Hayward Tristar Pump not filling. water under top of strainer - 1 year old no leaks :/

[botornig]

Having issues with pump not even filling to the top of strainer. and my chlorinator flow meter often says low flow to pool. This is at priming mode 3200rpm. I have a Hayward Tristar 3200. 1.85HP.
Replaced the impeller, seals and gaskets throughout. Also looked for air leaks with shaving cream to no avail. Wondering if it's a piping issue. Please take a look and let me know what you think of current piping situation.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! You certainly have those pipes slathered with enough shaving cream. Ha. But suction side leaks can be quite difficult at times and sometimes shaving cream doesn't always show the results we might hope. So I would still pursue all the standard places for a suction side air leak from the skimmer to the pump intake:
- O-ring under pump lid lubed well; drain plugs too.
- Union/connections double-checked, perhaps with running water or saran wrap just to be sure.
- If your pump is priming well but it's only the water level that is a concern, don't rule-out the pressure side (restriction). When a filter gets overwhelmed, it can create enough backpressure to influence the pump pot. It certainly does in mine. If your water chemistry is not managed with a TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C test kit, there could be more resistance in the filter than you realize, even if the water appears to be clear.

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