Sta-Rite Duraglass pump lid stuck tight!

[maggie2712]

I am so frustrated. The pump basket is full and the lid on the pump basket will not move!

I am scared I may break the lid if I put any force on it. Has anyone any suggestions as to how I can remove the lid?

The returns in the pool are not performing well and I presume that it is because the basket is packed with debris?

Appreciate all suggestions. Thank you

[PoolDoc]

If you do in fact have a StaRite Dura-glass, then:

Sta Rite U79-11 Pump Lid Wrench (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004UIC2HM/poolbooks/)

[maggie2712]

Thanks PoolDoc, unfortunately I now think my problems run deeper. I managed to lever the lid off eventually using a piece of metal pole, emptied the basket, it was very full but it hasn't made a difference. I have no movement at the skimmers and the polaris isn't moving either. There is water in the basket but it isn't filling all the way up,the water is streaming in but not gushing in like it normally does. is it possible I have something clogging the lines? I have now turned the pump off as I didn't want to do any damage. Today is the first day things have not been running right. We have had non stop rain for over a week but everything seemed to be ok up till today. Polaris was running etc.

[PoolDoc]

It's common for pump baskets under hard suction (like when they are jammed full) to crack and leak debris. The DuraGlass has an impeller with very small passages. If some of the basket debris DID leak, there's a good chance it's now wedged in the impeller.

Here's a nice image of that, from poolrepair.com:
http://www.poolrepair.com/images/archive/starite1.jpg

[nefretrameses]

It's counterintuitive, but try to TIGHTEN first then loosen. You'll need the wrench or a reasonable facsimile. Mine often comes off this way. I think the dura glass manual mentions this. If all else fails, you could destructively remove it (without damaging the basket housing) and replace it.

[maggie2712]

Thank you for the swift response.

I think I will have to make a phone call tomorrow and get someone to come and have a look for me. I moved into this house end of last year it had been empty for 3 years and the pool was a swamp. Had someone come out to check pool equipment before I turned equipment on and they said all seemed fine, everything seemed to be working. Had pool drained and acid washed as there was all sorts of dead critters and debris in the pool, it actually looked fantastic once it had been cleaned.

I do take care of the pool myself as I have learned so much from this forum. Unfortunately I won't be able to check the impeller so will have to call for help.

Thanks again for your help - very much appreciated :-)

[PoolDoc]

Unfortunately I won't be able to check the impeller so will have to call for help.

Yeah, that's pretty advanced DIY stuff. The O-ring on that dumb pump is one of the hardest to get back in place, of any pump O-rings I've ever dealt with! It would make a funny blackmail movie, if someone had secretly video-ed me, one afternoon spent down in a hole of a pump room at an aging Boys' Club pool, trying to put one of those blasted pumps back together!

I'm glad that video does not exist! I pretty much exhausted my repertoire of unprintable language that day!

[maggie2712]

that reply just made me laugh out loud.
I watched a you tube video of someone changing the impeller on the same type of pump and I was exhausted after I had watched it - I am ok with simple daily stuff but not very good at DIY. Especially when it involves electric stuff!

[maggie2712]

one impeller cleaned and pool running perfectly - best $40.00 spent! Thanks PoolDoc :-)

[PoolDoc]

Great! And obviously, you got someone more skilled at getting those things back together than I was, which is also great. (In my defense, I was practically having to stand on my head in that cramped Boys' Club pump room! ;))