Baker-Hydro spider gasket turned to goo.

[aquarium]

I opened the multi-port valve cover to find the spider gasket a gooey mess. Almost gone in some places, all stacked up in others. Is there a good way to remove this without damaging the seats and plastic??

TW

[waste]

I opened the multi-port valve cover to find the spider gasket a gooey mess. Almost gone in some places, all stacked up in others. Is there a good way to remove this without damaging the seats and plastic??

TW

TW (interstingly enough, my initials ) I would imagine that at some point in the past someone used Vasoline on the gasket to lubricate it, petrolium based lubes seem to sink in and expand the gaskets then make them easier to shred. Replace the gasket and lube it with a silicon or teflon based lube - you won't have the same problem again (but make sure that your pH is in line, that also seems to hurt the gaskets) To remove it, first just try pulling it out, if that doesn't work, use a flat head screwdriver of the size of the channels to scrape it out. Hopefully this is some help - Waste

[aquarium]

Well that was an interesting adventure. One pool store wanted $140 for a 'valve kit' because "they don't make that valve anymore." Another had a Hayward gasket for $11 that fit perfectly.

[waste]

#1 was trying to, in CarlD's words, "pool store" you, glad you found the cheeper alternative and that the problem's solved!

[aquarium]

One other thing...

Most of the old gasket came out in one piece, but there were areas that seemed like they were glued in. I cleaned the grooves as best I could and then used silicone lubricant to seat the new gasket. But what keeps the gasket seated in the groove? What stops it from sticking to the diverter head and getting lifted out of the seat?

[waste]

One other thing...

Most of the old gasket came out in one piece, but there were areas that seemed like they were glued in. I cleaned the grooves as best I could and then used silicone lubricant to seat the new gasket. But what keeps the gasket seated in the groove? What stops it from sticking to the diverter head and getting lifted out of the seat?

The lube usually keeps it from comming out, that and the fact that the channels are (on most multi's) deep enough, some recommend glue, but I disagree. If you want to secure the gasket, I recommend some silicone caulk, (yesterday I went to a pool to replace the grids and the 'spider gasket' - the d*mned thing had been CRAZY GLUED in and getting it out with a screwdriver only damaged the unit) So instead of just replacing the gasket, I had to give them a whole new multiport - we never did get all the glued in gasket out.