hose and backup valve yanks the Polaris back and turns it around to reposition. It does it every few minutes to get the cleaner out of a corner it may be stuck in and add to its random journey around the pool. Water should not be contentiously jetting out of the backup valve. If it is the valve is broken.

The valve should go into backup about every 2 1/2 min to 3 minutes. If it is longer than that, the gears may be worn. Zodiac also has a “double acting” backup valve. It runs twice as fast and backs up the cleaner more frequently, about every 1 minute 30 seconds to 1 minute 45 seconds.

So think it's worth taking it in for another tune up? They have done a good job in the past. Belths was watching it closely a little while ago and noticed that when thr cleaner is jutting around the wheels every once in a while stuttered. The jets on the unit all look clear, water is shooting up and out through the net from the bottom.

If the cleaner moves well without the filter cartridge then I would look to the filter as your cause.

 

[HermanTX]

So think it's worth taking it in for another tune up? They have done a good job in the past. Belths was watching it closely a little while ago and noticed that when thr cleaner is jutting around the wheels every once in a while stuttered. The jets on the unit all look clear, water is shooting up and out through the net from the bottom.

You can purchase the tune up kit and DIY, I have done my Polaris 280 several times over the years past. It is quite simple to do if you are so inclined to tackle this yourself.

 

[Skenn81]

The chlorine test over night was fine, nothing changed from dark to dawn. I am going to replace the filter, 4 years is a long time so I might as well just suck it up and get it. Will report back later. I read all the filter things on the website, looking at the filter there isn't a way to tell when it needs to be replaced other than monitoring the pressure? The current cartridge isn't cracked or ripped or anything. I spray it down monthly until the water runs clean, but at some point that isn't good enough when it gets to a certain point?

 

[HermanTX]

The current cartridge isn't cracked or ripped or anything. I spray it down monthly until the water runs clean, but at some point that isn't good enough when it gets to a certain point?

One idea is to keep the old cartridge and clean it well when it is not in the filter housing. There are numerous guidelines on soaking it. Then keep it and switch it out every month or every 2 months, whichever schedule you prefer. That way the "used" cartridge filter gets a good cleaning and ready for the next changeout. You will be able to tell if the existing cartridge is clogged after you change it out with the new cartridge. Monitor the filter pressure at whichever speed you select (let it run for several minutes to ensure it is completely covered) and bleed the air from top of the filter. Then use that pressure & pump speed as your guide for the next changeout.

 

[Skenn81]

$102 later (I will make a post sometime about brands of pool filters, generic vs name brand, and cost) and I have a brand new filter and the unit is cruising along the bottom of the pool at 2500 RPMs on the pump. Before getting to this point I did the over night test, nothing was lost, checked the pump basket to see if there were clogs, there weren't, checked the tubing, poked at the unit, and found nothing wrong anywhere. After seeing it move yesterday with the filter removed I finally decided to get a new one. I guess waiting 4 years to replace a small cartridge filter is a bit too long. I suppose it was just getting slower and slower since 2019 so its not like it all just suddenly broke but over time it became worse and worse and I didn't really notice until it just stopped.

Oops.

So I still don't fully understand when to replace vs just clean the filter even though I have read the pages here. It's a 20% gain on pressure? With the brand new filter in there it's 8 when running at high speed and drops to between 3 and 4 when at the lower maintenance speeds. I had been cleaning mine before when pressure increased but that still wasn't enough to keep the Polaris moving. It would work for a bit and then slow down right away again. The filter itself looked fine with my untrained eye. Plastic all in good condition, no rips, pleats didn't feel brittle, to me it was just a filter. I would spray it down until the water ran clear between each pleat but that wasn't enough. I am going to go print out a label and put it on there with the replacement date and these PSI figures to remember as in a year I wont recall any of this.

 

[ajw22]

Your 360 getting sluggish in movement may be the best tell for filter cleaning in your pool. You now know to check the 360 performance without the cartridge to confirm.

On my pool I use my spillover volume as my tell when my filter needs backwashing. When the spillover starts trickling the filter needs a backwash.

 

[Skenn81]

So after it switched down to low speed this eventually happened:



Decided to float around at the surface instead. I went out and jiggled it around and it went back down to the bottom.

No air was coming out of the returns, no leaks anywhere near the pump.

 

[HermanTX]

I am going to go print out a label and put it on there with the replacement date and these PSI figures to remember as in a year I wont recall any of this.

I have a little book I maintain for my pool. I put notes such as filter changes, etc in it. There is also a notes section on the
PoolMath app if you wish to put it there. There is also a button under the maintenance section that you can click when you clean the filter or backwash the filter. The summary info will help you find it after you make a entry.

 

[Bperry]

So after it switched down to low speed this eventually happened:

View attachment 473322

Decided to float around at the surface instead. I went out and jiggled it around and it went back down to the bottom.

No air was coming out of the returns, no leaks anywhere near the pump.

The Polaris doesn’t work on low speed. It’s why they usually have a booster pump to control their operation.

 

[Newdude]

Did you ever TSP and/or acid bath the cartridges ? In my sample size of *1*, I gave mine a 24 hour soak every fall diluted 50:1 and they were going strong 8.5 years later when we moved.

If you still have them it's worth a shot for a spare set with nothing to lose.