Little Giant Pool cover pump - Special Screw?

[Travy92]

I have a Little giant pool cover pump like many of you... Recently it stopped working properly. I suspect it has a plugged intake valve inside.

My problem is I can’t get the cover off to fix it... There are five screws to remove but only four of them have heads on them and can be removed easily, however one of the screws/bolts is completely smooth and has no way take out... it is not worn... it is purposefully that way.
Does anyone know what I am talking about and have any ideas?

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

That is strange. I am on my third Little Giant cover pump is 20 years. Every one has had five of the same Phillips head screws.

 

[Travy92]

Welcome to TFP.

That is strange. I am on my third Little Giant cover pump is 20 years. Every one has had five of the same Phillips head screws.

Thanks for the Reply... I have watched that video and that’s what I believe the problem is... I just can’t get off the cover... the screw that is different is the screw directly opposite of where the hose connects(rear of pump)... it seems as thought it was purposefully inserted there so you can’t open the cover... so you would have to pay someone to fix it or buy a new one...

I am hoping someone has seen this same thing and knows how to remove it.

 

[JamesW]

Do you have a picture?

 

[Travy92]

Do you have a picture?

iI really appreciate you taking the time to reply...

I tried to take a picture but it really doesn’t show up... imagine 4 of these holes with a Phillips head screw that is easily removed but this one hole has a flat round piece of metal inside... I tried prying up on side in case it was just a peg... no luck...

 

[ajw22]

Did you get the pump from a builder or pool store? Someone who wanted to lock you in for service?

 

[JamesW]

Try pushing a screwdriver into the top and turning.

It has to have some sort of indentation for a screwdriver otherwise they couldn't get the screw in.

It's probably just plugged with dirt.

If it went in, it will come out.

 

[Travy92]

Try pushing a screwdriver into the top and turning.

It has to have some sort of indentation for a screwdriver otherwise they couldn't get the screw in.

It's probably just plugged with dirt.

If it went in, it will come out.

Again, I appreciate your response...

Please know I am not an idiot. I grew up as a farm kid working on tractors and equipment... I am better than most with tools and fixing things...

This is not a normal screw or bolt... it is something different. Obviously you have not seen it before... I am hoping to get advice from someone who might know what this is...

It is not plugged with dirt. There is no indentation.

 

[ajw22]

Considering that the pump is dead if you cannot open it I would try drilling the screw head out or using a screw extractor designed for stripped screw heads.

 

[Travy92]

Did you get the pump from a builder or pool store? Someone who wanted to lock you in for service?

We got it from the company who installed our pool...

The weird thing is when they opened our pool a few days ago I asked them about it and they said they had no idea... but we should look online for a new one because the ones they sell are much more expensive for the same one... That is what confused me...

I figured they would try and sell me a new one or say they would service it...

 

[Flying Tivo]

If you are as handy as you say, just stick a drill bit in there and get her done!

 

[Travy92]

Considering that the pump is dead if you cannot open it I would try drilling the screw head out or using a screw extractor designed for stripped screw heads.

I think that is the right idea... I didn’t plan on doing that as I thought there was just trick I didn’t know about... Thanks for the advice... I think that what I’ll do tomorrow!

Thanks again!

 

[ajw22]

You will see that air vent is a small hole. I have to open my pump up 2-3 times a season to clear it.

 

[Travy92]

If you are as handy as you say, just stick a drill bit in there and get her done!

I just responded to someone else with a similar response as yours...

I think that is the right idea... a screw extractor makes perfect sense... I didn’t plan on doing that as I thought there was just trick I didn’t know about... Thanks for the advice... I think thats what I’ll do tomorrow!

Thanks again!

 

[JamesW]

I would be interested to know what you find.

If there's nothing to connect with, how did they screw it in?

Maybe it's a push in fastener that locks in to prevent anyone opening the case.

However, that seems unlikely as the unit sometimes needs service as shown in the video.

If it is a lock in fastener, you're probably not going to the get it out without breaking something.

I think that the screw is too small for drilling or a screw extractor.

 

[Travy92]

Considering that the pump is dead if you cannot open it I would try drilling the screw head out or using a screw extractor designed for stripped screw heads.

I would be interested to know what you find.

If there's nothing to connect with, how did they screw it in?

Maybe it's a push in fastener that locks in to prevent anyone opening the case.

However, that seems unlikely as the unit sometimes needs service as shown in the video.

If it is a lock in fastener, you're probably not going to the get it out without breaking something.

I think that the screw is too small for drilling or a screw extractor.

I worked on my pump yesterday...

Attached is a picture of what was preventing me me from removing the one screw...

It was the exact size of the hole and I believe it was inserted specifically to prevent me from opening the cover. Once I pulled that plug out, there was a Phillips head screw underneath just like the others...

With that said, I cleaned the weep hole and my pump didn’t work much better... I spoke with a franklin rep on the phone and he said he had never heard of a plug inserted over the screw. I showed him pictures and he felt it was intentional.

He also said my motor is probably bad and I will probably need a new pump...

I really appreciate everything and the responses from everyone.

 

[JamesW]

Ok. Thanks for the update.

Definitely odd that it was in there.

Maybe someone did it intentionally or maybe it was a random piece that somehow ended up in the hole.

 

[Travy92]

Ok. Thanks for the update.

Definitely odd that it was in there.

Maybe someone did it intentionally or maybe it was a random piece that somehow ended up in the hole.

I suppose it could be random... it just fit too perfectly and was wedged in the hole like it was pounded down into it...

Once again... thanks for your help!

 

[ajw22]

Does the pump motor not run?

I see debris in that little hole. With the hole plugged the motor runs but the pump does not prime. I pick the debris out, clean the insides of the pump, and reassemble.

 

[jordyheath]

Hello all, I know that this post has aged a lot, but it helped me, and I just wanted to post this for others who might have the same issue with their Little Giant APCP-1700 - I think I just had some kind of a security screw in hole #5 - mine looked much different than yours - it's hard to tell after I drilled into it - could have just been full of gunk because it looks mostly like a normal phillips head, but I'm guessing that it might have had some kind of standoff in the middle or something. I drilled just into it just enough to be able to thread a drywall screw into it and pull it out. Thanks for posting all of these updates with the pics @JamesW that helped a lot in fixing my pump.

RESULT: I was able to get the pump going. I didn't have much luck getting it to run at first - upon inspection, the impeller could manually turn freely, the air hole didn't look to be plugged (I blew it out with canned air just to be sure), but when I dropped it in a bucket of water and gave it electricity, the motor just hummed with no action. I rotated it around quite a bit to let all of the little air bubble seep out - still nothing...after jacking with it for a bit and almost giving up, I used my finger to very carefully give the impeller a nudge, and BAM!, it fired up and blew water at me like it was brand new.

! UPDATE (EDIT)
I may still have some work to do - I ran the pump in a bucket of water for a bit to circulate, and when I came back after 20 min or so, there was no activity - I'm guessing the thermal switch (or whatever) may have kicked it off...I manually reset the float a few times, heard it humming again, and I had to help the impeller get started again by turning it a few revolutions with my finger. It's running again for now, but I'll keep troubleshooting it to see what I come up with.

I suppose it could be random... it just fit too perfectly and was wedged in the hole like it was pounded down into it...

Once again... thanks for your help