Replace motor or motor& pump?

[waterbear]

A bigger pump will probably not solve the problem. You have encountered one of the main problems with suction side cleaners--when the cleaner is operating the skimmer is not (or is operating at reduced efficiency). This is actually pretty common and is generally accepted at normal. Do you also have a main drain in your pool or only a skimmer? Are you breaking down the filter and cleaning the grids manually or just backwashing? IF you are just backwashing try breaking down the filter and see if that give you a longer time that the cleaner will operate correctly. (IMHO, when you backwash a DE filter you really don't know how much DE you remove so you really don't know how much to recharge with and usually end up either overcharging or undercharging the filter and this leads to reduced filtration and shorter run times. IF you want to see some photos to prove this here are some on a different forum (that I am a moderator on) that were just posted!.

[jtcaputo]

Thank you both for your expert advice. I will not be changing pumps. That Quad DE filter is a real pain to clean. The band requires three hands to put back on and the procedure requires constant tightening, then tapping the band with a mallet to seat it. And your chances of getting perfect are 1 in 3.

[PoolDoc]

membership upgraded. -ben