POOL PUMP HELP

[PrettyPools]

I opened my pool early this year. Water was great, clear and blue within 20 hours. I notice some leaking around my pool pump's skimmer basket (see images for my configuration, and 2nd image for the bolt on the backside, bottom-center where the leak is ).

Question is, how hard is it to replace the pool pump skimmer contraption alone and run the plumbing?? And, can I buy it alone - the pump/motor itself is less than 1 year old and doesn't need replacing. Yet, I only see sales for the whole "kitten kaboodle" (motor, basket, and skimmer together).

(See images for 1. my setup, and 2. where the leak is in bottom-center bolt of skimmer)
[attachment=1:9nzkv414]2012-04-14_11-34-05_239.jpg[/attachment:9nzkv414]

[attachment=0:9nzkv414]unnamed.jpg[/attachment:9nzkv414]

 

[JasonLion]

If the drain plug on the side of the pump body is leaking, it should be a simple fix. Usually you can remove it, clean the mating surfaces, possibly replace the o-ring, and reseal without problems. If you mean that a bolt holding the motor to the pump body is leaking, then the actual leak is usually at the shaft seal and the motor will have to be removed, the shaft seal replaced, and the motor remounted. If the leak is from a crack in the housing, then the housing can be replaced as a separate part, but doing so is a fair bit of work.

 

[PrettyPools]

Thanks for your quick attention, Jason. You raise some good points, which tell me I have to dig-deeper. Problem is, as you can see from my picture, the unit is plumbed right beside some immovable 4x4s. Work space and visual space on the drain plug is limited. I'm reassured knowing it is a drain plug and not a bolt, however. Meaning there's a good likely hood I simply have to squeeze my hand back there and remove, lube, and replace. That's my first plan anyways - I'll write with the results later.

 

[PrettyPools]

I think it was only the drain plug as you suggested, Jason. Given the work space, and the discovery that the drain-plug's head broke-off, it took some creative maneuvering. Had to hammer a screw bit into the broken drain-plug, then attach a ratchet to carefully unscrew this broken drain-plug.

Installed a new one, so now we'll see if there's anymore leakage. Story in pictures below.

[attachment=2:1gk51bpw]2012-04-14_12-46-13_602.jpg[/attachment:1gk51bpw]

[attachment=1:1gk51bpw]2012-04-14_13-05-00_523.jpg[/attachment:1gk51bpw]

[attachment=0:1gk51bpw]2012-04-14_13-09-10_42.jpg[/attachment:1gk51bpw]

 

[maxepr1]

Here's a trick for next time. Heat up a regular(straight slot) screwdriver and stick it in the center till it melts a slot. Remove the screwdriver cool it in water and then use the new slot to remove the plug. Largest slotted screwdriver the better. Unless of course the plug is metal, which most aren't.