Found Ball Bearings in my Grandee

[ebirrane]

Hey all!

Just went out today to put some chemicals in the tub and noticed about 20 ball-bearings resting on the seat.  They are silver and about the size of standard BB-gun ammo, maybe a little smaller.

I left a message with the dealer's service guy, but he is out on call and will call me when he gets in.  Any thoughts on where these things might come from?  The pumps all work as, it seems, do the jets.

Just got back from a long weekend and let friends use the tub.  I'd hate to have to ask them what they may have been doing that involved 20 silvery ball bearings.  

-Ed

[nicker]

Ya I would hate to know what they were doing too?  I am not sure I would run the tub until you find out whats going on.  You wouldn't want bearings running through the pump.    

[Mendocino101]

I am sure one of the Hot springs guys will post to help you....but I wouuld have to think it is from the jets....somewhere

[Chris_H]

It is from one of your pulsating jets.  If you remove all of the pulsating jets from your spa, you would be able to find out which one is missing the ball bearings.  It would be replaced under warranty.  Probably if you bring the defective one to your dealer they can just swap it out for you.

[hottubber]

This is not uncommon for a spa that uses jets with ballbearings. Sometimes when the calcium level in the water is too high, the bearing race comes apart. This will cause the bearings to fall out of the jet, the water pushes them into the spa. Not a big deal, have petience, I am sure your dealer will take care of it for you.
Good luck, let us know how you make out .

PS...You don't think it could be buckshot, do you?

[Spatech_tuo]

It'll be a simple fix by swapping out the old jet with a new one. The jet should pull out rather easily but let your dealer know and I imagine he'll take care of you one way or another.

[ebirrane]

Hey all,

 Thanks for the replies!    I will investigate this evening and see if any jets seem like they have come loose.  Service rep guy didn't call, but he may not have gone back to the store after his rounds.  I'll give him a ring tomorrow.

-Ed

[ebirrane]

PS...You don't think it could be buckshot, do you?

No, BUT when we were digging out the concrete slab for the tub, I did find a few spent shotgun cartridges!

-Ed

[doodoo]

ebirrane. If your jets are all fine then I would ask your guests what 'toys' they brought with them while you were out.  

[East_TX_Spa]

Chris H nailed it, they are the ball bearings from the rotary jets.  About 3-4 times/year we have a customer come in needing a new jet.  We just give them a new one to pop in.  Easy as pie.

CEO

[stuart]

Chris H nailed it, they are the ball bearings from the rotary jets.  About 3-4 times/year we have a customer come in needing a new jet.  We just give them a new one to pop in.  Easy as pie.

CEO

Ed,
When you take those jets out they should pull straight out at you. When you replace them most dealers give you another retainer ring, if the 4 prongs pop back in too easily and don't feel tight then replace the retainer ring also.

BTW, don't force those jets in any way, you have 4 small prongs holding the jet inplace (believe it or not so does the water flow) and you can bend or break those if your not careful

[Brewman]

No, BUT when we were digging out the concrete slab for the tub, I did find a few spent shotgun cartridges!

-Ed

Be glad that you dug no deeper!
Brewman