I didn't realize there would be such a large price variance. $20 for a simple rubber gasket? Unbelievable.

I guess I haven't taken the pressure gauge in during the winter because I need to drive 70 miles roundtrip to the pool store to get a plug to screw into the fitting when the gauge is on hiatus in the house. But, I should definitely do that. Are pressure gauges good for more reasons than knowing when to backwash? Or is it just to tell us when the sand filter has too much pressure? It wouldn't have anything to do with the pump motor?

When you talk about the "pump," you mean the motor, yes? I've always referred to the entire contraption--filter, motor, intake, discharge ports, etc. as the pump, and then call the engine of the works the motor. My motor was replaced with a brand new one in Spring of 2005, so it's not old by any means. It would seem a shame to rebuild it. I remember when I first inherited my pool 4 years ago and I used a guy on the side for servicing issues. He told me that a motor only cost $50. I think I paid a couple hundred in Spring of '05 to have it replaced as of course pool places triple the wholesale cost and then charge labor. If a motor is only $50, why not just buy a new one?

Any idea what would cause a small rattling inside the multiport valve? Does it have bearings?

With no technical know-how, I would never dare take the multiport off OR the motor. I have images of 20,000 gallons of water spewing everywhere, flooding the property and draining my pool: what a nightmare! Just don't have enough experience.

Thanks so much for your input/help.