Pool Sweepers

[Murph Tang]

Ok I'm so done with my crappy pool sweeper I inherited with my house.

I'm thinking of the Polaris 380 or 360.

Anybody use anything different or better?

Ebay seems to have the best deals.

Thanks mucho!

[SVT Lurch]

Do you have a separate booster pump to run the 380?

Assuming you do, the only thing better than a 380 IMO is the Hayward Phantom (http://www.haywardnet.com/inground/products/cleaners/Phantom_Turbo.cfm) (if it's a good one, but I imagine all the bugs are out by now.) or a robotic cleaner, like the Dolphin (http://www.poolmerchants.com/page141.html) or similar. Phantom is only slightly more than a 380, runs off the same booster pump, but will skim the top of the pool also. Robotic will run you about a grand, but if you can swing it I never had one come back in 5 seasons.

[Murph Tang]

Do you have a separate booster pump to run the 380?

Assuming you do, the only thing better than a 380 IMO is the Hayward Phantom (http://www.haywardnet.com/inground/products/cleaners/Phantom_Turbo.cfm) (if it's a good one, but I imagine all the bugs are out by now.) or a robotic cleaner, like the Dolphin (http://www.poolmerchants.com/page141.html) or similar. Phantom is only slightly more than a 380, runs off the same booster pump, but will skim the top of the pool also. Robotic will run you about a grand, but if you can swing it I never had one come back in 5 seasons.

Thanks for the info!

I do have a 3/4 booster pump. hmmm I like the skimmer thing on the phantom!

[SVT Lurch]

Thanks for the info!

I do have a 3/4 booster pump. hmmm I like the skimmer thing on the phantom!
Yeah, it's good stuff. About 2 years ago, it was only $150 more at Leslie's for the Phantom over the 380. I'd call one of them and then look online and see if you can beat it, then take them the ad (they match online pricing as long as it includes shipping).

[Murph Tang]

Yeah, it's good stuff. About 2 years ago, it was only $150 more at Leslie's for the Phantom over the 380. I'd call one of them and then look online and see if you can beat it, then take them the ad (they match online pricing as long as it includes shipping).

excellent!


I appreciate the info.

[TATOM MACK]

i will sell you one new 480 pro is the best but its more

[Murph Tang]

i will sell you one new 480 pro is the best but its more

pm me a price please kind sir!

[TATOM MACK]

for all of them?

[Murph Tang]

for all of them?

sure pm a price on what you have.

Cash discount? :D

[TATOM MACK]

360 500, 380 700 i think havent bought one of them in awhile 480 800

[FWT03Term]

Do you have a separate booster pump to run the 380?

Assuming you do, the only thing better than a 380 IMO is the Hayward Phantom (http://www.haywardnet.com/inground/products/cleaners/Phantom_Turbo.cfm) (if it's a good one, but I imagine all the bugs are out by now.) or a robotic cleaner, like the Dolphin (http://www.poolmerchants.com/page141.html) or similar. Phantom is only slightly more than a 380, runs off the same booster pump, but will skim the top of the pool also. Robotic will run you about a grand, but if you can swing it I never had one come back in 5 seasons.

I had one of those Hayward's about 3-4 years ago. It was an absolute nightmare. I will say that Hayward sent a rep to my house and modified the cleaner, It worked better but still not good. If they redesigned and worked the bugs out, maybe it is good now. Their customer service was shockingly good. Polaris cleaners are reliable but too many parts that wear out. If you don't mind replacing parts every few years, they are probably the best. In reality, they all suck for one reason or another.

[GhostFlamedCoupe]

Haywards phantom and viper suck. I did warranty repair for hayward a little while, 80% of the work was cleaners. The manifolds constantly jammed up causing it to stick in certain cycles (spinout, top/bottom). Now the suction cleaner they have is bad ass if you know what your doing.

[Murph Tang]

I'm reading that alot of pool guys like the Polaris 280 over the 380.

The 280 has a larger throat and gear driven instead of the belt driven 380.

anybody have experience with either one?

[TATOM MACK]

murph found 380's on ebay cheaper than i can get them 509 my cost 600plus tax good deal if you need one

leslies sells them for 650

http://lesliespool.com/browse/Home/Pool-Cleaners/Pressure/Polaris-380/D/30100/P/1:100:2000:200000/I/60006

[Ylw 98~~SNAKE~~]

Ok I'm so done with my crappy pool sweeper I inherited with my house.

I'm thinking of the Polaris 380 or 360.

Anybody use anything different or better?

Ebay seems to have the best deals.

Thanks mucho!

Dont buy anything but a polaris 280 the rest are shit. Dont buy the belt driven sweepers they suck

[SVT Lurch]

380 700
:eek: They used to be $500 (with a $150 rebate with an old cleaner.)
I had one of those Hayward's about 3-4 years ago. It was an absolute nightmare. I will say that Hayward sent a rep to my house and modified the cleaner, It worked better but still not good. If they redesigned and worked the bugs out, maybe it is good now. Their customer service was shockingly good. Polaris cleaners are reliable but too many parts that wear out. If you don't mind replacing parts every few years, they are probably the best. In reality, they all suck for one reason or another.
I used to sell them back then and had to deal with that whole mess. All of the more recent models I've seen in the pool work great and I've got a bunch of happy people who use them. Those reps (Brad I think) were sick of me that summer, haha.Haywards phantom and viper suck. I did warranty repair for hayward a little while, 80% of the work was cleaners. The manifolds constantly jammed up causing it to stick in certain cycles (spinout, top/bottom). Now the suction cleaner they have is bad ass if you know what your doing.
Do they still suck? See above.
I'm reading that alot of pool guys like the Polaris 280 over the 380.

The 280 has a larger throat and gear driven instead of the belt driven 380.

anybody have experience with either one?Like Ylw 98~~SNAKE~~ said, a lot of people prefer the 280 over the 380 for the reasons you listed. I personally like the 380 just because the belts were the only thing I ever really replaced on it and that was MAYBE once a season (usually 2). Belt kits are (were) $17 and I can swap one in about 10 minutes. I don't like the 280 because it is gear driven, but it's a metal gear on a plastic wheel, so you have to replace the wheels fairly often. You really can't go wrong with either, but most of the old school guys prefer the 280 because it's been around forever and it does work.

[TATOM MACK]

[QUOTE=SVT Lurch]:eek: They used to be $500 (with a $150 rebate with an old cleaner.)

Scroll up I have no idea if there are any rebates till i go get it from my supplier.

[doopie]

I use the smartpool dolphin. Best sweeper I have ever owned and it allows me to use less electricity to boot. Pull the bag out and clean it out and put it back in takes no booster pump just a power supply.

It is funky colored but works great. The only drawback is the water has to be 63 degrees for it tow work as it has a temp cut off in it.

We had a polaris and the ray and both would just move the shit around with the whipping tail rather than putting it in the bag. Filters down to 5 microns so silt is not a problem for it

[SVT Lurch]

Good stuff ^
:eek: They used to be $500 (with a $150 rebate with an old cleaner.)

Scroll up I have no idea if there are any rebates till i go get it from my supplier.
I know, I saw that part. The $700 just shocked me...thus the :eek: .

[miketyler]

Kreepy Krauley

[BottleRocket]

we used to have a Hayward PoolVac in our old pool when I was a kid. How are those?

[SVT Lurch]

we used to have a Hayward PoolVac in our old pool when I was a kid. How are those?
They're great for smaller (<12-15K gallons) pools. Any bigger than that and you'd want to move up to the Kreepy Krauly.

[Maverick]

Polaris > all (for booster pump driven cleaners)



Kreepy Krauly > all (for suction pool sweeps)


Reason? Replacement parts are cheap and plentiful....regarding the 280 vs. 380 debate, the 380 because of the belt and tire replacement costs (price a wheel for a 280 vs. cost for belts...380 is cheaper to operate)


<===former Leslie's employee - store manager, tech, then area commercial account manager

[Murph Tang]

I went with the 280. I got it for $380 off of ebay delivered.

Works great!

Its working its ass off as my live oak is dropping a buttload of leaves.

[cobra93teal]

Kreepy Krauley
My Kreepy wont always stick to the pool.. ends to float... and it wont start on its own.. you have to jag it and then it runs fine until it shuts off.. any suggestions? Leslies checked it out and they said it was fine

[miketyler]

My Kreepy wont always stick to the pool.. ends to float... and it wont start on its own.. you have to jag it and then it runs fine until it shuts off.. any suggestions? Leslies checked it out and they said it was fine

Sounds like you may be running low head pressure. Vacuum suction is not only what powers the mechanism but its also what makes it cling to the vertical walls. Assume your foot pad is ok, I would check your pressure and make sure your pump impeller hasn't sucked any debris in it creating loss of pressure and drag on your motor. Also, be sure you have the weights adjusted correctly. When the Kreepy is static sitting still it should make a 45* angle with the pool floor. My Kreepy tracks up the side wall and will actually come out of the water before reversing and going back down. It never loses contact withthe surface unless it picks up something that stops the flapper from operating.



I have used the Kreepy Krauley for 15 years now. Very simple mechanism, runs off of your pool suction thru the skimmer box. No pumps, filters, additional hoses needed.

The Kreepy is pretty reliable and wholesale pricing for parts can be found on eBay. In my experience the hose can develop a shape that influences the Kreepy to repeat patterns that result in untouched areas of the pool. It won't clean the steps but thats no biggy.

http://www.poolspaequipmentdirect.com/images/KPY-20-551.jpg

[doopie]

Mike,

Where does the debris get trapped?

Raymond

[cobra93teal]

Sounds like you may be running low head pressure. Vacuum suction is not only what powers the mechanism but its also what makes it cling to the vertical walls. Assume your foot pad is ok, I would check your pressure and make sure your pump impeller hasn't sucked any debris in it creating loss of pressure and drag on your motor. Also, be sure you have the weights adjusted correctly. When the Kreepy is static sitting still it should make a 45* angle with the pool floor. My Kreepy tracks up the side wall and will actually come out of the water before reversing and going back down. It never loses contact withthe surface unless it picks up something that stops the flapper from operating.


Thanks i will check it.. (NEW FOOTPAD ON IT)
I have used the Kreepy Krauley for 15 years now. Very simple mechanism, runs off of your pool suction thru the skimmer box. No pumps, filters, additional hoses needed.

The Kreepy is pretty reliable and wholesale pricing for parts can be found on eBay. In my experience the hose can develop a shape that influences the Kreepy to repeat patterns that result in untouched areas of the pool. It won't clean the steps but thats no biggy.

http://www.poolspaequipmentdirect.com/images/KPY-20-551.jpg

Thanks i will check it.. (NEW FOOTPAD ON IT)
The presure at my filter is 12 to 15 after a backwash...

[SVT Lurch]

Its working its ass off as my live oak is dropping a buttload of leaves.
Be sure to empty the bag often, more debris = torn bags and those are like $35 a pop. :eek:

[miketyler]

Where does the debris get trapped?

I didnt buy the optional in-line leaf trap so the debris gets caught in the pump sight basket. Sometimes some debris gets past it and can get stuck around the impeller shaft or in the impeller vanes. This has only happened to me twice

[Ylw 98~~SNAKE~~]

i used to hate those kreepy krauley pos debri always gets stuck in that dam flapper you come back in 3 hours and its just sitting there doing jack shit. 280 FTW

[miketyler]

I would say if your pool is in a heavily treed area or otherwise is subject to leaves, large twigs, 2x4's, etc getting blown in it, then the Kreepy may not be for you.

My Kreepy sucks up leaves fine and will continue to operaate if you have the optional leaf trap. However, the flapper is vulnerable to any larger "hard" objects or debris that can get wedged in the flapper chamber.

[Murph Tang]

Polaris update:

My 280 shoots a big ol' stream outside the tail spraying my windows leaving a nice water/chlorine stain.

Is there a way to keep the tail from spraying everywhere?

Thanks,
Mike

[SVT Lurch]

Is there a way to keep the tail from spraying everywhere?
There's a screw at the base of the tail where it connects to the unit, turn it further in to restrict water flow to the tail.

[Murph Tang]

There's a screw at the base of the tail where it connects to the unit, turn it further in to restrict water flow to the tail.

Thank you sir!