I'm looking for a new pump to replace my 17-year-old American Products one. In the spring my pool takes in quite a bit of junk from trees in the area and periodically I need to disconnect the motor and clean out the impeller when it becomes clogged.

I noticed that some new pump designs don't appear to have the metal band / o-ring connection between the motor and the pump housing, but instead everything is bolted together semi-permanently. Others (like most of the Sta-Rites) have the band/o-ring, like my current pump.

For my situation does the two-piece arrangement sound best? Or are the new pumps so great that they don't clog like my old one does?

Thanks.