Grumbling Hayward Tri-Star pump

[eneka]

Hey guys, I have an Hayway Tri-Star pump SP3220Z1DV and it recently started making this weird noise as if there is some debris. I've taken it apart and replace the ceramic and graphite bearings along with the white plastic inpellar ring. Is this improper installation? Or do I need a new impeller?

I've ran the motor by itself without the front section connected and it was silent.

Hayward TriStar pump sound - YouTube


Any ideas what this might be? Pump seems to be working fine other than the noise

 

[Patrick_B]

Hey eneka! Welcome.

I just wanted to welcome you, and get your post moved to the top. Hopefully youll get a good answer soon enough. Hope you enjoy the forum.

 

[mas985]

That sounds a little like cavitation. Has the filter pressure changed at a all from when it was working properly? Did you recently vacuum up a lot of debris from the pool?

 

[eneka]

That sounds a little like cavitation. Has the filter pressure changed at a all from when it was working properly? Did you recently vacuum up a lot of debris from the pool?

So if I'm understanding cavitation correctly, it's either a clogged suction line or air leakage?

There has been quite some debris, mainly twigs I fished out of our kreeppy krauly when it gets stuck at the flapper, but nothing out of the ordinary.

The pressure has been maybe 5-10 psi lower.

So I just messaged around with it more. I noticed that the noise went away after air was introduced, like cleaning the pump filter basket and it seems to have gone away after disconnecting the kreeppy krauly and re-priming the pump..I still hear and occasional tick here and there though..

I'll clean out the DE filter grids later today and see if that is of any help since the psi seemed to have gone up a little after it stopped making that noise...

 

[mas985]

So if I'm understanding cavitation correctly, it's either a clogged suction line or air leakage?

A clog can cause cavitation but air leaks do not cause cavitation.

The pressure has been maybe 5-10 psi lower.

That is a lot and can definitely cause cavitation.

But when you disconnect the cleaner and open up the skimmer and MD lines, that will reduce suction side head loss, increase filter pressure (because of higher flow rates) and reduce the chance of cavitation.

 

[eneka]

Cleaned out the filter and it made the noise right after priming...BUT right after I finished adding the last .5lb of DE powder, the sound went away! And then it came back the next cycle...

PSI is normal now, suction and flow is normal too. Should I stick a drain snake through the pipes?

I noticed that sometimes it'll go away when I reprime the system. Doesn't matter what speed I run the pump at as well, if it's there, it's always there.

 

[mas985]

What is the filter pressure at full speed?

Doesn't matter what speed I run the pump at as well, if it's there, it's always there

Then it probably is not cavitation. Have you tried disassembling the pump to see if there is anything in the volute?

 

[eneka]

What is the filter pressure at full speed?

Then it probably is not cavitation. Have you tried disassembling the pump to see if there is anything in the volute?

31PSI @ 100%. It has always been this high since I moved in here 27 years ago. Same PSI with the old single speed pump. I usually run it at 40-60% and it will be around 15-20 PSI

There's in only 1 intake. No separate skimmer/vac lines

Filter is an old stainless steel Purex smbw 2048. Brand new grids were installed 1 year ago.

I have dissembled the pump it and replaced the ceramic and graphic bearings. I inspected the parts and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Sound is not coming from the motor.

Just bought one of these and i'll have a go at it later tonight to try to reverse flow the intake water and see if anything comes out. If not I'll snake the pipe. If that still doesn't work and I'm sure there's no clog, them i'm going to replace the impeller..

 

[mas985]

Does the gauge go to zero when the pump is off.

 

[eneka]

Does the gauge go to zero when the pump is off.

Yes, is it supposed to?

 

[mas985]

Yes but 31 PSI is extremely high.

 

[eneka]

Yes but 31 PSI is extremely high.

So with the kreepy krauly and in line leaf basket installed, it drops down to 20psi @ max, or 10psi and my normal running speed (65%)

After using the garden hose reverse flow, I noticed the sound almost goes away at above 10psi, once you get under, it's there....

Shared album - Jeremy Ho - Google Photos

The noise comes and goes...I was just playing with it and got it to stop by stopping the flow at the skimmer then letting it go and the sound went away. turned the pump on and off and it came back..


As for the high PSI, could it be because the intake at the skimmer is a 1.5 inch pvc, then changes to 2inch at the pump, then back to 1 inch at the filter before going back into the pool...?


Thank you for all your help mas985!