Hayward North Star lid

[RussellC]

I think I've posted about this before but I cannot for the life of me figure how to get a deal in my basket lid of my northstar pump. I even bought a new lid. Took it off, put tons of silicon lube. It pulls air in to the point where I have little bubbles in my pool all over. I had it nearly ok for a while but recently had to pull the lid off to clean it and it's worse than ever now. This is with a new lid. Is there any hope to get this thing sealed? Anyone else had this pump and had the same problem?

 

[mas985]

I have the same pump and they can leak but even after 10 years, mine seals pretty well if clean and with some lube. But are sure it is the pump lid and not the Drain plug?

 

[RussellC]

Yes. If I run water on the lid it stops. I wonder if I just clean the lube off. Maybe too much?

 

[mas985]

The pump housing could be warped. Did the pump ever run dry for a while?

 

[RussellC]

No idea. I've only lived at this house for 4 months. Hmm. It looks fine to me but you never know.

 

[mas985]

The other thing to check for is small cracks around the rim of the housing.

 

[RussellC]

Whoa I was just experimenting with the hose and I think the actual leak is at the union of the pump where it connects to the suction side. How do I seal that?

 

[mas985]

There is an o-ring in the union. First check to make sure that it is not cracked. If it looks ok, then you can use pool lube on the o-ring and a strap wrench to tighten it.

 

[duraleigh]

That doesn't resolve the air bubbles that stop when you pour water on the lid. No sense chasing something else until you fix that.

Are you sure the 0-ring for the pump lid is the correct part # and that it fits as designed with no damage to it?

If water poured over the lid stops the bubbles, your issue is in the lid.

 

[mas985]

More than likely, when water is poured over the lid, it falls on the union too so it could be either.

 

[RussellC]

More than likely, when water is poured over the lid, it falls on the union too so it could be either.

Exactly. When I poured it over the lid it covered the union. Which is why I thought it was the lid. If I put water over the union only, it completely stops the bubbles.

So, I can unscrew that union there without breaking anything? Should I order a new o ring for it?

 

[mas985]

You should be able to take it apart without breaking anything as long as you have a strap wrench.

 

[RussellC]

Thank you. As soon as it warms up a bit next week I'll be doing this. I appreciate the help!

 

[RussellC]

Wahoooo so much better!!! I put a new o ring in there and now I only have the tiniest of bubbles, probably from the lid. Question though. When I turn the pump off now I get a little squirt of water out of that union. And now I see a little bubble gurgling up every few seconds when the pump is off. Maybe try tightening the union a little more?

 

[mas985]

Are you sure it is coming out of the union and not the pump lid? The Northstar lid does not seem to seal well when under positive pressure so when the pump shuts off, sometimes water will squirt out of the lid sides.

If it is coming out of the union, then I would try tightening it some more. Did you lube the o-ring?

 

[RussellC]

Yes I did. I will wait till everything is dry around the pump area and check again. Thanks for your help so far.

 

[RussellC]

Yup. It's the union. I don't think I can get it any tighter. Maybe with a rag under the strap wrench?

 

[mas985]

I would remove the union and check for hairline cracks in the union and/or housing. If not, lube up the or ring again and try again. Alignment is pretty critical to getting a good seal. The suction side is usually harder to get good alignment because the pipes are usually shorter.

 

[RussellC]

Yeah I think it has to do with the alignment of the pump. I guess the people that originally installed this put the main suction line slightly too high. The pump kind of sits on the ground at a very small angle putting a little pressure on that joint. Not good so I'm not sure if this is going to seal perfectly ever. But I have it really close. No more little bubbles in my pool or spa. Any other suggestions? Thanks again.

 

[mas985]

You could try shimming the pump so it isn't putting stress on the union.