Polaris 280 Pool Cleaner Troubleshooting

The Polaris 280 is a powerful pressure-side pool cleaner for all in-ground pools and easily connects to a dedicated pressure line. With its double jets, it sweeps, scrubs, and vacuums all surfaces of the pool fast and effectively. If you have trouble operating the machine or your cleaner fails, sometimes all it needs is a little bit of troubleshooting to have it up and running.

How to Assemble Polaris 280

To assemble the cleaner:

• Use the hose nut to attach the feed hose to the feed pipe.
• Pull out the bag and attach the bag collar to the feed hose.
• Position the head float 1/2 to 1 inch back from feed pipe.
• Turn the pod filtration pump on and let it prime before turning on the booster pump.

How Do You Troubleshoot a Polaris Pool Cleaner?

If your Polaris cleaner is acting up, you may need to make adjustments to restore performance. Here are some of the actions it may display and what you need to do to troubleshoot:

The Polaris doesn’t backup

• Check whether the back-up valve is cycling.
• Check the RPM of the wheel.
• Empty the bag if it is full.
• Make sure feed hose is floating.

Hangs up on steps or other obstacles for more than 3 minutes.

• Check the wheel RPM.
• Check whether the back-up valve is cycling.
• Adjust the thrust jet.
• Remove unnecessary pool hardware or install a Ladder Guard Kit (ordered separately from a Polaris dealer)

Polaris Cleaner is sluggish or runs with less power than normal.

• Inspect the filter screen in the in-line filter and if necessary, clean it.
• Clean the pump basket, skimmer basket, and pool filter.
• Check for leaks in all the hoses, connections, and swivels. They could cause a loss of water pressure.
• Check the wheel RPM.

Polaris only turns in one direction.

• Adjust the thrust jet.
• Make sure the feed hose is floating.

Polaris flies around the pool and/or doesn’t make contact with the bottom.

• Check the wheel RPM. Unscrew the pressure relief valve to reduce water flow to the cleaner if it is more than 32 RPM.
• Confirm that the blue restrictor disk is installed in the Universal Wall Fitting (UWF) to reduce water flow. Or, install the red restrictor disk to reduce water flow even more.
• Hold the back-up valve out of the water and watch the jet. It should come on and go off.

Why is My Polaris Pool Cleaner Floating?

Polaris automatic pool cleaners roll over most pool surfaces automatically, picking up dirt, leaves, and other debris. If your cleaner floats to the top of the pool instead of staying against the surfaces it should be cleaning, it could either be because of a leaky hose, damaged backup valves, or an improperly positioned thrust jet.

Why is My Pool Cleaner Not Moving?

If your pool cleaner stops moving, there are several issues that may cause this stalling out:

Malfunctioning booster pump

If you are not getting strong pressure from the return line it could point to a problem with the pump, filter, or booster pump. Check your pump and filter, and if you rule them out, then it’s likely the booster pump has malfunctioned.

Broken or clogged quick disconnect

The quick disconnect attaches your Polaris pool cleaner to the return jet. Inside the quick disconnect is a screen to prevent debris coming from the filter. If clogged, your cleaner will stop moving. Check the screen to make sure it is clean and free of any sand or debris. Also, check if the quick disconnect is broken.

Leaky float hose or back-up valve

A leak in the float hose reduces pressure in the cleaner, causing it to stop moving. You could try sealing the leak or replace the hose. If the back-up valve is leaky, it constantly sprays water and it needs to be replaced.

Broken drive belt

A broken drive belt could also be the reason your cleaner isn’t moving. It is what the Polaris cleaner relies on to turn the wheels.

Why Does My Polaris 280 Go in Circles?

Most likely, a wearable part in your cleaner has worn out. The plastic on the wheels can wear away until the gear strips causing the pool cleaner to go in circles. The sediment/leaf bag attached to the top of the cleaner could also be the reason. It gets full from sucking in dirt and debris, weighing down the cleaner.

If your cleaner is running in circles on its side, try the following solutions to see if works:

• Check if the filter bag is full as it can weigh the cleaner down on one side.
• Verify the hose floats are evenly spaced.
• Remove the head float and shake it. If there’s water in the float, order a new one.
• Check whether the back-up valve is cycling. The jet should come on and go off.

How Do I Know If My Polaris Backup Valve is Bad?

The Polaris backup valve is the plastic, acorn-shaped piece on the front of your cleaner. It pushes away from corners and ladders by shooting a jet of pressurized water from the unit. If it malfunctions, it shoots water constantly. To check whether your backup valve has a problem, start your Polaris cleaner and then lift it out of the water. If a water jet constantly shoots out of the backup valve, you’ll need to repair or replace it.

How Long Do Polaris Pool Cleaners Last?

With proper maintenance, your Polaris cleaner should last for up to 5 years without problems. Some models can even go up to 8 years or more as their parts can usually be replaced. Polaris gives a warranty of 2-years on every robotic cleaner.

How Do I Change the Speed on My Polaris 280?

For maximum efficiency, the proper wheel revolutions per minute (RPM) for your Polaris cleaner is between 28 and 32 RPM.

If the speed is less than 28 RPM, there are several things you can do to change:

• Check the filter screen in the in-line filter for debris that restricts water flow.
• Clean the pool skimmer, filter, and pump basket, clearing debris restricting water flow.
• Check hoses, connections, and swivels for leaks that cause loss of water pressure.
• Remove the blue restrictor disk form the UWH

If the count exceeds more than 32 RPM, you can reduce the speed by:

• Unscrewing the pressure relief valve until the proper RPM is attained.
• Replace the blue restrictor disk in the UWF with the red restrictor.
• If an adjustable gate valve is installed, adjust it to reduce water flow to the cleaner.

Can I Leave My Polaris in the Pool?

Leaving your pool cleaner in the pool 24/7 isn’t recommended. When the water is cold or cools off from a warm day, the plastic in the hose gets memory and curls slightly. This can cause the cleaner to get stuck or move in circles from dirt and debris filling the bag.

How Does the Polaris 280 Backup Valve Work?

The backup valve shoots a burst of high-pressure water from its nozzle, propelling the pool sweep backward and enabling it to continue cleaning your pool

How Do You Adjust a Pool Sweeper?

The sweep hose should move in a gentle sweeping motion. To increase or reduce its motion, turn off the booster pump and turn the sweep hose adjustment screw. If the sweep hose speed is too fast the hose will spray water out of your pool and cause problems. If your hose is running too quickly, you can slow it down by turning the screw at the base of the hose by hand or with an Allen wrench/Hex wrench. To restrict the water flow and slow the sweep hose speed, rotate clockwise. To increase speed, rotate anticlockwise.

How Do You Rebuild a Polaris 280?

When your pool cleaner isn’t working properly, it may need to be replaced or rebuilt. The latter is the cheaper option and can get your cleaner running like new. Here is how to rebuild a Polaris 280:

Things you’ll need:

• Polaris 280 rebuild kit
• Phillips screwdriver
• Needle nose pliers
• Small flathead screwdriver
• Magic marker

Then follow these steps:

• Turn off the booster pump and remove your cleaner from the water. Disconnect the hose from the head of the Polaris and let the cleaner dry.
• Mark the head float position on the feed mast and then remove the head float.
• Remove the bag from the head of the Polaris cleaner.
• Mark the position of the sweep hose adjustment screw using a marker before removing it.
• Pull the clamp off and pull the sweep hose off.
• Remove the top half of the cleaner. There’s one screw holding it in place.
• Label the single side and front double side wheels to tell them apart when you remove them. Make sure you note the position of the axles when you take the wheels off.
• Remove axle screws and wheel assemblies for the three large wheels. Set the screws and axle plates aside for re-assembly.
• Remove clamps and turbine hose from the feed mast elbow and turbine cover. Then, remove the turbine cover and set it aside for re-assembly together with the screws.
• Remove turbine and shaft shield. Retain the shield and two screws.
• Remove and retain screws for two turbine bearings.
• Then, remove the drive shaft assembly.
• Remove the bottom of the cleaner and retain the screws.
• Remove the screws and pull out the water management system to remove it. Retain the screws.
• Place new turbine bearings and drive shaft assembly into position and replace the 4 screws. Don’t remove drive shaft clear covers.
• Using the 3 screws removed earlier, re-install the turbine cover. Attach new turbine hose to the feed mast elbow and turbine cover.
• Install new hose clamp at each hose end. Use the needle nose pliers to pull the clamp tight and cut off the extra length.
• Re-install turbine shield using the 2 screws. Turbine shield lip goes under the turbine cover.
• Lay old front double side wheel next to a new wheel/sand assembly. Point the axle on each wheel in the same direction.
• Install the new front double side wheel with the axle plate and the new lock washers. Line up axle grooves with the ribs on the frame. Leave screws loose for wheel adjustment.
• Adjust wheel so that the drive shaft assembly spine engages 3/4 of the wheel gear teeth. Wheel should spin freely.
• Repeat above two steps for the single-side wheel.
• Align threads on the frame and install the rear wheel assembly using the axle plate and lock washers. Leave screws loose for wheel position adjustment.
• Install the new idler wheel onto the swing axle using new wheel washer and plastic wheel screw. The wheel should spin freely, don’t over tighten.
• Slide the new water management system, with thrust jet installed, into the keyed area on the bottom of the frame. Secure with two long screws.
• Use the 2 screws you had removed earlier to secure the new bottom on the frame.
• Slide rear wheel forward until it just touches the idler wheel and tighten the axle block screws.
• Install new blue top without over tightening the screw.
• Screw into place the sweep hose adjustment screw. Then attach the new sweep hose with the attach clamp.
• Use the mark on the feed mast to position the new head float.
• Position the thrust jet back and screw tightly.
• Finally, attach the new bad and your repair is now complete.

Check this too: Best Wireless Pool Thermometer

Why Does My Pool Cleaner Hose Get Tangled?

Tangles on the lines of your pool cleaner can be frustrating. They stop the cleaner from doing their job and they are often hard to get rid of. Some of the common tangles causes include:

• A hose that is far too long for your pool.
• Stiff hose and swivel connectors.
• Fast wheel RPM
• Dirty filters and valves

Here is what you can do troubleshoot the problem:

• Re-measure the hose to verify that it’s adjusted to the proper length for the pool shape.
• With the Polaris running, check that the swivels in the hose and the hose connections turn freely.
• Make sure feed hose is floating.
• With the pool cleaner turned off, spin each of the wheels. All wheels should turn together.

Polaris not Vacuuming

If your Polaris cleaner is moving around the pool normally, but it’s not picking up dirt and debris, it could be because of a clog in the suction throat. Another possible reason could be that the debris bag is full. Make sure you clean and remove any lodged debris in the thrust jet holes.