Nah, no restrictions / check valves. I suspect that some gunk did get caught up in the impeller. I'll disassemble the pump tomorrow and check.

We have post oak trees that have produce a flower http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioima...nflor32263.JPG that is about 2 inches long. Last night we had some wicked wind which stripped our trees of these a deposited them into the pool.

I barely managed to keep up with emptying the strainers (alternating) so I didn't shut down the pump while dumping the strainer basket.

I think that was a big mistake as I think I allowed a number of those flowers through and they are definitely small enough to get through the filter on the pump.