Dough Boy Rust by return. How to fix/stop

As I was closed the pool last year I noticed some rust developed below the current retrun outlet. I'm getting ready to open the pool in the next few weeks and am wondering what I should do before hand to stop/repair the rusted spot.

Currently the pool water level is below the returns.

Welcome to The Forum!

It sounds to me that you need to check, and probably replace, the gasket on the return inlet.

I'm sorry this is a little short on info, but it's a good place to start.

Thanks. didn't even think of that. What can I do for the rust? I was doing some reading about rust removals. How safe would naval jelly? or a similar rust paint/removal be?

opfreak,
I deleted your second duplicate post that you made. When new members post, their posts go to a moderation queue to be approved by one of the 5 of us before they show up on the forum. Typically that doesn't take too long as one of us is online most all the time, but at times when it gets really busy, it may not be as fast as we would like. But, we'll get it. Welcome to the Pool Forum, by the way!

Just do what you would to any other reusted metal i.e. - sand down the rust and coat the area with a rust resistant/ inhibiting paint or epoxy:) (DO! be careful not to make the retaining nut irremovable.

I would also be careful to avoid getting paint on the vinyl liner.

Is there a way to pull the liner back safely away from the wall in just that area and get it back on?

My plan (before filling the pool back to the top) is to order new gaskets for the return.
1) pull the return off,
2)clean the rust using a wire brush,
3)apply naval jelly/rust primer, to help slow/stop any more rust
4) clean that up. spray paint,
5) reinstall return.

6) open pool.

Just to follow up. I bought new gaskets. I removed the return, stuffed some paper/ pool noodle inbetween the wall and the liner to get a gap. Then I brushed off the rust, applied some naval jelly type stuff to it and got most of the rust gone. prime sprayed it, then finished sprayed. Waited a day and reinstalled with new gaskets. So far everything is dry. Thanks.

That's great! Congrats! Thanks for checking in.