Hayward Navigator vacuum sticks on plastic drain cover

[aGrandma]

At the deepest part of our pool are two plastic round drain covers, and our Hayward Navigator vacuum constantly sticks on them. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get this to stop, or know why this is happening? The vacuum suction is correct according to the tool we use to check suction, and everything seems to be working right (filters clean, pump pressure is normal, etc.) If we are home we get the vacuum off the plastic drain, then a little while later there it is stuck again. The vacuum is just stuck there and does not go all over the pool floor and walls as it should. Thanks for any ideas/solutions!

[dynamictiger]

Buy a section of cleaner hose.

Fill it with pool sand.

Join the ends together and lay around the drain.

This is usually caused by the angles of the cover being such it blocks the suction throat of the cleaner. The only solution is to keep the cleaner off the cover. The weighted hose is normally enough to do this.

HTH

[aGrandma]

Oh wow, great idea! Thank you so much, I'll try that!

[emdasher]

With all due respect, the sand-loaded hose idea probably will not work. The Navigator will simply push it aside. The only solution I've come up with is to epoxy a 4" dia PVC pipe fitting, no more than 3 inches long or it might be dangerous, to the center of the drain cover. If you use water-cure epoxy, this can be done by a competent diver underwater.

[msguppy]

I had good results with replacing my main drain covers. There are new cover designs out that are in compliance with new law affecting public pools. http://www.poolcenter.com/Virginia_Grae ... ty_Act.pdf I used Anti hair snare plus brand which is raised in the center and keeps the cleaner off of it. There are others that are supposedly low profile that claim to keep the cleaner off but I felt more confident with the high ones. I know how irritating pulling that cleaner off the drain is!!

[elizdb76]

I have the exact same problem with no solutions and the shallow end is not as clean as it should be

[Toddlach]

If this just started happening recently, I would also check the 'soles' of the cleaner. Replacing the rubber feeting and wings will lift the cleaner higher off the floor of the pool and will help clear the raised drain cover.

[Poolgal]

I recently had the"new drain cover" placed in the pool after resurfacing. Now I have the same problem with the Hayward vacuum staying on the main drain and just turning in circles. The vacuum has new feet, wings, etc. This did not happen with the old drain cover. Anymore suggestions?

[MainDrainClipOn]

I found a solution to my automatic pool cleaner getting stuck on my pool main drain.

Go to http://www.maindrainclipon.com

The "clip-on" device" is inexpensive and easy to install. Also, there is an installation tool available that allows the device to be quickly installed from the side of the pool without getting into the water.

[gsc1969]

this is the REAL solution...........folks.....the main reason commonly the vacuum gets stuck to the drain is because the flow is too high....thus...the vacuum get sucked into the drain screen......turn the flow rate down a bit.....it will no longer stick to the screen and it costs nothing and little effort....gc

[Mike C.]

I had the exact same problem. Started after our pool was refinished a couple years ago with drain cover replaced. Very annoying.
My Navigator is about 10 years old, but otherwise works well. I have been very good about replacing parts (even though expensive to buy!!) as needed.
I emailed the Hayward company about the "getting stuck constantly on the pool drain" problem and asked for their suggestions.
A very nice gentleman there sent me a brand new "Variable Throat Assembly" (part no. 29 on their parts list). This was perhaps the only part that I have not replaced through the years. The one he sent differed from the original in that there were two much beefier "lugs" cast into the plastic on the underside. Perhaps this is a new design??
Anyway, to make a long story short, it's been a week now and the Navigator has not gotten stuck on the drain, not even once. Occasionally it will sit atop the drain for about 30 seconds to a minute, but will then manage to walk off on it's own. Hallelujah!! Problem solved!!!

[RPMc]

Mike has discovered the solution.

If the lugs or hold offs on the throat assembly are worn down, as they where on mine, the suction at the throat will capture the cleaner as it passes over the top of the domed drain cover. The lugs prevent direct contact of the throat assembly to the drain cover allowing a break in the suction and the ability for the Navigator to continue on its merry way.

Replacing this part has solved the "sticking problem" for me . As this a Hayward product, I was expecting to have to take out a second mortgage to pay for it. To my surprise, it only cost $13.00!

[dicnic]

The newer drain covers, mandated by OSHA are convex and stick up to prevent a small object (think child) from getting stuck on the drain when it is "sucking." Our pool cleaner never stuck on the drain cover until we had the covers replaced due to the arrival of a grandaughter.

I have never seen a solution that worked reliably to prevent a pool cleaner from hanging up on the covers.

[Tubemule]

I used a plastic flower pot large enough to fit over drain from Lowe's ($6.00) with holes in the bottom. I tied a rope to a 5lb plastic barbell weight inside the pot. With the rope loop long enough I place the weighted pot upside down over the drain with the brush attachment on my long skimmer pole. It work great and is easy to place and remove.

[hmalbaugh]

I found a simple inexpensive solution to this problem. A company named "Main Drain Clip-On" sells a clip and an installation tool. The clip "snaps" onto your existing pool drain. No need to remove the drain. Also, if you use the installation tool, you can install the clip from the side of the pool without getting into the water.
I have it in my pool and it works great.