Haywood Pump seems to suck air

[techmom]

Just installed a new Haywood pump to out AG pool. It seems to be sucking air. A whirlpool appears by the return and I see air bubbles in it from time to time. I also seem to have a leak that appears to be at the filter. I have tightened the fittings and there is still a drip. Any advice would be appreciated.

[PoolDoc]

Whirlpool by pool return -- where water *returns* to your pool doesn't indicate a leak.

Air bubbles might indicate a suction leak -- a leak in the piping or gear between the skimmer and main drain, and the pump.

Fixing leaks is often hard, when you are there, but doing it remotely is harder. Can you take pictures of your pump, filter and piping, and email them to poolforum AT gmail DOT com? (Large pictures; I'll shrink them and discard what's not pertinent.)