Buying a used Dolphin

[jakeblat]

I've read mixed things about the Dolphins once they get a bit older and wondering if it's worth taking the risk on buying a used one.

I'm looking at an auction for a Dolphin E25 (maybe equivalent to the S100) that's probably 3 years old and being sold for parts as it seems to have some issues. I'm wondering if it's worth buying and trying to fix it. The availability of spare parts does seem a bit limited in the UK/EU and they're expensive enough that if you replace more than one major part you might as well buy a new robot with waranty.

Here's the description on the auction listing (and link Maytronics Dolphin E25 Robot Swimming Pool Cleaner | eBay):

Comes fully complete in good overall condition. No cracks or physical damage and tracks and cable all in good condition.

Purchased new a few years ago and has been used with out issue up until this summer.

It still works as you would expect, running through the three cycle options and moving around the pool, sucking up water strongly and climbing the walls to the water line. I can share a video as necessary of it in operation.

I had always used it with the mesh winter filters in the basket without issue. They got dirty so I threw them away with the intention of moving to use the ultra fine filters supplied originally.

These are now fitted and the robot continues to function but does not appear to capture very much in the basket. It seems to throw any items it captures up out of basket and out the top of the machine so that only the smallest out of rubbish is caught.

I have now brought a replacement cleaner and tested it with the new power supply and it works just the same. As such I believe the power supply is ok and it’s an issue with the robot. I have tested it with another set of filters which made no difference and have dissembled to clean and reassembled again, again with no difference.

As such whilst it works and runs as you would expect, I am selling as spares or repairs.

It may be a simple fix I can’t work out but I can find no one that will work on it in the uk and have exhausted my skills of diagnostics.

I have the box from the new cleaner in which I can package it. It’s the same make but a different model.

Included will be everything you need including the robot cleaner, filter basket with ultra fine filters fitted, main tether, power cable and power supply.

The power supply is the advanced Bluetooth version (the robot is not Bluetooth compatible though) and powers on and filters three the three options. As such it could be used as a spare for another robot if needed.

I've got an indoor pool so have minimal debris, I'm mainly looking for something to brush the floor and walls. Am I going to waste my money trying to use this as-is for ~1/4 of the price of a new one?

 

[Jimrahbe]

Jake,

If they are selling it for parts then most likely the motor box has been flooded and it would need a new one. $$$$$$

It is not worth 300 pounds, even for parts...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Killer95Stang]

Stay away... Needs a motor drive unit box. After repairing two separate units multiple times, I would not purchase a used unit that is already out of warranty. I figured out that these units usually fail because the two separate motors will eventually leak at the unreplaceable shaft packing seal, which allows water to get in and eventually corrodes and destroys the mainboard and motors themselves. Replacement individual motors are only available from a seller out of Israel, for $140, which isn't worth the risk. New motor unit is $450, which tends to be not worth it, when compared to the price of a new unit. I got about 6-7 seasons out of my S200 variant (Doheny Discovery) and I'm ready to try one of the EVO 614 robots... maybe even order tomorrow from Margret