Upgrade recommendations for replacing 14" Intex sand filter combo?

[Pappy]

Pretty sure you received the 'G' model. As best I can tell, it is a superset of the standard model.

I agree that the 'G' model is a superset. I can't say if what I got was the 'G' or not because I don't know for sure what the "sandwich washer" is. I envisioned a grommet-like rubber gasket that was basically a thick washer with a groove cut around the outside perimeter, almost to the inner diameter so the pool wall could be "sandwiched" in the groove.

A little further investigation at InYoPool shows this
as the non-'G' model and this
as the 'G' model.

I'd bet the brown ring is fiber, not cork, and is intended to allow you to tighten the fitting without twisting the liner. But you can probably accomplish the same thing by spraying a bit of silicone spray (like this: DuPont Teflon Non-Stick Dry-Film Lubricant )

The brown ring is definitely NOT real cork, it's a fibrous imitation cork. I was planning on mixing liquid dish soap 50/50 with water and putting a drop or two on both sides of the OUTSIDE rubber washer as a lubricant, rather than using silicone. I hadn't thought that the fiber washer might be intended as a lubricant pad.

[Pappy]

The last of my goodies should come in Saturday or Monday. I suppose I'll start a new thread documenting the conversion from Intex proprietary to standard pipe. I think I'm going to focus on the generic bits - like the timer, GFCI, and pool wall fittings.

[PoolDoc]

Thanks!