I need advice/help with my pool...

C

Chris_H

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My pool cleaner stops moving after a couple minutes of work. I've got the Baracuda Pacer with the Baracuda Automatic Wier Valve. The diaphragm stops opening and closing (stays open) so I am thinking that there is not enough water flowing through the pipes. Once the cleaner stops moving I have to do a backwash and rinse to get it going for a couple minutes again. The weird thing is that once I set the pump to backwash the pool cleaner grafts like there is no end! I have replaced the sand in the filter this year and the pool cleaner is less than a year old.

Has anyone got an idea of what to check or some tests to do? Is it possible the the valve is broken at the pump where you set the water flow causing the "Filter" setting to leak water?
 
Has the water that is blowing out got air bubbles in it. Could be a leak and causing a weak suction.
 
Have you checked the pacer for any funny objects? I've had a snail, mouse and rock stuck in mine.
 
xrapidx said:
Have you checked the pacer for any funny objects? I've had a snail, mouse and rock stuck in mine.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this morning before gym I took the whole think apart, there is a pipe that pushes over the diaphragm and I thought it might be keeping the thing shut so I pulled everything out and now it looks better but still only runs for about 15 minutes. Sometimes a tug on the pipes will get it started again. I also clean the wier baskets once a week.
 
Couple things to try, remove the outlet direction nozzle and shorten the hose
 
You can take it appart it should have a little rubber thing on the inside of the pipe. It looks like a very thick kind of condom :p. That is the thing that causes the moving effect when the pump induces the sucksion as that rubber opens and closes making that bouncy effect. Take it out and see if it's not torn ;)
 
Sometimes its because it sucked air and as i remember i never knew how to fix the dam thing... I can not remember how i fixed it. IT something about the air in the pump.
 
Drake2007 said:
Couple things to try, remove the outlet direction nozzle and shorten the hose
Click to expand...

I've shortened the hose and it didn't work, the hose is barely long enough for the pacer to get to the far side and it cant get onto the steps, will try changing the outlet direction (what difference will it make though?)
 
Chris_H said:
I've shortened the hose and it didn't work, the hose is barely long enough for the pacer to get to the far side and it cant get onto the steps, will try changing the outlet direction (what difference will it make though?)
Click to expand...

not change the direction, unscrew the thing right off - less resistance.
 
Chris_H said:
My pool cleaner stops moving after a couple minutes of work.
Click to expand...


Poke him, if he still doesn't move, hire another one


























yes yes i know he's talking about a mechanical thing but I lol'ed at myself when I read the first sentence and thought of replying like that!
 
Check that the valve on the inlet isn't stuck open. Also check that the diaphragm doesn't have a small tear.
 
bekdik said:
put the pimp on bypass, if cleaner runs ok, then change your sand - get a pool expert to do it as it's a pain also you can mess up the filter
Click to expand...

I've done that and it works fine that way, I have also replaced the filter sand this year already. That is why I am wondering if it could be a faulty seal/valve/pipe at or to the pump...

ponder said:
ROTFLMAO
Click to expand...

lol
 
Mine does the same with every bloody big leaf that it tries to suck up. My own fault for being too lazy to take the leaves out before they sink. Also any stone or other object gets stuck in the diaphragm and stops it from moving although its still sucking.
 
You need to prime the barracuda, sort of touch the end bit over the suction at about 30 degrees before you plug it in over the plastic cap just to get good suction going when you set the pump to filter. If suction is not pulling your fingers down before you prime and stick in the hose end then there is a vaccum in the system (not the barracuda)
 
Undo the "hatch" where you change the sand, and check that the seal is not perished, and that it seats properly, any slight deviation, or even some grains of sand around that seal could let air into the system.
Also check the seal around the basket attached to your pump, normally a glass covered lid with a screw down top (if you have one on your pump)
When you check the leaf basket, also check the L bend connection that connects the pipe to leaf basket , sometimes i find twigs stuck there that do not make it through the bend into the leaf basket, this reduces pressure.
Check your pipes, for small holes as well, maybe one of the pipes between the wier and the actual Barracuda has a small puncture allowing air into the system.
After cleaning out baskets etc, Backwash 1-2 minutes, Rinse 1-2 minutes, then Filter.
 
Nanfeishen said:
Undo the "hatch" where you change the sand, and check that the seal is not perished, and that it seats properly, any slight deviation, or even some grains of sand around that seal could let air into the system.
Also check the seal around the basket attached to your pump, normally a glass covered lid with a screw down top (if you have one on your pump)
When you check the leaf basket, also check the L bend connection that connects the pipe to leaf basket , sometimes i find twigs stuck there that do not make it through the bend into the leaf basket, this reduces pressure.
Check your pipes, for small holes as well, maybe one of the pipes between the wier and the actual Barracuda has a small puncture allowing air into the system.
After cleaning out baskets etc, Backwash 1-2 minutes, Rinse 1-2 minutes, then Filter.
Click to expand...

Cool, I will have to check the seal on the sand filter... I replaced the sand myself and took care not to get any sand on the seal but you never know, another thing I noticed is that it looks like my pool is losing water (about 3 cm a day if I run the pump on filter) - I guess it is a bad sign :(
 
Had a very similar problem.

Was resolved by checking every single pipe. One had a small hole and that was where the suction was being lost.
I replaced all the pipes and haven't had a problem since.
 
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