Possible pump motor bearing failure?

[mas985]

Yes that can be very relevant. Do you have the same problem without the cleaner and with the skimmers and main drain fully open?

Reducing the flow too much to the pump can be problematic.

[kballard72]

Yes that can be very relevant. Do you have the same problem without the cleaner and with the skimmers and main drain fully open?

Reducing the flow too much to the pump can be problematic.

What I am mean is that under normal circumstances, per the builder, was to turn the skimmers off when vacuming.. That always got the flow gauge for the vac to the low end. For 3 years. Just tweaking the drain a little, not all the way to a 3rd would get it to the high side of the gauge...

All I am saying is that since this problem started occurring, if i hook the gauge up to the vacuum port, skimmers closed and the drain almost completely shut off will get it the gauge up to the low/mid point...

[kballard72]

While it may not seem probable, the only thing left is diffuser, o ring in the diffuser, o ring on the lid...

no air seems to occur before the pump on suction side (plumbing issue)

the motor when removed is quiet as a mouse.

Sooooooo out of ideas at this point.... unless there is a hail mary... the robo vacuum already tells us we are losing suction power.. on High, with valves fully open no robotic movement. close skimmer, almost close drain, and robot barely moves.

Any final hail mary...

[mas985]

Again, does this only happen when the cleaner is attached and the suction ports restricted or does it also happen without the cleaner and with all suction ports wide open? This is a very important distinction.

If it is happening only with the cleaner attached, the cleaner hose maybe collapsing which is causing the oscillatory condition. Try removing the cleaner all together and open all suction ports and see if this continues to occur.

[kballard72]

The problem happens under normal usage. skimmers on, drain on, returns on.


The cleaner port is simply an example of one place I do have a gauge for. With a single 4 foot hose plugged to the port, and the flow gauge on the end, I can see that it is not drawing the suction it was say a month ago... But that is only to SEE what it is doing. The vac is not the issue...

[kballard72]

Diffuser came... having a point of reference, new versus old... it was clear the old one was worn. Where the wear ring butts up against the difuser used to be a ridge about 1/4" wide by 1/8" tall, not only was it gone but it was a valley on the diffuser.

SO, I thought viola, this is the problem we have been looking for... Replaced it... kicked on the pump all is wonderfully quiet as usual on start up.... basket fills up, all air purges... nice and clear window.... and 5-10 minutes later, so long pressure, hello irritatingly loud chatter....

thanks for all the insight, but it must be time for someone on-site I guess...

[mas985]

Unless you got that vacuum gauge.

BTW, does the flow rate out of the returns decrease or increase when the pressure drops?