Where the heck did this o-ring come from?

[Blue Horse]

I found this o-ring sitting in the basket (circled in red in the 1st photo) between pool/skimmer/spa return (circled in yellow in 1st photo) and the main pool pump. It is 2.5' in diameter, and rubber's profile is 1/8" in diameter.

Opened it up the actuator at the yellow circle in 1st photo, and concluded this o-ring does not fit there (refer to 2nd and 3rd photo).

Also looked at skimmer basket on the pool side. Don't see anywhere this might fit.

Any idea what this o-ring maybe lost from? I am having a hard time to think it has traveled from the pool via skimmer, and all the way ended up here.

 

[laprjns]

Possible face seal for the pump inlet coupling?

 

[Newdude]

It appears to be the right size for your filter

 

[Dirk]

I'll take a stab. It sure looks like the valve housing in your photos should have an o-ring. Someone didn't have the right size so stretched one to fit. Which later popped off and traveled to where you found it.

 

[JamesW]

The valve lid has an O-ring.

If it did come from the valve lid, it could not make it to the pump basket without breaking.

 

[Dirk]

Thanks @JamesW. I think I can now see the valve's o-ring in place, in the cover, not in the body. Since it's 2.5", is it possible it's from some sort of 2.5" PVC pipe repair splicer thingie or some other such threaded coupling, underground?

Or it could be just a rogue o-ring that slipped into the plumbing or one of the components, during manufacture or installation, that's been lying in wait and finally got pushed through to the pump basket?

Perhaps a bucket leak test would rule out any leaking underground fitting missing its o-ring...

What is a "Legend Platinum cleaner?" Is it a suction-side vacuum? If that had and lost an o-ring, that could end up in the pump basket.

 

[markayash]

Either skimmer plug or a skimmer gizzmo is my bet

 

[Tres Gatos]

I think it's a STA-RITE filter O-ring.

 

[JamesW]

Either skimmer plug or a skimmer gizzmo is my bet

It's too big for either one of those things.

Do you have a float valve?

If yes, there should be an O-ring inside where the float is.

Hayward SP1070FV Float Valve Assembly for SP1070 Skimmer - INYOPools.com

Hayward Float Valve Assembly for SP1070 Skimmer

www.inyopools.com

 

[Newdude]

I think it's a STA-RITE filter O-ring.

I have replaced mine several times and they look like that. All of the equipment has 2. The SWG, heater, pump and filter. The filter for whatever reason is just a hair bigger.

 

[Blue Horse]

Mystery is resolved. JamesW is correct and awesome!

This o-ring is inside the float valve, sitting in a groove and the float will sit in contact with it if that flat is turned to close. I can see water turbulance can cause this o-ring to move out and suck into pump basket.

Attached is a a picture with the o-ring put back in place (follow my index finger in the photo).

Thanks guys!

 

[Dirk]

Solved! Nice job @JamesW. Is that some sort of design flaw, how its o-ring can just float away and get sucked into the pump? Or just a fluke? Anything the OP needs to do to prevent that from happening again?

 

[JamesW]

The O-ring fits pretty snugly in the groove, so it usually doesn't come out.