PENTAIR BOOSTER PUMP LEAKING - fix or replace

[yrqrm0]

Hello all, just came back from vacation last night and first thing I checked is my pool. Checked my easy touch panel and my feet got wet? Had to get a flashlight and found out my booster pump is leaking from the shaft behind the plumbed volute? Leak has some rust color in it?
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Should I try to fix it with a kit? I did see the youtube diy video but I hate to go through it and thinking bearings may have been damaged already from the rust color? The pump did make a lot of noise before, is that a symptom of bad bearings?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pentair-Let...ltDomain_0&hash=item2ebc2867c5#ht_1231wt_1018

Or buy a new pump? If I buy a new pump can I leave the plumbed volute there and remove the old pump and replace it with a new pump? Do you see it being a problem down the road? Thank you!

 

[jblizzle]

If it is making noise, that would point to bearing damage.

Whether you replace the motor now or just want to fix the leak, you are going to need a new cermaic shaft seal.

You do not need a whole new pump. You just need a new motor. I think that is what you were trying to say ...

 

[yrqrm0]

I was thinking more like getting the whole pump - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0039POBW6 and replacing everything - motor, seal bracket, impeller, seals, o-ring but the plumbed volute and the bolted motor stand. Would that work? Thanks!

 

[jblizzle]

I suppose it would work. Although then you have extra parts and there is no reason to replace the impeller.

Likely could just get a motor and seal kit.

 

[yrqrm0]

I just bought this new motor and seal kit on ebay -

http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-O-Smith-B...794?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c344bb7e2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200725260229?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Watching a few videos on YouTube, I "quickly" took the pump apart and replaced the motor and the seal gaskets and o-rings. I noticed that on the old and new motor, there weren't any o-ring on the shaft so I "quickly" assumed (and after watching youtube videos) that the o-ring on the kit was for the shaft??? Though there are no leaks on the seals through the bracket window, lo and behold there is water seeping out of the drain plug.

Now 2 issues:
1. I know I need to buy a new o-ring for the drain plug but how do I install it. There weren't any videos on how to replace drain plug nor was it mentioned on the videos I saw that caused this predicament. Do I replace it by taking out the volute again?

2. While I am making this post, the booster pump just died on me. No, there isn't any schedule or timer that caused the motor to turn it off. Since I still have the old motor, can I replace the capacitor as a process of elimination trouble shooting?