Polaris 280 started to get stuck

[kutsyy]

We had our Polaris 280 since the pool was built about 6 years ago. Our pool has a niche with endless pool pump installed in the niche. Polaris never had a problem with getting out of the niche but starting this year it constantly is getting stuck. I check the filter, it is fine. I tried to replace back up valve, no difference. Polaris wheel RPM is 27/min, which is a bit less then recomended but not bad.

Does anyone have any ideas why would Polaris 280 start to get stuck in the niche if was not a problem before.

Thanks,

Vadim

 

[luxurino]

Hey there,

just did some research. Seems like you should change the bearings. Tutorial on youtube for 360 -> Polaris Stuck in Corner, Changing the bearings- Polaris 360, 380 - YouTube

 

[Melnic]

Unless the bearings are making the wheels so sloppy that its creating slop to keep the gears from engaging, I don't see how the bearings would be the issue compared to the wheels themselves which have gears that wear over time. The 280 (which is what I have, see my thread on mine getting stuck) has gears that drive the wheels. In my case, once the 280 has some resistance to the wheels spinning, the gears just slip on the wheels. If I hang the 280 off the side of the deck to measure RPM, they spin. When the 280 is on the bottom of the pool with the rear jet helping to push, it rolls. Once it hits a step, it stops. If I put the 280 on my pool deck and let it run, the gears just slip. I'm putting new wheels from a refurb kit on mine this week. There are kits on amazon that include the wheels and bearings. This is what a friend is giving me tomorrow:
Amazon.com : Fibropool Polaris 280 Tune Up Kit : Garden Outdoor

 

[kutsyy]

Thank you for the recommendation, but if my cleaner was always getting stuck in the niche, but would be pulled out with back up valve. So I am trying to understand how forward drive would make any difference.

Thanks,

Vadim

 

[Melnic]

My post was more directed at luxirino's post about the bearings.

Are you saying that it used to get stuck and ONLY the backup valve would pull it out before? Yes now the backup valve does not pull it out?
Does gently pulling on the hose pull it out while the backup valve is also trying to pull it out?

Can you take a pic or video of it being stuck?

If the backup valve pulled it out before, its basically forcing itself back out. If its not doing it now then it can be one of two main issues
1) Backup force is not what it was before
2) Force sticking it there is more than what it was before.

Some things come to mind on each
Backup force:
Main pump flow/pressure can affect the Polaris performance
Booster pump pressure/performance can affect Polaris performance
Leaks in the line from wall to backup valve can affect force from backup valve.

Force sticking it there.
Rubber wheels can change elasticity over time, maybe older wheels get softer?
Check that wheels are screwed on properly, wobbly wheels might affect how tight it is.