20 Most Recent Hayward Navigator Pool Cleaner Questions & Answers

I have had the same Navigator for many, many years. I have replaced it's guts, pods, feet and gears whenever things wear out. I have a vinyl pool and it works great. I had a problem with it charging into the wall and just sit there beating it's feet ..... now this was my solution, and I'm surprised that Navigator has not altered the design to deal with getting stuck against a wall. This will sound CRAZY but it works great!! Take a plastic lid for a 5 gallon bucket and cut out a round-nose for the front of your navigator. The curved shape is prefect and you can notch the plastic lid and it will snug right into the Navigator body. This gives your Navigator a round-nose and it will never get stuck against a wall again.

Try one of these soultions. If you try these suggestions and it still doesn't work correctly, let me know and I will offer some different ideas. With this brand of pool cleaners, troubleshooting is usually pretty simple.

1. You might have an improper water flow that is causing your trajectory to falter. To remedy this, check your water flow with a flow gauge and adjust as necessary. If you have too little or too much pressure, you cleaner will not move correctly.
2. Look for a blockage in the navigator throat. If you see one, remove it. A blockage on one side could cause the cleaner to only turn in one direction.
3. Check for worn shoes and wings. Replace if necessary.
4. Check and clean the rear screen.
5. Check to make sure that the gears are clear and they they rotate smoothly in both directions.
6. Clean, repair, or replace the gear box.
7. Check turbine and spindle gear assembly, as well as all connections, and make adjustments as necessary.

If you are getting suction through the cleaner, but it is not moving around, you probably have wings or shoes improperly installed. If the pool cleaners shoes look worn or are not installed properly, this will happen. A copy of the users manual is below. Check to make sure that they are installed properly.You might also need to adjust the rear tension flap. Finally, even though you think your suction is good, make sure that there are no obstructions or leaks that would cause movement failure.

There are a couple solutions that you might want to try with these pool cleaners if they are getting stuck on your drain. First, check your water flow and make sure that it is sufficient to move the cleaner. Make sure that the shoes and wings are not worn. If you have worn shoes, they could be sticking on the drain instead of passing smoothly over it. Finally, check for any blockages in the throat or hoses.

Did you have the turbine and A-Frame inspected or the gear box at the back of the cleaner looked at? Hayward Navigators are 100% repairable and most every pool store carries every single part to make the repairs. If these parts are also worn down, you will notice performance issues with your cleaner.
Before we assume the worst, lets run the cleaner through a few inspections.
Simple Troubleshooting for your Hayward Navigator When It Is Not Moving

The most common reason the Hayward Navigator stops moving is there is something blocking the mouth of the cleaner. Pull the cleaner out of the water while the equipment is turned off and make sure the cleaner is not clogged with debris or plugged with a pool toy. Also, make sure that all the internal components are properly installed.

Not Enough Suction - Next, verify that there is enough suction to allow the cleaner to work properly. While the pool equipment is on, lift the Hayward Navigator to just below the surface of the water and feel to see if there is a reasonable amount of suction getting to the cleaner. If there doesn't seem to be enough pressure, make sure all baskets are clear of debris, the main pool filter is clean, and that the diverter valve is open to the pool cleaner.

Small Debris Inside the Navigator - If there seems to be enough suction getting to the Navigator, but the pods are not moving back and forth, there is probably some small debris inside the cleaner that is stopping the turbine from moving. In order to remove any debris from inside the cleaner, remove the small access cover from the bottom of the cleaner by loosening the one screw until the plate pulls off. Use your fingers or the hose to clean the inside of the cleaner out.

If following these simple troubleshooting tips doesn't correct your cleaner issue, there is probably a mechanical issue. Take your cleaner into a local swimming pool retailer or have a service company out to assist (though most pool stores will not ever charge you for labor to make repairs!)

Thank you for posting your question on Fix Ya! I hope to have been of some help to you regarding this issue and if you need some additional clarification, please feel free to let me know what happened with your cleaner! We also appreciate your feedback in letting the world know if you were satisfied with our help!

The Ugly Pool Guy

www.WeFixUglyPools.com

Check the positioning of the reverse switch.

If it's an older Navigator and it just recently started to hang up on the drain cover, replace the throat assembly, part 29. The lugs or hold offs on the bottom of the assembly have worn down and are not breaking the suction as the Navigator travels over the top of the domed drain cover. Replaced mine and no longer have the "my navigator gets stuck on the main drain" problem.

if by saying at the top you mean running around the top of the walls then reduce the suction on the vacuum by opening another valve slightly... if by at the top you mean floating around in the water then make sure the vacuum is getting enough suction.... it can be a number of issues causing loss of suction but most likely is going to be too many sources on suction side of pump.

It could be worn shoes on your pool cleaner causing the problem, but it is most likely just that you need to get a ring drain cover to cover your anti-vortex drain. It creates a smoother surface and is designed specifically to work with in ground automatic pool cleaners that are getting stuck on the drain.

http://www.backyardcitypools.com/Automatic-Pool-Cleaners/NE290-Smart-Ring-Drain-Cover.htm

You probably need a new gearbox. These can be bought and installed very easily.
www.cpo2go.com

It could be that you have improper water flow. Use the water flow gauge and adjust the flow if necessary. It could also be a steering failure. Check the pool cleaners rear screen and clean it if necessary. Make sure that the cone gear is free and rotates smoothly in both directions. You could also need to replace the gear box.

You may need to replace the feet/shoes? Or you may not have the proper feet to begin with? Vinyl Fiberglass Plaster... all have their own specific shoes.