Skimmer Help

99taws6 · Dec 11, 2011

I have a PM Redline100 skimmer. It has the standard needlewheel pump. When the skimmer is shut off and I have to restart it I have to blow into the airline to get the skimmer to start working. It's almost like the pump won't even work without it. It's spins, but really slow. I have taken apart and cleaned every part I can. It works great once I blow into it.

When I bought it the original owner said he always had to do that.

Any ideas? It'd be nice to not have to do that every time. Thanks.

redtop03 · Dec 11, 2011

how deep is the water it is sitting in ? the manual recommends 7" if it's more than that it may be having trouble with the head pressure,otherwise I don't have any idea other than it may be time to replace the impeller and shaft,does it have much slack between the impeller and shaft ?

laynframe · Dec 11, 2011

sounds like your venturi isnt smooth causing the pump not to pull air. I had this problem and had a local acrylic guy round over the intake to my venturi and smoothed it up and havent had the problem since.

99taws6 · Dec 11, 2011

I am sitting at 7" as my sump was built around this skimmer.

I'll have to see about the venturi but not too positive about that fixing it. :-(

I'm starting to think maybe I do need a new impeller but I am not understanding why.

redtop03 · Dec 12, 2011

99taws6 said:
I am sitting at 7" as my sump was built around this skimmer.

I'll have to see about the venturi but not too positive about that fixing it. :-(

I'm starting to think maybe I do need a new impeller but I am not understanding why.

if there is very much slack between the shaft and the impeller,it allows the magnet to contact the inner part of the motor housing resulting in poor restarts or not start at all,the magnet needs to be as close to centered as possible in the housing,if that makes sense