I have mixed thoughts about slathering on primer and glue on an
already glued joint. It may or may not help the problem. PVC cement
has no strength, it takes the actual melting or dissolving of the
joints that are coated and in the process it expands slightly. Its
next to impossible to pull any primer or glue into a joint without a
vaccum. If you could make a few wraps of electrical tape around a few
solvent welded joints, as a sort of bandaide, it may be sufficient to
stop an air leak. Do a joint and look at your output for signs of
bubbles or cavitation....if no improvement do another etc etc
et..until you hopefully find where the leak is at and it..may help
from just startating over again. I have heard of others that used a 2
part epoxy that they pack around a leaking joint and they have stated
it works and holds good, since its on a suction side where your
problem is, it should work well until you decide on a more permanent
fix.......Teflon tape or no teflon tape its still possible to get a
leak........Good luck..........


On Sat, 09 Jul 2005 10:57:36 -0600, Wilmdale
wrote:

===RichToyBox wrote:
===
===If the leaf basket is completely full after a few minutes, but leaks down
===over time something is leaking. If it immediately gets that air in it, then
===the prime is not complete, and air is in a high spot in the line that can be
===sucked to the leaf basket on starting the pump. If the lid of the leaf trap
===is not thoroughly sealed, it will leak air. They make a grease for the
===rubber ring, it is somewhat expensive but works. If there are any leaks in
===pipe joints that are exposed to air, they will also leak air in. Ideally,
===their should be no air in the leaf trap.
===
===
===Thanks RTB and Roy. I think you are right about there being a leak
===somewhere. I let the pump run all night last night and while there is
===still good flow from the filters, there is a lot of bubbling coming up
===through the media. I have attempted to go back and re-seal around the
===pvc joints with primer and cement. Still the water drops down to just
===above the inlet. And it sounds like there is a lot of cavitating at the
===impeller. That can't be good. There is a "bleed" valve on the elbow
===coming out of the pond but I flood it and it is sealed with teflon
===tape. Could this still be leaking even with the tape?
===So, aside from taking a hack saw to the pipe and starting over (on the
===plumbing outside the pond) I am at a lose. Any other suggestions? I
===thought about putting in a 1/4 inch bleed valve in the elbow at the
===highest point in the line and try to bleed off the air bubbles as the
===line floods. The other thing would be to cut the line and fill it up
===making sure the air is out, rejoin with a flexible coupling.
===Thanks for any additional suggestions. This puppy is a frustrating
===little thing.
===W. Dale


==============================================
Put some color in your cheeks...garden naked!
"The original frugal ponder"
~~~~ }((((o ~~~~~~ }{{{{o ~~~~~~~ }(((((o