Pentair Prowler 920 - Failing?

Jun 26, 2024
5
Upstate New York
Hello all! I'm hoping someone can offer some support for a formerly great Pentair Prowler 920. I've read some of the other threads where it shuts down or only goes in one direction, but none seem to match my symptoms.

The unit runs, and stays on for the expected amount of time. It goes back and forth, but only a few inches at a time, and occasionally has long pauses where it blows out water, or just sits around contemplating life. That said, I do see it on opposite sides of where I set it in, so it does slowly get around. But it has completely given up on the idea of climbing walls.

I've included a video below (sound off - I got a text in the middle of recording 😬). The unit came with the house, so about 4 years old now, and has worked great prior to this season. Hoping to get this back up and running, because the ultra fine filters worked great with all the dirt and pollen in my pool. The Aiper Scuba S1 I just picked up...not so much.

Any suggestions are very much appreciated!

 
I have a Pentair Kreepy Krauly Prowler 830. I've ordered the replacement foam for the tracks that allow it to climb walls because mine has been doing similar things. I hadn't noticed the foam deteriorating until I found them in my skimmer baskets. I've been pointed towards the replacements as fixing this issue. Also, the tracks normally stay on the pulleys, but I had one side jump off two years ago and it threw the machine out of working order until I took the tracks off and put them back on.
 
@reggiehammond and @ChuzUThisDay thank you both for the suggestions. Haven't had a chance to do much with the holiday this week, but I just tried running it on land. It didn't move at all, and makes some sounds like it's seriously struggling (uploaded a new video to the album). I put it back in the water to make sure I didn't make things worse, and it's still derping along. Will try taking a closer look this weekend.

Edit: I'm dumb. I flipped it over out of the pool and took another video. Definitely seems something is causing the tracks to stick every so often.

Another Edit with another video: I took the tracks off, and I see only one wheel is spinning, and quite freely. Should both front wheels be spinning like that? The one that's not moving in the video I can move with my hand, and seems to be completely disconnected from the brush

Final edit to answer my own question: yes, it should spin freely. From what I can tell, it seems like the wheel that powers the rest isn't held in tightly enough against the machine. It starts to drift, and then the cogs start to slip. I wonder if I'm missing a gasket or something that should be holding it more tightly in place.
 
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In the last video, it appears that the main wheel is not centered and the gears are not meshing correctly. I'm not sure if there's a bushing that should be there to center the wheel, but that appears to be part of the issue. Also, it seems odd to me that only one wheel seems to be powered instead of both wheels. I think both front wheels are supposed to be powered, then the tracks cause the rear wheels and roller to spin. I'm sorry, but I'm not sure as I have not seen this before...
 
In the last video, it appears that the main wheel is not centered and the gears are not meshing correctly. I'm not sure if there's a bushing that should be there to center the wheel, but that appears to be part of the issue. Also, it seems odd to me that only one wheel seems to be powered instead of both wheels. I think both front wheels are supposed to be powered, then the tracks cause the rear wheels and roller to spin. I'm sorry, but I'm not sure as I have not seen this before...
Yes, that definitely appears to be the problem - I can center the wheel, but when I put the track on, it pulls out of place. I've replaced the bushing, but it didn't help - I'm wondering if the wheels themselves are just worn down enough in the center to not stay properly aligned. I've ordered a new set of wheels, and just received a new gear today, which is definitely worn down.

Regarding the wheels only being powered on one side, it does appear to be by design. The gear on the side in the video doesn't exist on the other side - it seems the front wheel spins on one side, which spins both back wheels, which then spins the front wheel on the opposite side. I'm learning a little bit at a time!
 
So for anyone who finds this in the future, my issue is that the gear and the wheel were both ground down enough that they were not making consistent contact. I replaced the gear attached to the motor, as well as the bushings and front wheels on both sides. Much more solid contact now, and she's back in action!

Maytronics Dolphin 9983142 Gear Drive for Motor

Maytronics Dolphin 9993219 Wheel Kit
 
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