New model of old friend works great! Definitely a good purchase!
This is replacement for older model approx 20 yrs old. Old model was great, but foot was wearing out, couldn't keep foot pad on, and it wasn't quite cleaning like it used to. So bought another one just like it, put it together and in pool. Pool had lots of dirt and debris, but new KK did a great job cleaning. Turned pump on for 1 extra hour and forgot about it. Came out next morning, and pool was ~95% clean, even up on sides... without any manual (brushing/vacuuming) labor on my part. Old one didn't do that--ran it a lot of extra time, but never did get more than about half of pool clean. This item came with installation CD, which I still haven't used, and a paper booklet that was adequate for how to put KK together. (Actually, the paper booklet is pretty good: directions are clear, diagrams are well-labeled, there is a decent troubleshooting section, etc.) Since I already was familiar with KK, basically all I needed was help to make sure I put some of the parts together right, but not hooking it up to pool vacuum line/skimmer. If I had had to change out some of that, I probably would have cracked open the CD. As it was, I ignored those directions in the manual and just hooked the hose up like it was before, using some of the old parts. A part that got re-used was the automatic regulator valve. My current one is set up to be placed in a "vacuum plate", which is then installed over a basket set inside the skimmer. This new KK included the valve, but not a vacuum plate cover or basket; also, it doesn't mention it in the directions, but one needs a "locking bar" to place over the valve plate to keep it in place when pump in not running. There was an insert to send off for one of the plate covers, which I will probably do, and a list of parts/accessories to go with the KK, which was very helpful: it shows diagrams of what they look like, what they are called, and their part number. This I like... pictures are always good! Oh, one other comment... I talked to a neighbor who has a different brand of pool cleaner, one that is on wheels rather than flat on the pool surface like a KK, and she said it was good for leaves, but it didn't pick up small debris and dirt on the pool surface. But a KK sure does--and well!Read full review
