Hayward Super Pump not priming

[fog80]

Hello again!

I'm opening the pool for the spring (I know I'm late) and I can't get the pump to prime. Usually this is because of a suction side air leak. I've checked the strainer gasket, union joint and threaded junction where the pipe enters the pump housing. Everything seems normal.

What I did notice is water leaking under the pump. I believe this usually means the shaft seal is bad. I wanted to know if this can be the cause of the pump not priming?

The pump is only 3 yrs old so I'm a little surprised that something could fail already. My last hayward super pump lasted for a really long time with little issue.

Thanks.

[mas985]

A leaky seal should not affect a priming pump.

But a leaky pump basket lid would. Also make sure all your valves are open and you don't have any plugs in the skimmers.

[fog80]

Definitely no plugs in the skimmers. Water level is above the skimmer. Valves are open and I lubed the basket strainer gasket.

The pump pulls some water but it never gets more than half full.

I also Teflon taped the union joint closest to the pump and had tightened it. I was really hoping the problem was being caused by the pump seal. I just got my go kit in the mail so I'll change everything out and see what happens.

[mas985]

Another thing that can prevent a pump from priming is a clogged impeller. So while you have the pump apart check to make sure all the impeller vanes are clear.

[fog80]

Argh. Spent all morning taking the pump apart. Tried to undo the impeller by holding the shaft with a wrench and ended up breaking the centrifugal switch.

Drove 30 miles to buy a replacement. Now I have the 7/16 wrench holding the shaft from the bottom but just cannot get the impeller off. Tried using strap wrench and channel pliers, no luck.

Any other ideas? (I'm going counter clockwise).

[fog80]

Update: got a new strap wrench from lowes and the impeller came right off. Got all the seals and gaskets replaced.

Put water in the pot and sure enough, still leaking. Flipped it over and see a crack running across the bottom about 2-3" long.

Suggestions?

[Pappy]

Is the impeller housing or the basket cracked? If it's the basket, drill a 1/8" or 3/16" hole at each end of the crack to stop the crack from "running". If you don't drill the holes the crack will likely keep growing longer, and then leak where repairs have not been made. Then sand the outside of the basket along the crack with 100 or 150 grit sand paper. Get some J B Weld epoxy, mix it, and apply it to the cracked area, make sure to fill the holes completely and leave it built up a little bit along the crack. This MIGHT or might NOT work on the impeller housing. Good luck!

Pappy

[fog80]

Update: used epoxy to fill the crack from inside and outside and now the pump will prime but I've got a fairly large water leak between the motor and plastic housing.

Problem is I can't turn the pump over while it's connected so I don't know exactly what is leaking. I don't know if it's the new shaft seals I installed. I followed directions exactly and it all matched up the way it was originally.

Any ideas?

[mas985]

Update: used epoxy to fill the crack from inside and outside and now the pump will prime but I've got a fairly large water leak between the motor and plastic housing.Probably the seal.

[fog80]

Ok I realized that there is one larger gasket in the go kit that I didn't use. I didn't use it because I didn't find that kind of gasket in my pump when I took it apart.

Could that be it?

[mas985]

So you already replaced the seal?

If so, then yes, the large gasket might be the motor plate gasket and that can leak in the same location as the shaft seal.

[fog80]

Update: found another crack in the plastic housing outside of the "pot". Sealed this up with epoxy and everything started working great.

3 days later the leak is back, albeit smaller than the original leak.

Looks like I'm going to have to get a new plastic housing while this one is still working.

Moral of the story: if you have a leak under the pump, always check housing for cracks before doing something drastic like replacing shaft seals and gaskets.

[fog80]

Replaced the housing with one bought off amazon for about $150. So far so good.