Maintenance Tips

Maintenance and safe use.

Thousands of HammerHead pool cleaning units are currently in use across the United States and in other parts of the world. With proper care they will provide years of dependable service. Below are some maintenance and operating routines that can help avoid costly repair bills and lost time on the job.

**Please note: IMPROPER BATTERY USE OR FAILURE TO INSPECT AND MAINTAIN YOUR 12 VOLT BATTERY CAN RESULT IN SHORT CIRCUITS, DAMAGE DUE TO OVERHEATING, BATTERY FAILURE, AND POSSIBLE FIRE OR PERSONAL INJURY. THE OPERATOR ASSUMES ALL RESPONSIBILITY AN/OR RISK ASSOCIATED WITH BATTERY INSTALLATION AND USE, AND PROPER OPERATION OF HAMMER-HEAD UNITS. USE OF ANY POWER SOURCE OTHER THAN A SERIES 24, 27, or 30 12 VOLT DEEP CYCLE MARINE BATTERY IS NOT RECOMMENDED AND CAN VOID ALL WARRANTY OR LIABILITY CLAIMS.

PROP SAFETY	PROP MAINTENANCE
NEVER REACH INTO EITHER END OF THE VACUUM HEAD WHILE THE MOTOR IS RUNNING IF THE PROP JAMS OR STOPS, QUICKLY SHUT OFF THE UNIT TO AVOID MOTOR DAMAGE	SHARPENING YOUR PROP PERIODICALLY CAN IMPROVE IT'S EFFICIENCY REMOVE THE PROP FROM THE SHAFT AND REMOVE ANY TANGLED DEBRIS AS SHOWN HERE:
1. HOLD PROP WITH ONE HAND AND UNSCREW PROP NUT COUNTERCLOCKWISE **TWO-BLADE PROP SHOWN, YOUR PROP DESIGN MAY BE DIFFERENT
2. REMOVE PROP AND PULL PROP PIN OUT OF THE SHAFT. DON'T LOSE THE PIN!! CLEAN OR CUT DEBRIS OFF THE SHAFT AS NEEDED.
3. REPLACE PROP PIN AND SEAT PROP BY LINING UP THE PIN WITH THE GROOVE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PROP. REPLACE THE PROP NUT AND HAND TIGHTEN ONLY.
MOTOR SAFETY	GENERAL MAINTENANCE
DO NOT RUN THE MOTOR LONGER THAN 30 SECONDS IF IT IS NOT FULLY SUBMERGED	INSPECT THE CORD FOR CUTS, ABRASIONS OR DAMAGE THAT MIGHT ALLOW WATER INTRUSION REMOVE TWISTS IN THE CORD
IT IS BETTER TO SCOOP TOYS, ROCKS, LARGE STICKS, OR LARGE TREE SEEDS BEFORE TRYING TO VACUUM THEM UP TO AVOID JAMMING OR BREAKING THE PROP	WHEEL BEARINGS CAN RUST IF NOT LUBRICATED. REPLACE WORN BEARINGS PROMPTLY TO AVOID DAMAGE TO CART WHEEL
HEAVY PILES OF LEAVES CAN CLOG THE UNIT - SOMETIMES YOU CAN CLEAR CLOGS FROM THE PROP JUST BY TURNING THE UNIT OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES, OR BY RAISING THE VACUUM HEAD UP TO THE SURFACE SO IT CAN GULP SOME AIR, THEN LOWERING IT AGAIN	EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE VACUUM HEAD CAN BE CAUSED BY DRAGGING THE VACUUM HEAD ACROSS POOL STEPS - ALWAYS MAINTAIN WHEEL CONTACT WITH THE POOL BOTTOM - AVOID SIDE-SKIDDING THE HEAD, THIS CAN WEAR THE HEAD WHEELS DOWN PREMATURELY
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE BAG WHILE THE MOTOR IS RUNNING - TURN THE UNIT OFF BEFORE EMPTYING THE BAG	INSPECT ALL HARDWARE FOR TIGHTNESS - INSPECT THE MOTOR MOUNT HARDWARE TO BE SURE THAT THE MOTOR IS NOT VIBRATING IN THE VACUUM HEAD
CORD MAINTENANCE
POOR POWER CORD MAINTENANCE DRASTICALLY SHORTENS THE LIFE OF THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY - STORE THE CORD IN LARGE LOOPS AS SHOWN BELOW - DON'T WIND THE CORD UP TIGHTLY!
AVOID KINKING THE POWER CORD OR SUCKING IT UP INTO THE VACUUM HEAD - AVOID PINCHING THE CORD IN THE MOUNT ASSEMBLY WHEN MOUNTING THE UNIT ON YOUR VEHICLE
AFTER VACUUMING, REMOVE ANY TWISTS IN THE CORD BY COILING THE CORD STARTING FROM THE CART AND ENDING AT THE HEAD - THE HEAD CAN ROLL ACROSS THE DECK AND YOU CAN TAKE TWISTS OUT OF THE CORD BY SPINNING THE VACUUM HEAD WHEN YOU GET TO THE END
RIGHT	WRONG
MOUNT SAFETY	MOUNT MAINTENANCE
MAKE SURE THE SERVICE UNIT IS MOUNTED SECURELY TO YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE DRIVING - ALWAYS USE THE SAFETY L-PIN ON THE CART MOUNT	READ THE FOLLOWING GUIDE VERY CAREFULLY TO AVOID ACCIDENT OR INJURY! CHECK THE MOUNT CLAMP LATCH FOR PROPER ADJUSTMENT AT THESE 4 POINTS: 1. THE CLAMP LATCH MUST BE PUSHED COMPLETELY FORWARD UNTIL IT LOCKS INTO PLACE AND SPRING POPS OPEN - FAILURE TO LATCH THE CLAMP DOWN COULD RESULT IN AN UNINTENDED RELEASE OF THE CLAMP 2. WHEN SETTING UP A NEW MOUNT OR CLAMP, OR ADJUSTING AN EXISTING CLAMP LATCH, BOTH NUTS ON THE LATCH BOLT MUST BE TIGHTENED DOWN AND THE BOLT PIN SHOULD MAKE CONTACT WITH CART MOUNT LOOP WHEN LATCHING 3. THE CART FRAME MUST MAKE CONTACT WITH MOUNT CHANNEL WHEN CLAMP IS LOCKED DOWN 4. ALWAYS USE THE SAFETY L-PIN OIL THE MOUNT CLAMP LATCH MECHANISM AND INSPECT FOR WEAR THE CLAMP LATCH CANNOT BE FORCED TO OPEN WHEN IT IS FULLY LOCKED DOWN AND THE SPRING POPS OPEN REPLACE THE CLAMP LATCH MECHANISM WHEN IT NO LONGER SPRINGS OPEN OR THE CLAMP LATCH CAN BE OPENED BY FORCE, OR WHEN IT SHOWS SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE CORROSION OR WEAR
INSPECT THE MOUNT THOROUGHLY TO AVOID ANY UNWANTED RELEASE OF THE UNIT DURING TRANSPORT
SECURE LOOSE ITEMS BEFORE TRANSPORTING THE UNIT
DO NOT DRIVE WITH CHEMICALS IN THE ACCESSORY TRAY
YOU CAN LOCK YOUR HAMMER-HEAD TO THE MOUNT BY PLACING A LOCK THROUGH THE MOUNT RING (NO. 2 IN DIAGRAM AT RIGHT)
BATTERY SAFETY
INSPECT BATTERY CONNECTIONS DAILY FOR CORROSION AND WEAR
DO NOT PLACE TOOLS, OR ANYTHING METAL IN THE BATTERY BOX THAT CAN BRIDGE THE TERMINALS ON THE BATTERY - THIS CAN CAUSE DIRECT SHORT CIRCUITS AND POSSIBLE FIRE OR BATTERY EXPLOSION
IF YOU REVERSE THE WIRING CONNECTIONS ON THE BATTERY, THE MOTOR WILL RUN IN REVERSE AND CAN DAMAGE THE DEBRIS BAG
UNSURE HOW TO WIRE YOUR MOTOR AND BATTERY? CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THIS BATTERY WIRING DIAGRAM:
SAFETY	MAINTENANCE