Yes. What you see in the pic was as best as I could do at that moment. I might have done better if I keep repeating it. Unless I did something wrong.

What I did to prime was: stop the pump, open the air valve of the filter, run the pump at high speed (up to 3000 rpm) until water coming out of the filter air valve, close the filter valve and wait a little. I didn't open the lid since there was water in the basket except for one time to clean up the o-ring and lid surfaces. And I had to try this sequence multiple times to achieve that.

Anything to try for the lid?

I'll try the shaving cream method. I do hope it isn't in underground!

Thanks a lot.