Housing cracked at drain plug

[Woody007]

Pac-Fab pump housing has a small crack where the drain plug screws in and it's leaking.
Will underwater epoxy on the outside work to seal it? If not, other ideas to get by for a couple more weeks until closing?

 

[JamesW]

Suction or pressure?

Pictures?

 

[Woody007]

Suction or pressure?

Pictures?

Female threads cracked at bottom side of drain plug circled.

 

[JamesW]

Remove plug and dry well.
Use a small hose clamp around the part.
Snug but not too tight.
Epoxy around the outside.
Use liquid epoxy on the plug threads and screw it in snug but not too tight.
Maybe epoxy from the inside as well by removing the clamp and pulling back the whole power end assembly.
Note that a crack under pressure can suddenly propagate and crack wide open, so it is rarely a good idea.
I would say no, but only you can decide if you want to take that risk.

 

[JamesW]

You can epoxy over the drain hole from the inside.

If the crack is visible from the inside, epoxy probably will not hold.

You can replace the housing.

https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/nam/pentair-pool/residential/parts-sheets/pool-pumps/Challenger_High_Flow_Pump.pdf

355468 Housing, front, black 4

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CMP Housing Compatible with Pentair Challenger and Waterfall Pump 355302 - 25357-004-000 - INYOPools.com

Challenger Pump Housing, Generic - 25357-004-000, 355302

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Amazon.com

 

[Woody007]

Remove plug and dry well.
Use a small hose clamp around the part.
Snug but not too tight.
Epoxy around the outside.
Use liquid epoxy on the plug threads and screw it in snug but not too tight.
Maybe epoxy from the inside as well by removing the clamp and pulling back the whole power end assembly.
Note that a crack under pressure can suddenly propagate and crack wide open, so it is rarely a good idea.
I would say no, but only you can decide if you want to take that risk.

View attachment 610290

View attachment 610293

Looks like the time is approaching to give up the ghost on the only single speed and go for VS.
My problem is I read too many post talking about VS pump failures and expensive board/electronics repair.
In your opinion, what is the most reliable, longest warranty VS replacement pump? Currently 1.5 hp Century motor on the Pac Fab pump.

 

[JamesW]

The IntelliFlo3 VSF is a good quality pump.

IntelliFlo3® Variable Speed & Flow Pool Pump

The award-winning, energy-efficient IntelliFlo3 VSF Pool Pump has a quiet design with sensorless flow control, app connectivity, and automation capability.

www.pentair.com

Overall, I don't have a specific recommendation for a pump.

Maybe others can provide some suggestions.

 

[1poolman1]

Looks like the time is approaching to give up the ghost on the only single speed and go for VS.
My problem is I read too many post talking about VS pump failures and expensive board/electronics repair.
In your opinion, what is the most reliable, longest warranty VS replacement pump? Currently 1.5 hp Century motor on the Pac Fab pump.

When was the last time someone posted, "My VSP is over 15 years old and still running?" Very seldom do you see a post like that in a forum like this as it is a place to get problems fixed.

All VSPs had issues when they first came out. The Pentair had a 50% return rate at one of my suppliers. Hayward had very bad drives when they came out, but to their credit, would replace them under warranty well after the warranty had expired (3 years for one of my customers). Jandy VSPs used the Century V-Green 270 originally and early models had issues.

Today, the reliability has improved greatly, especially if you stick to, in alphabetical order, Hayward (Jacuzzi at Leslie's), Pentair, Waterway. Jandy pumps are different in that many times you have to purchase the control separately, or it makes the pump more expensive to buy if it is included.

By the way, my VSP is about 15 years old, and still running fine. I do expect it to fail at some point as 15 years is about as good as it gets anymore for pool equipment, for the most part.