How to replace a Great White Pool Cleaner Oscillator Kit and seals
How to replace a Great White Pool Cleaner Oscillator Kit and seals
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The Great White Pool Cleaner oscillator is key to having a functioning cleaner, he creates an agitating action that promotes the movement and cleaning action of the cleaner.
Before disassembling your Sta-Rite Great White Pool Cleaner be sure to disconnect the vacuum hose from the dedicated suction line of your pool. After the hose is disconnected from the suction port then you may remove the Great White cleaner from the pool and remove the hose from the cleaner.
With the Great White Pool Cleaner sitting upside down you should be seeing it from this vantage point. To access oscillator assembly you will need to remove these four screws to unseat the cleaner's drive and brush system. Replacement Sta-Rite Great White Cleaner Oscillator Kit w/ Seals part #: 3290-15, Brush part #: 3290-04, Screw Set part #: 3290-03
Turn the lower body over so you are looking at the gear assembly of the cleaner. Pop the oscillator chamber cover off the gear assembly, it is held in place by 2 latches on either side.
On the gear set not on oscillator's shaft there is a screw you must remove to extract the assembly. Once this screw is removed lift the gear assembly out of place.
The gear set that was held in place by the screw can now be removed. Taking out this set will make it easier to extract the main gears of the Great White Pool Cleaner.
Step 7
While using the oscillator shaft as a grip, lift the assembly out of the lower body. At this point, you can remove one of the rubber stoppers and slip off the gears and oscillator itself.
The thick gear which chontrols the back and forth of the set goes on next.
Step 14
Then the skinnier gear.
Step 15
Finally, the last gear with the support arms is installed. the support arms are what helps stabilize the assembly while the Great White Pool Cleaner is in use.
Place the new gear assembly into the lower bodyand reattach the cover.
Step 17
With the new Sta Rite Great White Pool Cleaner gear set body in place we can now secure the lower body with the 4 screws. Check for for any loose parts before resuming operation of your StaRite Great White Pool Cleaner.
After replacing the gears and lower body my g9500 just goes in circles. Any ideas?
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S.Posted: 9/8/2021
Have you checked that the GW9500 Lift Brush - GW9517 is installed properly? This brush may not be listing properly make the cleaner go in circles.
Reply
West Palm BeachPosted: 3/30/2020
Hi, my greatwhite only wants to go up the walls. Won't clean the bottom of the pool. Any ideas?
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S.Posted: 3/31/2020
Have you checked the cleaner's skirt or brushes to determine if that are worn out? Those are the usual culprits of one of these cleaners malfunctioning.
Reply
angelPosted: 11/10/2019
My Great White is working ok but it gets stuck at the bottom drain and won't move away from it. Any suggestions?
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Robert M.Posted: 11/11/2019
Hello Angel - The first thing I would do is make sure the main drain is turned off. If that is not the issue, replace the oscillator kit.
Reply
AnonymousPosted: 3/23/2019
We have replaced the seal and now the Osillator is not going back and forth what do we do
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S.Posted: 3/27/2019
Hello - my first step would be to take it apart double check everything is correctly reassembled.
Reply
My great white gets stuck in corners and on the drain. I suspect the lift brush is not doing its job, what parts kit do I have to order to fix that problem?
Reply
InyopoolsPosted: 2/16/2018
GLS - The seals do not have to touch the sides of the housing. I believe they provide more of a flow restricting function to help the oscillator oscillate. Unfortunately, we do not have the dimensions for the seals.
Reply
GLSPosted: 2/12/2018
If the oscillator seals slide inside the oscillator and don't protrude out to touch the side of the housing then how can they provide any "sealing properties"? I have spoken to Pentair and they seem to indicate that they don't need to touch the side? What is the measurement from side to side of a new seal, that may indicate if mine are worn to much.
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R.Posted: 8/7/2017
Kent B - It sounds like the cleaner's suction is still too strong. I'd close the valve some more if you can. If that doesn't work, do through the replace procedure again step by step to see if you missed anything.
Reply
Kent BPosted: 8/5/2017
Prior to installing a new skirt on my GW9500, the unit worked like a charm, even with the old skirt in tatters and dragging behind the unit as it travelled the entire bottom and sides of pool without a hitch, Installed a new skirt which I found very intuitive, but the unit now doesn't move and gets hung up in certain spots. The oscillator seems to be working well, as well as the brush. Thought maybe the skimmer suction was too strong to allow it to move around, so closed the valve a notch and still no luck. Help!!!!
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R.Posted: 5/1/2017
Anonymous (cleaner motion) - Check the gears shown in this guide to make sure the are not cracked or have teeth missing. Check the spring and other plastic parts for damage.
Reply
AnonymousPosted: 4/29/2017
The cleaner tends to stay in the deep end And not "roam" the pool. Any suggestions as to why .
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R.Posted: 2/22/2016
FLIP - If the gears move when you move the oscillator, it sounds like the mechanism is working. Check that you have enough water flow in the suction tube to drive the cleaner.
Reply
FLIPPosted: 2/20/2016
I'VE REPLACED THE GEARS INCLUDING THE GEAR WITH ARMS. AND THE CLEANER IS NOT TURNING? IN MY HANDS WHEN I MANUALLY TURN THE GEARS (OSCILLATOR)IT TURNS AND ENGAGES THE BRUSH. BUT NOT IN THE POOL?
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R.Posted: 12/29/2015
Great White - There is no fine tuning that I know of. Take the cover off and with the oscillator in place, work it back and forth to see if any of the gears are binding. Check your reassembly. Here's a link to its User's Guide for another explanation of disassembly and reassembly (pgs 16 &17). If you see no solution, call their customer service at 800-831-7133.
Reply
AnonymousPosted: 12/27/2015
I used a great while from 2001 to 2012. Bought a new one now in use. After about three years it started to go "straight", (Oscillator not working). I replaced the three identical gears, the GW functioned fine for about 3 months, then started going straight again. I just put in a new set of 3 similar gears(the repair kit) and the the unit shortly there after started going straight again. This means the oscillator is not working? Is there s "fine tuning" tip, or those other gears that need replacing or the placement of the gear with the "arm" that moves the brush in and out?
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R.Posted: 7/21/2015
enlarge picture - We are working at increasing the size of these smaller pictures, but until that happens, you can increase them somewhat by increasing the magnification of your computer display. This option varies with your computer but it is generally controlled by an icon in the upper right corner of your computer screen.
Reply
AnonymousPosted: 7/20/2015
I wish I could have blown up the pictures a little. They are pretty small
Reply
AnonymousPosted: 5/10/2015
One thing not mentioned: You need to remove the inlet fitting from the top of the unit first; it holds the lower assembly in place as well. It is a twist lock, simply grab the two tabs on the side and rotate it 90 degrees to unlock it and remove it.
Reply
Don Posted: 8/25/2021
After replacing the gears and lower body my g9500 just goes in circles. Any ideas?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 9/8/2021
Have you checked that the GW9500 Lift Brush - GW9517 is installed properly? This brush may not be listing properly make the cleaner go in circles.Reply
West Palm Beach Posted: 3/30/2020
Hi, my greatwhite only wants to go up the walls. Won't clean the bottom of the pool. Any ideas?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 3/31/2020
Have you checked the cleaner's skirt or brushes to determine if that are worn out? Those are the usual culprits of one of these cleaners malfunctioning.Reply
angel Posted: 11/10/2019
My Great White is working ok but it gets stuck at the bottom drain and won't move away from it. Any suggestions?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Robert M. Posted: 11/11/2019
Hello Angel - The first thing I would do is make sure the main drain is turned off. If that is not the issue, replace the oscillator kit.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 3/23/2019
We have replaced the seal and now the Osillator is not going back and forth what do we doReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 3/27/2019
Hello - my first step would be to take it apart double check everything is correctly reassembled.Reply
Inyopools Posted: 5/10/2018
Hello Robert - It is common for the problem to be the Lift Brush or the Idler Gear Kit.Reply
Robert Weiser Posted: 5/10/2018
My great white gets stuck in corners and on the drain. I suspect the lift brush is not doing its job, what parts kit do I have to order to fix that problem?Reply
Inyopools Posted: 2/16/2018
GLS - The seals do not have to touch the sides of the housing. I believe they provide more of a flow restricting function to help the oscillator oscillate. Unfortunately, we do not have the dimensions for the seals.Reply
GLS Posted: 2/12/2018
If the oscillator seals slide inside the oscillator and don't protrude out to touch the side of the housing then how can they provide any "sealing properties"? I have spoken to Pentair and they seem to indicate that they don't need to touch the side? What is the measurement from side to side of a new seal, that may indicate if mine are worn to much.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/7/2017
Kent B - It sounds like the cleaner's suction is still too strong. I'd close the valve some more if you can. If that doesn't work, do through the replace procedure again step by step to see if you missed anything.Reply
Kent B Posted: 8/5/2017
Prior to installing a new skirt on my GW9500, the unit worked like a charm, even with the old skirt in tatters and dragging behind the unit as it travelled the entire bottom and sides of pool without a hitch, Installed a new skirt which I found very intuitive, but the unit now doesn't move and gets hung up in certain spots. The oscillator seems to be working well, as well as the brush. Thought maybe the skimmer suction was too strong to allow it to move around, so closed the valve a notch and still no luck. Help!!!!Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/1/2017
Anonymous (cleaner motion) - Check the gears shown in this guide to make sure the are not cracked or have teeth missing. Check the spring and other plastic parts for damage.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 4/29/2017
The cleaner tends to stay in the deep endAnd not "roam" the pool. Any suggestions as to why .
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 2/22/2016
FLIP - If the gears move when you move the oscillator, it sounds like the mechanism is working. Check that you have enough water flow in the suction tube to drive the cleaner.Reply
FLIP Posted: 2/20/2016
I'VE REPLACED THE GEARS INCLUDING THE GEAR WITH ARMS. AND THE CLEANER IS NOT TURNING? IN MY HANDS WHEN I MANUALLY TURN THE GEARS (OSCILLATOR)IT TURNS AND ENGAGES THE BRUSH. BUT NOT IN THE POOL?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 12/29/2015
Great White - There is no fine tuning that I know of. Take the cover off and with the oscillator in place, work it back and forth to see if any of the gears are binding. Check your reassembly. Here's a link to its User's Guide for another explanation of disassembly and reassembly (pgs 16 &17). If you see no solution, call their customer service at 800-831-7133.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 12/27/2015
I used a great while from 2001 to 2012. Bought a new one now in use. After about three years it started to go "straight", (Oscillator not working). I replaced the three identical gears, the GW functioned fine for about 3 months, then started going straight again. I just put in a new set of 3 similar gears(the repair kit) and the the unit shortly there after started going straight again. This means the oscillator is not working? Is there s "fine tuning" tip, or those other gears that need replacing or the placement of the gear with the "arm" that moves the brush in and out?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/21/2015
enlarge picture - We are working at increasing the size of these smaller pictures, but until that happens, you can increase them somewhat by increasing the magnification of your computer display. This option varies with your computer but it is generally controlled by an icon in the upper right corner of your computer screen.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 7/20/2015
I wish I could have blown up the pictures a little. They are pretty smallReply
Anonymous Posted: 5/10/2015
One thing not mentioned: You need to remove the inlet fitting from the top of the unit first; it holds the lower assembly in place as well. It is a twist lock, simply grab the two tabs on the side and rotate it 90 degrees to unlock it and remove it.Reply
emtpools.com Posted: 2/13/2015
joe@emtpools.com found this very helpfulReply