So this just happened....

[MannyT]

It should reverse itself.

 

[pbc]

It should be reversing. I see no reason why it should get stuck up there. It certainly won’t clean a narrow ledge line that effectively but, once it gets up there and runs for a minute or so, it should reverse.

Can you watch it while it’s on the ledge? As @Arizonarob said, the S300i can do floor only mode.

Yeah, just sat there and eventually shut itself off. Has done it once more in the 4 or 5 times I've run it.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Yeah, just sat there and eventually shut itself off. Has done it once more in the 4 or 5 times I've run it.

Is it sucking in a lot of air when it’s up on the ledge?

 

[Laenini]

My Dolphin Nautilus is on the Fed Ex truck for delivery today! In honor of my very first pool cleaner, a Wanda from Hayward for my first pool, a 24 ft round AGP, all pool cleaners are forever named Wanda for me. I now have a different house and my first in ground pool, but its still Wanda! She and I go way back!

 

[kimkats]

Long live Wanda!!!

 

[Laenini]

Those Hayward cleaners, for such a reasonable price really did a nice job! And the kids who might be over swimming, just loved helping me set Wanda up for her turn to swim at the end of the day. Many tears about getting out of the pool we’re quieted by engaging the child in helping Wanda go for her swim.
My new Dolphin Nautilus though blows Wanda out of the water! Wow, am I impressed with the beautiful job it does! Best money I ever spent on pool equipment!
I guess my big take away is some sort of automatic cleaner, be it a Wanda for an AGP or the Nautilus for the IGP I now have is a life changing investment. I can’t imagine brushing and vacuuming by hand ever again.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

***Maintenance Update***

So Mr. T has done his duty for the last 4 seasons and it was time to give him a new pair of shoes. I went with Marina's Pool, Spa & Patio for the parts and here is what I got -



New front and rear brushes, new treads, new rubber seals, and new ultra fine filter panels. I have to say that taking apart the S-series robots is super-simple - all you need is a phillips head screwdriver. I started by taking off the top cover plate and diverter assembly and then removing the motor. Taking out the motor makes it easier to manipulate the treads and rollers.







This is side-by-side of the old and new treads -



And here are the black rubber bottom seals side-by-side -



Finally all put back together with new parts -



Tomorrow Mr. T goes back into the pool for it's maiden run with it's new gear. High centering on the main drains has been an issue lately (most of this season) and I think it has a lot to do with the treads being so worn out. When I bought the robot, the tech at the shop said I would need new treads in 2 seasons and to be on the look out for poor performance as the plaster/pebble pools really degrade the rubber components (cheese grater effect). Well, I got 4 seasons so I count that as good.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Understanding Cord Disintegration

Dolphin cords are made of a rubber clad multiconductor. The blue rubber cladding, over time, seems to degrade and gets tacky. This is completely normal for a rubber material submerged in chlorinated water and exposed to heat and UV. Look at these pictures -



Notice the difference in the cord - there is a part that is almost exclusively on the deck all the time (the dirty looking part of the cord that is otherwise uncompromised) and the part that is in the water all the time which is rough, white, tacky and chalky (you can rub the rubber off the cord with your hands). But it's not just about what is submerged in water or not; look at these photos -





Notice how the part of the cord that is under water BUT NOT exposed to sunlight, still looks and feels brand new. You can see it dramatically around the rubber grommet where the cord enters the robot. So it is clear that it takes several factors - water, chlorine, and UV - to cause the cord to degrade. And this is to be expected as rubber materials easily undergo hydrolysis and breakdown when exposed to a strong oxidizer and water.

A practical take away from this is the following - removing the robot from the pool when not in use will likely improve the longevity of the cord. I do typically take my robot out and, unlike a lot of robot owners, I have almost no issues with cord tangle or cord splitting open.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Matt,

Thanks for the great write up..

Something I'll be doing in a year or so..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[mguzzy]

A practical take away from this is the following - removing the robot from the pool when not in use will likely improve the longevity of the cord. I do typically take my robot out and, unlike a lot of robot owners, I have almost no issues with cord tangle or cord splitting open.

So take it out of the pool... and store it out of the sun. Right, gotcha!

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Matt,

Thanks for the great write up..

Something I'll be doing in a year or so..

Thanks,

Jim R.

Parts without discount ran about $250 but the filter panels were $100. So if you don’t need them, then don’t get them. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to fully disassemble these robots as well as do your own cord replacement. I decided against doing a new cord or a swivel cord because my original one is just fine even after 4 seasons. I’m not sufficiently impressed with the swivel cords to drop the cash on that upgrade so if I ever do need a cord, I’ll stick with the regular OEM replacement.

 

[Arizonarob]

Something else to add to Matt’s findings is.... Because we have intense sun here in AZ due to our proximity to the sun, (see pic) the cords (or anything) that is exposed to it, will degrade more rapidly then other places in the country.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Something else to add to Matt’s findings is.... Because we have intense sun here in AZ due to our proximity to the sun, (see pic) the cords (or anything) that is exposed to it, will degrade more rapidly then other places in the country.

View attachment 167635

Agreed.

I pretty much buy new garden hoses every 12-18 months or so. Anything left outside in the sun in Arizona is pretty much toast after one summer. I picked up one of the kids plastic toys left outside and it literally disintegrated in my hand.