Brand Specific Forums > Jacuzzi Hot Tubs
Recessing Jacuzzi J-470 -- access panels?
Vinny:
--- Quote from: kitchener on August 05, 2014, 01:18:48 pm ---Vinny,
Thanks for the feedback. Can you hear any vibration from the bottoms of the unscrewed panels?
--- End quote ---
No, the only noise I hear is the humming of the circ pump. My tub is on its own deck which was built to park a tank on it so I would imagine if your tub is going to be on something very solid you should have no problems. The ONLY concern is if it opens up where mice can get in as they can squeeze into extremely small cracks.
kitchener:
--- Quote from: mrpenguin on August 05, 2014, 02:56:01 pm ---Here's some photos from my 470. It would be tight!
I have to do LED work on mine. Not sure if the one cupholder access would also be blocked.
Also, hope for no pinched hoses from the factory!
--- End quote ---
Wow -- thanks, Penguin. The drawings in the manual doesn't do justice to how tight it is in there. I had envisioned Vinny's approach, but even with 20" of clearance above the decking once the panel is pulled up and out, it'd be tight to get down in there to that final 18.5" to service that pump!
That deck it's going into is already there -- we're re-decking it with composite. I inherited the deck from the previous owner, and have no idea what the joists look like underneath. But methinks based on these pictures I'm going to have to buck up and give my contractor the added hassle of figuring out how to build an access trap door once we get a look inside the deck and can visualize how to do it.
kitchener:
No, the only noise I hear is the humming of the circ pump. My tub is on its own deck which was built to park a tank on it so I would imagine if your tub is going to be on something very solid you should have no problems. The ONLY concern is if it opens up where mice can get in as they can squeeze into extremely small cracks.
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Vinny, did you design any sort of trap door arrangement?
Vinny:
No because I didn't think I needed it. With only 20" to worry about it seemed like it wasn't too much of a hassel. I have replaced a seal on one of my pumps which required me to remove the pump, replace the seal and reinstall the pump. I repair stuff for a living but not spas and other than being able to get the pump from the motor I really didn't have a problem. I think clover said to move the tub if you need service to that pump - makes sense to me; a couple of good shoves and you should have access to that side. Then a couple a good shoves the other way and you should be back in business.
The truth is that hopefully it will be rare that service will be needed there. So come up with a plan to deal with the problem if a problem arises. I have a friend who has sunk his tub into his deck all the way to the top ... Its got to be a pain in the a$$ if and when something goes wrong. My stupidity has me with a pump that is hard to get out, had I known about the location of the third pump rotating the tub 90 degrees would have prevented the problem. So I came up with a plan, I will either have to lay down and work on my belly or take the railing down and work from a step stool.
I think its great that you are thinking about it but don't over think it. If moving the tub is easier then building a breakaway section of the deck then do that. Moving the tub 12 to 18 inches away from the deck may give you enough clearance to work on that area if need be. Remember you are talking about 1 pump in a corner that may not give you problems for the life of the spa.
kitchener:
--- Quote from: Vinny on August 06, 2014, 07:06:25 am --- If moving the tub is easier then building a breakaway section of the deck then do that. Moving the tub 12 to 18 inches away from the deck may give you enough clearance to work on that area if need be. Remember you are talking about 1 pump in a corner that may not give you problems for the life of the spa.
--- End quote ---
Good advice. Especially the last part in regards to the small section I'm recessing. I'll take the screws out of the panels that are going below the decking, maybe put neoprene washers between the panels and the chassis (though I wonder about mice -- not that we have a mouse problem, especially with two terriers on patrol). ...something tells me, though, shoving a 950 pound tub 12 to 18 inches might be a problem.
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