To prime or not to prime?

[Maestro]

I feel like my questions are very basic, but I trust the advice I get here more than what they'll tell me at the pool store, so here goes!

I have a Hayward single-speed 1.5 hp Super Pump. On the body of the pump it says "Self-priming", but on the semi-transparent lid over the basket it says "Fill with water before starting pump." That seems like a contradiction to me, but I know nothing about pumps. Should I pour a bucket of water in there after cleaning out the basket before restarting the pump? The guy from the pool store said not to, but that was before I noticed what's written on the lid. What does "self-priming" mean?

I don't clean the pump basket often, but I feel like I should check it every other week or so to see if there's any debris in there.

 

[jblizzle]

You really should not have to add water if you were just cleaning it because the basket will be mostly full already. If the pump fully primes within a minute or so then you're fine.