Stenner Pump priming?

[Montu]

Hello,

So I setup one of my Stenners the other day and plugged it in..after leaving it for several hours it still was not pumping any fluid...what is the priming procedure for these?

 

[CA92807]

My Stenner self primes. I have a flow meter on the suction side and can see liquid flow after a few minutes. I think you should look for a leak on the suction side tubing and fittings. If you have a duck-bill check valve it may be installed backwards. Good luck.

 

[Montu]

I have one of these check valves:
Amazon.com : Stenner Pump Company UCDBINJ Injection Check Valve 1/4-Inch : Patio, Lawn Garden

at first I assembled it backwards but pool water started flowing up toward the pump, so i reversed it....tubing seems pretty self explanatory but I'll take it apart and redo it just in case.

thanks

 

[Bama Rambler]

Even a small leak on the suction side of the pump tube fitting will cause it not to prime. That fitting is the most common place to have a tiny air leak. It could have a tiny piece of debris in it, or simply not be tight enough.

I've seen a pinhole in the suction tubing, but that's very rare.

 

[rphpool]

Are you sure you have the correct hose going to the chlorine barrel and return line? If so are you sure the line going into your tank is all the way to the bottom. Sometimes it is the simple things that drives us crazy.

 

[Montu]

Thanks guys,

I've been pretty busy but I'll be looking at this very carefully tomorrow morning.

The weird thing is that is when I checked the check valve it was pressurized...the moment I unscrewed it I heard the air "pop" is that normal?

 

[Bama Rambler]

When you unscrew the check valve from the piping or the tubing from the check valve?
While there should be a little pressure against the check valve from the injection pump and from the pool pump, there shouldn't be enough to 'pop'.

 

[Montu]

I'm not sure what I'm doing here..I made this quick video to show you guys:
Priming problem - YouTube



I flipped the little plastic thing inside of the check valve around but water just shot up the tubing...so I went ahead and just tested without the check valve and got what you see in the video...no audio because I just recently broke my phone's mic :-o

 

[rphpool]

The Stenner looks setup correctly. You should be getting something on the return side. My only thought is you have a bad tube, or tube split when you tightened down the white lines to it. Are the rollers tight up against the tube?

 

[Montu]

yeah they are pretty tight..I'll have to check it.

I also hooked up the 2nd stenner I have that I plan on using for Acid and it's doing the same thing.... :-/

 

[Bama Rambler]

Take the fitting off the suction side of the pump tube and make sure the ferrule is turned the right direction. Then put it back on and use a pair of pliers to gently tighten the fitting onto the pump tube while holding the end of the pump tube with a second pair of pliers. Be gentle.

 

[dsmith99]

Is is just an illusion or is the suction side tube smaller in diameter? If you used the smaller tubing make sure you have the correct size ferrule on it.

 

[Montu]

I will take everything apart and show you guys, the tubing is all the same size..only one size came with my kit.

I think the ferrule things may actually be my problem...but I'll post pictures later.

thanks

 

[dsmith99]

In the video it sure looks like your roller assembly is fully expanded but it's hard to tell for sure. This video will show you how to expand/contract the roller assembly and replace the tube.

I would check to be sure the roller is fully expanded and the ferrules correctly installed. If trouble persists then pull the tube and inspect it for damage or even install the replacement.

If I remember correctly my pump was shipped with the roller assembly retracted.

Stenner QuickPro Pump Head Replacement Single Head Fixed Output - YouTube

 

[Montu]

In the video it sure looks like your roller assembly is fully expanded but it's hard to tell for sure. This video will show you how to expand/contract the roller assembly and replace the tube.

I would check to be sure the roller is fully expanded and the ferrules correctly installed. If trouble persists then pull the tube and inspect it for damage or even install the replacement.

If I remember correctly my pump was shipped with the roller assembly retracted.

Stenner QuickPro Pump Head Replacement Single Head Fixed Output - YouTube

This may be it! I totally only expanded the roller as much as I could by hand...urg!

I need to find time to get out there tonight and try this....thanks

 

[Montu]

That wasn't it :-/ ...I may have to re order those plastic things that go on the tubing to create a good seal...they are crushed and as far as I can tell doing their job but it must be the problem because the tubing is fine.