Posted: 1/13/2010 10:55:30 AM EDT
| Ok, so I moved into a new house about 15 months ago, and it has a pool with pebble tec finish. My previous house also had a pool, but was just plaster. The problem I am running into is that the Hayward Navigator we use to clean the pool seems to wear out faster on the new pool. I used to get 3-4 years on the cleaner, but I've replaced a lot of parts in the past 12 months and the Navigator seems to be on its last legs. Is this normal, or is there a better (more durable) pool cleaner I should be using with pebble tec? |
I have a Navigator in my Pebbletech pool too. It's the second one in this pool - the first one lasted 10 years before it reached the point of being more economical to replace than repair. They do go through parts, and the parts are outrageously expensive as you have discovered. Mine has a major problem (broken/worn part) maybe once or twice a year. I thought about buying something different, but there did not seem to be a significantly better alternative out there (everything else had very mixed reviews). I've gotten pretty good at diagnosing the problems and keeping the Navigator running, so my thinking is "better the devil you know"... it's the same situation with my Remington 11-87 shotgun  .
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I owned a pool service co. which I sold. I fixed just about every type of cleaner. I personally think the Zodiacs suck. The diaphragm in it will tear and it has a plastic tube in it ( i can't remember what it's called "the frame" i think) that I've seen crack from the Zodiac getting plugged up. It also tends to get stuck on steps. I think the Polaris pool cleaners suck too, they break gears, typically the # 5 gear if I remember right but if you have to buy a whole new gear box it's expensive.
The 2 best cleaners in my opinion is the Hayward Navigator and The Pool Cleaner. Never had to replace any parts in The Pool Cleaner. I took apart a 4 wheel one because it got jammed and there are ALOT of gears and the propeller (thats what I'll call it) is all seperate blades. The Pool Cleaner does a great job of keeping your pool clean though. It turns similar to the Navigator so if it runs into a step it will turn away from it and has wheels so your not stuck replacing shoes, wings and pods like the navigator. Like I said, I never had to repair one. If I was going to buy a pool cleaner, I would buy The Pool Cleaner and get a 4 wheel model. The Navigator is the only other one that I think does a good job. It cleans the majority of your pool, turns away from steps and if your wings are good it climbs up the walls pretty good. It has a gear box in it that sends it around the entire pool, not just wandering past the same area over and over. Another good feature is that it will get jammed rather than letting thru rocks, marbles, toys, ect. that can jam your plumbing. I,ve blown out many plumbing lines due to other cleaners sucking debris thru. Of course you could get a leaf trap. to un-jam the Navigator all you have to do is take out one screw in the center of the bottom and pull out the Access cover, hold it right side up and spin the turbine (looks like a propeller). The main thing that sucks about the Navigator though, is it tends to get stuck on Main Drain Covers, depending on which ones you have. It does seem as though pebble tech pools wear out shoes, wings and pods on the navigator faster than in plaster pools but if all the parts are in order it does a great job and I think they're worth repairing. If you give me a detaled description of how its acting, I can tell you what to fix. I,ve worked on over 100 of them. If you really want to buy a new cleaner my ONLY recomendation is The Pool Cleaner 4 wheel model (2 wheel isn't too bad either). Also, Make sure you have a Vac Lock. You don't want someone putting their eye up to a sucking pipe. |
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Get a Zodiac. It does not have all those moving parts to wear out. Lots of good deals if you check out Ebay stores. I could never get more than 2 years out of a Hayward before it would auto destruct. Which Zodiac did you go with, the G3? G4 runs like a top.You just have to twist the hose couplers once a month to change the cleaning pattern. |
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My Hayward just sits there....the wings flap but it doesn't move. It did a great job for the first yr or two, but has been a PITA since. And yes, I have PebbleTech. I gave up on it, just bought a vacuum. Check the feet for wear. If they are OK, check the internal A-frame/bearing assemblies to make sure they are OK (bearings nor shot, loose on turbine cams etc.). |
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If the pods are moving (wings flapping) and your shoes are good, look at the feet (what I'll call them) on the pods where the shoes attach to. Look to make sure there's little springs inside the opposite side from where the shoes attach. If you where missing one spring on one of the feet your Navigator would go around in circles. If your missing two or more then it will just sit there and look like it's trying to go somewhere but can't.
If your attaching shoes to new pods, the feet will bump up against the pod in a way that you can just push on the shoes. If you're putting shoes on worn pods, you'll find that the feet will go in to far into the pod. Use a screwdriver and set it up across the back of the foot in between the foot and the pod and then put the shoes on so you don't bust out the springs. If you needed an A-Frame Kit (get the one w/ the Turbine), your cleaner would just sit there and the pods/ wings wouldn't move or it would move a little then sit there - move a little then sit there - move a little then sit there. In that case you either have bearings that have had it or a bearing with a flat spot. If it hit's steps and won't turn away I always replaced the Gear Box. Hayward rep told me there indestructible. Your supposed to be able to take them apart and clean them out - debris sucks thru the back into the gear box and jams it. I disagree. Out of 50 or 60 that I replaced I had a handful (probable 10%) that didn't work right out of the package and I had put in another one. Good Luck! |
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