that bubble does not look too bad to me.. is it causing the pump to cavitate or make a lot of noise?
Does the lip of the basket slip under the cover and prevent it from seating all the way maybe ?
Re: pump will only prime when basket it out
that bubble does not look too bad to me.. is it causing the pump to cavitate or make a lot of noise?
Does the lip of the basket slip under the cover and prevent it from seating all the way maybe ?
Last edited by Phillbo; 10-19-2006 at 07:03 PM.
14'x31' kidney 21K gal IG plaster pool; SWCG (Saline Generating System's SGS Breeze); Pentair FNS Plus 48 DE DE filter; Whisperflow 1 HP pump; 8 hours hrs; kit purchased from Ben; utility water; summer: none; winter: none; PF:5.7
Re: pump will only prime when basket it out
Phillbo...It's not making a lot of noise...it's the same as it was before. The pressure had decreased by about 2-4 lbs. Not much.
The new basket fits exactly as the old one.
I think I'll pick up a new lid just in case. It looks like it's in great condition but when I had the stethescope near the top it was hissy-er.
Maybe just because of the air bubble in the pot...not really sure.
Gah! Makes me nuts.
Re: pump will only prime when basket it out
Originally Posted by Phillbo
It almost sounds like the height of the basket for some reason is preventing the lid from completely seating and letting some air in. Could the lid have warped slightly. Maybe a new lid is the next test. Or maybe the basket needs shaving down 1/16" of an inch maybe. The only other thing I can think of is that the basket is creating some sort of vortex with the water passing around it and that creates the air pocket, no basket, cleaner flowing water.
Re: pump will only prime when basket it out
Put some shaving cream (the foamy kind) around the outside of the seal on the pot while the pump is running. If the air goes away, then your leak is there. The shaving cream will also eventually begin to suck in where the leak is, which should be evident by a hole showing up in the shave cream (you could probably also see it through that clear lid).
I have used shaving cream several times to find leaks in pipe joints and seals on the suction side. It pinpoints exactly where the leak is.
Re: pump will only prime when basket it out
Andy..Great idea with the shaving cream!
It is possible that the lid warped...in the arizona sun, everything warps.
I'm off work early today so I'll head home and lather it up.
I can just imagine what the neighbors are thinking. Stethoscope? Shaving cream?
I sealed all the pvc joints but I might as well lather those up too just in case.
What's strange is that the old basket worked fine for over a year...and then all of a sudden it wouldn't prime.
I think there's a very good possibility that the lid is warped. I know it says not to overtighten and Mr.Man has been overtightening. There are times that I can't get the lid off. Yes, I'm a girl but still! I even use a stick to pry it off..you know in between the thingies (technical term) and still can't get it off. Maybe that sort of abuse has warped it...or cracked it where it can't be seen.
shaving cream first and then new lid.
thankyouthankyouthankyou!
Re: pump will only prime when basket it out
okay so the shaving cream didn't get sucked in at all..and it didn't create any more of a seal so that it primed. After putting shaving cream on the rim and waiting and waiting..nothing. So I covered the lid in case there was a crack. Nothing.
I finally got the lid off, took the basket out and it freakin' primed-
Before I start whittling away at the basket I have a question.
If the basket was preventing the lid from sealing, wouldn't I have seen the shaving cream being sucked in?
There would have been some indication that it was sucking air right?
Re: pump will only prime when basket it out
That's right.You can prove this to yourself by closing a piece of straw or something thin across the seal. The tiny gap it causes will be sufficient to make the shaving cream suck into the hole.
Perhaps the basket has that effect on the efficiency of the pump. You said that with the basket you are not getting the same pressure you used to. I forget...Is the pressure different with the basket than without the basket?
Re: pump will only prime when basket it out
You say you have an old basket and a new basket now? An interesting experiment would be to start drilling 1/4" holes in the old basket.. or new basket you choose. Start with 10 or so and test to see if it primes, if not keep going until its swiss cheese and see if it eventually primes. If it eventually does, maybe your pump has a suction problem, it only has enough power to prime if there is little or no obstructions.
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