Question about Seal Plates and Silicon adhesive

[muffin_dad]

I'm changing out my motor on a pump and I notice that both my 2 pumps and my neighbors 2 pumps (all whisperflos) whoever installed or maintained them had globbed a bunch of silicon adhesive between the seal plate and the volute where the fitted seal is supposed to go. Is this normal or a standard practice? None of the materials I've read about how to replace a motor seem to indicate this should be done. Interested in what the experts here have to say about it.

 

[Texas Splash]

@1poolman1 was helping another member last week with the same issue and the silicone was used to help assist in keeping the gasket in-place more than anything. Perhaps he will confirm next time he's online and/or expand on that technique.

 

[1poolman1]

I'm changing out my motor on a pump and I notice that both my 2 pumps and my neighbors 2 pumps (all whisperflos) whoever installed or maintained them had globbed a bunch of silicon adhesive between the seal plate and the volute where the fitted seal is supposed to go. Is this normal or a standard practice? None of the materials I've read about how to replace a motor seem to indicate this should be done. Interested in what the experts here have to say about it.

I always use a THIN layer of silicone when installing the bellows portion of a 1000 seal into the sealplate of a Whispeflo. Helps the metal to slip in completely and seal if there are imperfections. Many manufacturers are now doing the same thing when new.
If you are talking about the shaped gasket, at times it helps the keep it in place for assembly if silicone is placed in the groove. As the pump is assembled it will squeeze out. Won't hurt anything, but looks very un-professional if left. I always use clear silicone because it looks better and doesn't show as much when wiped off. Some repair people will use it with the old gasket instead of just replacing the gasket (bad practice), though at times when another repair is being made you notice the leaking seal and go ahead and do that repair at the time. When this repair is made, all O rings (lid and diffuser), seal, and gasket should be replaced at the time if it is a planned repair.

 

[muffin_dad]

I always use a THIN layer of silicone when installing the bellows portion of a 1000 seal into the sealplate of a Whispeflo. Helps the metal to slip in completely and seal if there are imperfections. Many manufacturers are now doing the same thing when new.
If you are talking about the shaped gasket, at times it helps the keep it in place for assembly if silicone is placed in the groove. As the pump is assembled it will squeeze out. Won't hurt anything, but looks very un-professional if left. I always use clear silicone because it looks better and doesn't show as much when wiped off. Some repair people will use it with the old gasket instead of just replacing the gasket (bad practice), though at times when another repair is being made you notice the leaking seal and go ahead and do that repair at the time. When this repair is made, all O rings (lid and diffuser), seal, and gasket should be replaced at the time if it is a planned repair.

Thank you - appreciate the thorough response. I did notice some silicone on the bellows seal which was torn, and the shaped gasket was tan so I think original to the pump (12 years old) but its definitely been cracked into.

I'm swapping the motor (died after leaking water), seal plate (bottom bolt holes pulled out after water damage), new diffuser (looked sketch), impeller (gray instead of black), shaft seals and all the gaskets. Probably overkill for pump that only runs the waterfall but I opened it up and found all this stuff suspect and had the motor on order so continuing on. Will only run a few hours a week.

What kind of silicone sealant should I use? I picked up some clear Permatex - will that work?

 

[1poolman1]

Thank you - appreciate the thorough response. I did notice some silicone on the bellows seal which was torn, and the shaped gasket was tan so I think original to the pump (12 years old) but its definitely been cracked into.

I'm swapping the motor (died after leaking water), seal plate (bottom bolt holes pulled out after water damage), new diffuser (looked sketch), impeller (gray instead of black), shaft seals and all the gaskets. Probably overkill for pump that only runs the waterfall but I opened it up and found all this stuff suspect and had the motor on order so continuing on. Will only run a few hours a week.

What kind of silicone sealant should I use? I picked up some clear Permatex - will that work?

View attachment 437135
View attachment 437136

That is a good silicone. The diffuser looks fine, just need an O ring. If you can get a Val-Pak sealplate, do so as they are better built than OEM. I use them every time I have to replace a Whisperflo sealplate. On your waterfall, may not be a big deal, but on a filter pump it can be.
Color of impeller won't affect performance, may have been gray from the factory, some were.

 

[muffin_dad]

Should have asked this before I hooked everything back up - but is the motor bi-directional? Hooked up a red wire and black wire to L2 and L1 respectively, green to ground and tied into the grounding cable. Everything works fine, NO LEAKS so I'm thinking we are good here?! Thanks for the support @1poolman1 and @texassplash

 

[1poolman1]

Should have asked this before I hooked everything back up - but is the motor bi-directional? Hooked up a red wire and black wire to L2 and L1 respectively, green to ground and tied into the grounding cable. Everything works fine, NO LEAKS so I'm thinking we are good here?! Thanks for the support @1poolman1 and @texassplash

No, doesn't matter which color wire goes where on the motor except green, they are designed to only rotate one direction.