A self-propelled pool cleaner for cleaning the submerged surface of a pool or tank that is propelled by the discharge of a water jet, the pool cleaner comprising: a water pump that includes a reversible electric pump motor having a driveshaft that extends from either end of the pump motor, a propeller operatively connected to each end of the drive shaft, the axis of the pump motor and driveshaft extending along the longitudinal axis of the pool cleaner; a housing having an interior in which the water pump is mounted, the housing having a first water jet discharge port positioned at one end and a second water jet discharge port positioned at the opposite end of the housing, each of the discharge ports selectively being in an open position while the other is in a closed position to control the directional discharge of a water jet that is sufficient to propel the pool cleaner in a direction of movement corresponding generally to the longitudinal axis of the pool cleaner; a pair of water jet discharge conduits, each water discharge conduit being positioned between the pump motor and the water jet discharge port at the respective ends of the pool cleaner; a water jet discharge valve positioned downstream of the propeller in each water jet discharge conduit between the propeller and the discharge port, the operation of each discharge valve being responsive to the flow of pressurized water, wherein pressurized water selectively flows through one or the other of the discharge ports in the form of a water jet as determined by the direction of rotation of the pump motor to propel the pool cleaner; characterized in that each of the propellers being positioned adjacent to and outside of the interior end of one of the water jet discharge conduits in an open interior space between the ends of the motor and an interior wall surface of the housing that surrounds the inlet opening of the conduit, said propellers having a reduced size that allows the water pushed away to enter the adjacent discharge conduit with a minimum of turbulence produced by direct impact with interior wall. a water pump that includes a reversible electric pump motor having a driveshaft that extends from either end of the pump motor, a propeller operatively connected to each end of the drive shaft, the axis of the pump motor and driveshaft extending along the longitudinal axis of the pool cleaner; a housing having an interior in which the water pump is mounted, the housing having a first water jet discharge port positioned at one end and a second water jet discharge port positioned at the opposite end of the housing, each of the discharge ports selectively being in an open position while the other is in a closed position to control the directional discharge of a water jet that is sufficient to propel the pool cleaner in a direction of movement corresponding generally to the longitudinal axis of the pool cleaner; a pair of water jet discharge conduits, each water discharge conduit being positioned between the pump motor and the water jet discharge port at the respective ends of the pool cleaner; a water jet discharge valve positioned downstream of the propeller in each water jet discharge conduit between the propeller and the discharge port, the operation of each discharge valve being responsive to the flow of pressurized water, wherein pressurized water selectively flows through one or the other of the discharge ports in the form of a water jet as determined by the direction of rotation of the pump motor to propel the pool cleaner; characterized in that each of the propellers being positioned adjacent to and outside of the interior end of one of the water jet discharge conduits in an open interior space between the ends of the motor and an interior wall surface of the housing that surrounds the inlet opening of the conduit, said propellers having a reduced size that allows the water pushed away to enter the adjacent discharge conduit with a minimum of turbulence produced by direct impact with interior wall.