Pump Died? Help with Autopsy

I looked out this AM and the pool was undulating indicating the pump was working. I have a Hayward 1.5 h.p. Powerflow LX, installed in Oct 2003.

Two hours later it wasn't. I went down to check.

The pump motor was running. The filter pressure was nearly zero. There was some water jetting through the inlet but we had oodles of rain the last couple of days and the water level is very high so I think that it's just back wash.

I tried back washing and pump to waste. Some water came out but not like it should and there was no movement in the glass bottle. (And the cheap roll hose has split again.)

The only thing different: Someone mentioned those filter bags so I got one and put it on my skimmer basket. My first thought was the filter had sucked it off and jammed the pipes but no. Could the increased suction required have caused the pump to fail?

Is there something else I should do to check it before I go buy a new one?

Thanks

CoffeeBean

It must be some kind of pump day, my pump's empeller broke on me this mourning:eek: Anyhow, I wouldn't go buying anything just yet..atleast until you figure out whats broken or not working right. I would check the easy stuff first, like make sure the pump lid isn't leaking air causing the pump to loose prime or the pump basket / empeller isn't cloged up.

Did you try running without the filter bag? That might be the problem. Too much suction.

Pat

Coffebean, have you checked the baskets and impeller for clogs or obstructions? As was already posted, make sure that the pump isn't drawing air. When it comes time for the autopsy, if you'd like some advice on how to do it, just ask -I've done about 20 motor/ shaft seal replacements in the past 2 weeks alone!

Thanks for all the input. I think that Pat has something.

I disassembled the hoses to the pump and checked to make sure there wasn't something clogging.

I took apart the housing between the filter and the motor and then plugged it in for a second to see if the empeller was turning. It looked fine. So I reconnected everything.

There wasn't much in the filter basket on the pump nor in the skimmer basket but...

my skimmer basket has a rod across the top which prevents me from sticking the filter bag inside so I had tried it on the outside of the basket. There was a knob of goop on the underside of the basket which may have been plugging the outlet hose of the skimmer.

Anyway...when I reconnected everything and plugged it back in - voila! it works. Now I can return that $230.00 pump I bought today just in case.

Waste, thanks for the offer of a guided autopsy. If I ever really do need it, I'll holler.

CoffeeBean

Glad to hear it's all set !! :)

Poolguy,

Has your pump been revived? I feel badly for you that your outcome wasn't as simple - or cheap - as mine.

CoffeeBean

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Originally Posted by CoffeeBean

Poolguy,

Has your pump been revived? I feel badly for you that your outcome wasn't as simple - or cheap - as mine.

CoffeeBean

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Nah, I have to order an empeller Monday. I found all the seals at Leslies but no luck on the empeller. So it will probaly be Wed before she's up and running again. Thanks for asking.

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Originally Posted by ThePoolGuy

Nah, I have to order an empeller Monday. I found all the seals at Leslies but no luck on the empeller. So it will probaly be Wed before she's up and running again. Thanks for asking.

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Im just currious...how old is your pump/motor, and how much does an impeller cost ??

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Originally Posted by cgc2

Im just currious...how old is your pump/motor, and how much does an impeller cost ??

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I'm not sure how old the pump/pool is. The house is only 4 years old but the pool was built at a later time. So it's only a few years old at best. As for the cost of the imepeller, they retail for around 20.00 - 30.00 bux depending on which one I got but I can order them at cost instead. I only went to Leslies to see if I could fix the pool Saturday instead of waiting on the parts.