Zodiac MX Pool Cleaner Owner's Manual

Important Information

▲ WARNING: RISK OF SUCTION ENTRAPMENT HAZARD

This hazard, if not avoided, can result in serious injury or death. Ensure that your vacuum suction fittings installed in your pool for connection of your suction-side pool cleaner are certified as being compliant with applicable safety standards such as IAPMO SPS 4. Do not block the suction fittings with any part or your body. Do not expose your hair, loose clothing, jewelry, etc. to any suction outlet fittings in the pool/spa.

• Read owner's manual completely before operating the cleaner.
• Remove cleaner before entering the pool.
• Do not operate outside of the pool.
• Do not let children play with cleaner.

Notice for Vinyl Liner Pools:

Before installing your pool cleaner, examine the interior of your pool carefully. If the vinyl liner is brittle or has stones, wrinkles, roots or metal corrosion in contact with the underside of the liner, or has damage to the base material or supporting walls, do not install the cleaner before having a qualified professional perform the necessary repairs or liner replacement. Zodiac Pool Systems LLC. (Zodiac) and its affiliates and subsidiaries will not be responsible for liner damage caused by a cleaner which is in disrepair, pattern removal from a vinyl liner, or a cleaner used in a pool having an aged or deteriorated liner. Please see Limited Warranty.

• To help prevent suction entrapment accidents, wall vacuum fittings should have a safety vac lock installed. Contact your builder or retail pool professional for details.
• Clean the skimmer basket, pump basket and pool filter before installing the cleaner and on a regular basis thereafter.
• Always disconnect the cleaner from the pool wall or skimmer before cleaning or backwashing the pool filter. After cleaning or backwashing, let the filtration system run for at least five (5) minutes before re-connecting the cleaner.
• Remove the cleaner from the pool before chemical or shock treatments. Wait a minimum of four (4) hours after super chlorination before re-installing the cleaner.

Warranty Service:

To ensure prompt warranty service, should it be required, please:

• Complete and return the Zodiac Warranty Card.
• Record your purchase information.
• Attach a copy of your purchase receipt to this document.

Date of Purchase: ____________________ Purchased From: ____________________

Serial Number (located under the hood): ____________________

If service is required, simply present your manual with the attached receipt at any Zodiac warranty center.

Customer Service and Support:

Zodiac Pool Systems LLC, 2620 Commerce Way, Vista, CA 92081-8438, 1-800-822-7933

Zodiac Pool Systems Canada, Inc., 2-3365 Mainway, Burlington Ontario L7M 1A6 Canada, 1-888-647-4004

Introduction

Congratulations on the purchase of your new Zodiac pool cleaner. Before installing your cleaner, please check the box to ensure all parts are included (Figure 1). If any components are missing, contact Zodiac Customer Support at 1-800-822-7933 (USA) or 1-888-647-4004 (Canada).

Always insist on genuine Zodiac replacement parts. Non-Zodiac parts are not made to our specifications and may have an adverse effect on the operation of your cleaner, or may even damage it. Exploded parts diagrams and list of spare parts can be found at: www.ZodiacPoolSystems.com.

Cleaner Components Shipped in the Box (Figure 1)

The box contains the following components:

• Cleaner Body (a) x 1
• Flowkeeper™ Valve (b) x 1
• Valve Cuff (c) x 1
• Twist-Lock 45 Degree Elbow, Extended (d) x 1
• Flow Regulator Valve (e) x 1
• Twist-Lock 45 Degree Elbow (f) x 1
• Twist-Lock Hose Section (g) x 9 for MX6/MX6 Elite, x 11 for MX8/MX8 Elite
• Leader Hose Section with Hose Float (h) x 1

Installation

STEP 1. Prepare the pool

1. Turn off the pool filter pump.
2. Manually vacuum the pool, and make sure the pool filter and pump basket are clean.
3. Close the pool main drain line.
4. Aim the return line fittings down.

▲ WARNING: RISK OF SUCTION ENTRAPMENT HAZARD

Ensure that your vacuum suction fittings installed in your pool for connection of your suction-side pool cleaner are certified as being compliant with applicable safety standards such as IAPMO SPS 4. Do not block the suction fittings with any part or your body. Do not expose your hair, loose clothing, jewelry, etc. to any suction outlet fittings or hose ends in the pool/spa.

STEP 2. Assemble hose sections

Push and twist the connector on each hose section (g) until they lock into position with a clicking sound. Hose cuffs have three (3) connection positions. Any of the three (3) positions are sufficient for an air-tight seal.

(Illustration 2 shows two hose sections being connected.)

STEP 3. Connect to a dedicated suction line

1. Twist lock the male end of the hose (g) into the large end of the extended 45° elbow (d).
2. Connect the elbow to the installed Safety Vac wall fitting (sold separately).
3. Angle the elbow toward the water surface (Figure 3).

(Figure 3 shows the elbow connected to the wall fitting.)

Connect to a skimmer:

The FlowKeeper™ valve must always be used in single skimmer installations. The valve regulates flow to ensure the pool pump and cleaner run properly.

If the pool has more than one skimmer, connect the hose to the one closest to the pump.

The parts used to connect the hose and the sequence in which they are installed depends on the type of skimmer (Figure 4).

1. Remove the skimmer basket.
2. Connect the valve cuff (c), FlowKeeper valve (b), and the 45 degree elbow (f) together. Insert the FlowKeeper valve (b) into the 45 degree elbow with the arrow pointing down.
3. Twist lock the male end of the hose (g) into the end of the 45 degree elbow (f).
4. Insert assembly into the skimmer suction port.

(Figure 4 shows the skimmer connection assembly.)

STEP 4. Determine correct hose length for your pool

1. Measure enough hose to reach the farthest point of the pool from the skimmer or dedicated suction line. Remove any additional hose sections, as necessary. See (A) in Figure 5.

2. Next, attach the leader hose at to the end where the cleaner head will be connected. See (B) in Figure 5. The extra length allows the cleaner to reach the far point in the pool if a loop forms while in operation.

Total Hose Length Required = (A) Farthest distance across pool + (B) Leader Hose

(Figure 5 illustrates how to measure hose length.)

STEP 5. Connect the Cleaner

1. Attach the flow regulator valve (e) to the leader hose (h). Leader hose is the hose section with foam float pre-attached (Figure 6).
2. Submerge the hose and flood with water (no bubbles visible).
3. Submerge the cleaner and flood with water (no bubbles visible).
4. Connect the hose to the cleaner head by pushing the flow regulator valve (e) onto the cleaner (Figure 7).
5. Allow the cleaner to sink to the bottom of the pool.
6. Turn on the pool filter pump.

(Figure 6 shows the flow regulator valve attached to the leader hose. Figure 7 shows the hose connected to the cleaner head.)

STEP 6. Test for Proper Flow

▲ WARNING: To avoid serious injury, make sure to turn off the suction pump that is responsible for the pool cleaner operation. Do not expose your hair, loose clothing, jewelry, etc. to the open end of the hose.

The flow regulator valve is designed to consistently limit high flow of water through the cleaner. When flow is correct, the cleaner components are less susceptible to damage and the life of the cleaner can be extended. Wheel rotation speed is a good indicator of how water is flowing through the cleaner. By checking for proper wheel rotation timing, you can verify the cleaner is operating at maximum efficiency.

Time wheel rotations:

1. Turn on the pool filter pump.
2. Obtain a stopwatch or timer.
3. Leaving the pump on and water flowing through the cleaner, bring the cleaner to the surface of the water and hold it fully submerged just below the water line.
4. Locate the yellow wheel speed indicator on the rear right wheel (Figure 8).

(Figure 8 shows the location of the wheel speed indicator.)

STEP 7. Adjust flow to the cleaner (if necessary)

5. Note how many seconds it takes to complete 10 rotations. If the wheels change direction during the rotation count, wait and restart your count.

If the count is within 20 - 25 seconds, no adjustment is necessary.

• 20 - 25 seconds --- Optimal Flow

1. Determine if the flow to the cleaner is adequate or should be adjusted.

If the count is:

• 26 - 50 seconds --- Increase Flow (+) --- cleaner moving too slow and needs additional flow
• 10 - 19 seconds --- Decrease Flow (−) --- cleaner moving too fast and could be damaged

2. To increase or decrease flow, adjust the valves at the equipment pad OR adjust the FlowKeeper™ valve at the skimmer up or down (see Figure 9).

(Figure 9 illustrates FlowKeeper adjustment.)

Operation and Maintenance

Daily Operation

The cleaner cycles on/off with the pool filtration pump, vacuuming and cleaning all surfaces randomly throughout the pool. The climbing ability of the cleaner is dependent on the pool's shape and available water flow. If the cleaner is not climbing pool walls, ensure the flow is correct by checking the wheel speed. Also, ensure the pool surface is not covered in algae as this slippery surface will affect traction.

During each coverage pattern cycle, the cleaner travels both forward and backwards, and pivots to the right and left. The turbines underneath the cleaner create down force for climbing and stability as well as directing debris into the cleaner mouth. (In MX8™ Elite cleaners, the scrubbing brushes also make contact with the pool floor to agitate and remove small stuck-on debris.)

MX8™ / MX8™ Elite Cleaner Vacuum Modes

Your Zodiac cleaner is designed to operate with two vacuum options:

• Small debris (factory setting): For vacuuming smaller and heavy debris, such as sand, silt and small stones. The pool cleaner is sent from the factory in this mode.
• Large debris: For vacuuming large debris, such as leaves.

It is recommended that you return the cleaner to small debris factory setting after large debris cleaning.

▲ WARNING: To avoid serious injury, make sure that the cleaner is disconnected from the hose and the suction pump used for the cleaner is turned off prior to starting this operation.

Convert to large debris cleaning mode:

1. Grasp the yellow inlet adapter and insert a finger into the adapter hole (Figure 10).
2. Lift up the rear edge of the inlet adapter and then pull it out of the vacuum inlet.

Convert back to small debris cleaning mode:

1. Place the yellow inlet adapter in the vacuum inlet of the pool cleaner.
2. Push down on the yellow inlet adapter until both the front and rear edges click into place.

(Figure 10 shows how to convert to large debris mode. Figure 11 shows how to convert back to small debris mode.)

Routine Maintenance

To ensure correct operation and extend the life of your cleaner:

1. Empty the pump basket regularly

For the cleaner to operate at highest efficiency, empty the pump basket regularly. The more debris in the pool, the more often the pump basket should be cleared.

NOTE: Zodiac offers an in-line leaf canister which will trap solid debris before it enters the pump basket. See your Zodiac dealer for details.

2. Remove Debris from Engine

▲ WARNING: To avoid serious injury, make sure that the cleaner is disconnected from the hose and the suction pump used for the cleaner is turned off prior to starting this operation.

1. Push the latch release button on the top of the cleaner (Figure 12).
2. Rotate the top assembly back until it clicks into an upward position.
3. Look into engine and remove debris that is present.
4. If needed, slowly push engine paddles forward and/or backwards to move stuck debris to an accessible position then remove it. When moving the engine paddles, make sure the cleaner tracks are allowed to move freely as they will turn as the engine paddles rotate.
5. Close engine top and ensure the latch clicks in place.

(Figure 12 shows the location of the latch release button.)

3. Backwash the pool filter

Always disconnect the cleaner from the pool wall before cleaning or backwashing the pool filter. After cleaning or backwashing, let the filtration system run for at least five (5) minutes to flush out the suction lines before re-connecting the cleaner.

4. Adding chemicals

Remove the cleaner from the pool for at least four (4) hours when adding chemicals.

5. Replace brushes regularly (MX6™ Elite, MX8™ Elite)

To maintain optimal cleaning, it is recommended to replace MX8 Elite scrubbing brushes each season or when significant wear is visible (Figure 13). To remove brushes, squeeze the yellow plastic clip between two fingers and pull out. Type of pool surface may also increase rate of wear to brushes.

(Figure 13 shows new and worn brush surfaces.)

6. Storage

Never store the cleaner in direct sunlight. Do not coil the hose, even for short time. Hose may develop a memory which can affect cleaner performance. Store the cleaner on its side or back to avoid damage to turbine (all models) and brushes (MX8 Elite), see Figure 14.

(Figure 14 shows the cleaner stored on its side.)

7. Winterizing

Before storing for winter, drain out all the water (freeze damage is not covered by the warranty). Remove all connectors and adapters from the dedicated suction line or skimmer. Disassemble the hoses and lay flat.

Troubleshooting

If you experience a problem with your MX cleaner, please follow the troubleshooting steps below to restore performance. If further assistance is required, contact Zodiac Technical Support Department at (800) 822-7933.

Zodiac Pool Systems Contact Information

Zodiac Pool Systems LLC
2620 Commerce Way, Vista, CA 92081
1.800.822.7933 | www.ZodiacPoolSystems.com

Zodiac Pool Systems Canada, Inc.
2-3365 Mainway, Burlington, Ontario L7M 1A6 Canada
1.888.822.400 | www.ZodiacPoolSystems.ca

©2018 Zodiac Pool Systems LLC. H0539800 Rev B