Pentair Intelliflo VSF cover

[Sandia]

For the past several weeks I'm having issues with the vacuum and the clamp cover to the filter basket - I can't help but think they are related...

I used to be able to hook up the vacuum easily, and it was never a problem to switch from vacuum to skimmer basket.
(I cannot have both, as a Vac-mate will not fit, the pool is about 40 years old...)

Lately, when I hook up the vacuum, I get a priming failure - this never used to happen!
So, apparently, the solution is to fill the pump with water before starting it back up - well, I cannot open the clamp lid. I have to wait for the pool service guy to come to open it...

1) it never used to be that tight and it worked fine, never a priming failure
2) I never had a problem opening it
3) He applied lube to the O-ring thinking this would solve the problem, it did not
4) The pump ( 011056 ) is only 18 months old...

What can I try next?

 

[Dirk]

Seems the lube should have helped. Did anyone actually clean the o-ring, and the two channels it sits in? If any or all of those are dirty, lube might not overcome that. Was the correct lube used?

Pool Lube - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Sandia]

Yes, it was cleaned and lubed -

I suppose the other question is: is there another type of cover that would be easier to open, or some kind of tool that would help open it, *if* it needs to be so tight?

 

[mas985]

The priming failure is probably due to the excess suction from the cleaner. What speed or GPM are you trying to run the cleaner at?

As for the stuck lid, do you have a rubber mallet? Are you tightening the pump lid or is the service tech?

 

[Dirk]

Mark beat me to it. I was just writing: perhaps the pool guy is over tightening it.

 

[Sandia]

I have tried running it at every setting, always the same...
it will start trying to prime, then bubbles, big bubbles, and then... stops and priming failure
Tech leaves it so tight, he said if it is not tight, this will happen, but now it happens even if tight.
I do have a rubber mallet, Is should hit it?

 

[Dirk]

There is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to tightening an o-ring, too much and you can make the seal worse. In fact, it's possible that the o-ring is now deformed from over tightening. Mark would know if it's possible to actually warp the cover itself from over tightening. Mine is hand tight. I generally have to rap on the flanges a bit with the heel of my hand to get it moving, but I've never had to take a hammer to it.

I think you should change the o-ring with new (they don't last forever), clean the channels again, lube the new o-ring, and then instruct the pool guy to not over tighten it (regardless of what he says about it).

 

[Sandia]

Got it. Will order one today.

To be fair, it is a small space and there is very little room to maneuver the opening of this gasket, that's why I had kept it so loose previously, but still, even my husband has a hard time prying it open...

The other reason why I need to be able to open myself is for cleaning out the basket... it collects a lot of flowers and leaves and I hate leaving it all week until he comes for the service...

Thanks Dirk & Mark!

Sandra

 

[Jimrahbe]

Sandia,

Show us a couple of pics of your set up...

I doubt that the pump lid gasket has anything to do with your main problem...

Tell us how you are connecting to your cleaner??? Are you just connecting your vac hose to the skimmer?

Will the pump prime if the vac hose is not connected?

Pics will help us understand how things are connected...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[mas985]

it will start trying to prime,...

What do you mean by "start" to prime? Once primed, a pump should never lose prime. When you turn off the pump for a while, does the water drain out of the pump basket? If so, you have a large leak somewhere.

I do have a rubber mallet, Is should hit it?

Start with light taps and see if you can get it moving. It shouldn't take much. Don't let the tech tighten the lid. You tighten it by hand until it doesn't move but don't overtighten.

 

[Sandia]

Ok...
I connect the vacuum hose directly into the skimmer, it has an attachment where you regulate the speed of the vacuum...
The pump primes beautifully without the vacuum, if just the skimmer basket is in.
Something else, the heater has an error code of FLO when the vac is in, this means it's not getting enough water to operate.

Another thing I just noticed while taking photos, gurgling sounds from the leaf catcher, then it all stops.

 

[Sandia]

What do you mean by "start" to prime? Once primed, a pump should never lose prime. When you turn off the pump for a while, does the water drain out of the pump basket? If so, you have a large leak somewhere.

It does lose prime, or at least, I think it does, I tried to attach a video, but the file is too large... BUT... this only happens when the vacuum is attached, seems alright when it's just the skimmer basket, it never stops then, and the heater doesn't throw up the FLO error code

 

[mas985]

What you are describing sounds like an issue with the vacuum hose or the cleaner itself. Have you taken everything apart and made sure there are no blockages anywhere?

 

[Sandia]

I have, but now I'm wondering if the leaf canister is not cracked somewhere, going by the gurgling I just heard... That would be an easy, inexpensive fix!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Sandia,

Clearly the problem is with your suction side cleaner system...

I suggest that you move out of the 1960's and into this Century...

In my opinion the only kind of pool cleaner to have is a Robot.. You don't have to run the pump or worry about some vac hose..

They look like this...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Sandia]

Sandia,

Clearly the problem is with your suction side cleaner system...

I suggest that you move out of the 1960's and into this Century...

In my opinion the only kind of pool cleaner to have is a Robot.. You don't have to run the pump or worry about some vac hose..

They look like this...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Whaaaatttt?? How do I not know about this?!?

 

[Dirk]

I have, but now I'm wondering if the leaf canister is not cracked somewhere, going by the gurgling I just heard... That would be an easy, inexpensive fix!

Disconnect everything except the first hose section, still connected to skimmer gizmo and put the other end into the pool. If problems goes away, it's probably the catcher. If problem remains, swap that one section of hose for another (it's not likely two leaks, one in two different sections). If problem goes away, the leak is in the first section of hose. If problem remains, it's the gizmo in the skimmer. Take that out and connect the hose to the suction port at the bottom of the skimmer. If problem goes away, it's the gizmo.

Jim will achieve nirvana only after eradicating the entire planet of anything but pool vacuuming robots. In the meantime, we Rebels will persevere, struggling as best we can in our perfectly clean pools...

 

[JamesW]

It looks like the union nut on the suction side is cracked.

If it is, the union needs to be replaced.

It might be causing an air leak.

 

[Dirk]

You can test for suction leaks at the equipment pad, including the union nut JamesW is referring to, like this:

 

[JamesW]

One of the best ways to check for a suction leak is to push water to the pump from the skimmer.

Just rig up an adapter so that the garden hose can push water into the pump from the skimmer.

That makes the suction side into pressure and water will come out at the leak.