Plumbing - Softub Jets

 Annoyingly the amount of information out there on the Softub is somewhat sparse and difficult to obtain which is half the point of this blog. Here are my investigation on the Jets and how to access some of the parts.

The standard jet facia is pretty standard across the Softub line. You'll have between 4-6 of them depending on model. 

There are a couple of special jets which can be bought to replace them. The Pulsating Jet  is sold by Softub (also known as the Pulse-Flo & Spin jet 2220030). The parts catalogue lists the X-Stream Spinning Jet (2220015) which I believe comes with the 300, but are swappable, though is not directly for sale. The Portico has a Poseidon jet which is not compatible with any other tubs.

The Jets literally snap in/out. Put fingers on the large round rim either side and pull. There are two plastic clips in the jet which form the holding mechanism. Putting the jet back in you may need to rotate a little to align the spines. It's fairly simple and quite intuitive once you've done it for the first time There is a video of this procedure

Once the jet is removed you have the gasket and facia plate which has two 5mm holes. Softub have a special tool to remove this. Some places hire it, but it may be tricky to obtain. It you have a 3D printer then you can print a tool or get one printed, though you still need a bit of 5mm rod to finish.
I drilled a couple of holes in a piece of aluminium box and cut up the handle of an old tool that was a 5mm bar. It's not perfect but works fine and it is hardly rocket science. Be VERY careful with any tools, slipping and damaging the liner would be BAD!
Again there's a video of this. This is also the way to remove the light gasket, which also appears to be the same size.

Replacing a jet gasket doesn't appear to be too hard. Finding a replacement is trickier, particularly at a reasonable price.
It appears to be a discontinued Balboa Gasket 30-3811sx - It is 3.5" outer diameter and is double V ribbed on one side and flat on the other. It is probably a Softub specific part now as it doesn't appear to match anything else I've found

In the states there are a few places you can order online from $6.50 each but I've yet to find anything in the UK.

This leaves the inner jet housing as per above. There are 6 indentations in this which you can use another specialised tool. I used a pair of fine nosed pliers opened almost all of the way to engage in two opposite indentations and could then turn the housing reasonably easily and remove it. Behind this is the Jet seal ring which is a hard white/clear plastic ring with a small indentation. It is probably a specialised part. It appears to be for the regulation of air in the jets.

A jet, the gasket ring, gasket and back jet with the tools I used (bar, with pins, plyers), sat on the bottom of my Softub - I started down this process as during the initial run, one of the jets and back housing came off with investigation of how they worked and I later found the hard plastic air ring in the hot tub and had to figure out where it came from.

I also didn't have any air in the jets (pack leaver control did nothing), though I don't know if this was down to the lack of white ring, or an issue with the 1" Hydropack connection as the Ozone barb was brittle and broke. I later replaced it with a 1" brass hose connector, though this was on the small size it worked, but I had water in the pipe!

I inspected and "serviced" the two tub gaskets I took off, using LOTS of Vaseline (petroleum jelly) which certainly made them more pliable. Depending on how things go I may refresh the others or if I can find a reasonable source, replace them.

For the curious, who don't need to service their jets, this is what the aperture looks like with everything removed. The hard plastic ring sits at the back, then inner jet, the gasket sits on the wall and then the gasket cover seals against the tub liner (which can be pulled forwards) and the out jet fits over!

To be honest, non of this is particularly hard or difficult to do. I wished Softub made the info more available, and the parts to service and even tools, alas the closed eco system is my ONE flaw with the Softub :(