Multiport valve stuck between positions, won't seat right

Started by Jason Okafor · · 2 replies
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#1
Been fighting this for a week now. Backwashed like normal, went to switch back to filter and the handle won't drop all the way into position, feels like it's catching on something maybe a quarter inch before it seats. Still filters fine if I kind of wiggle it and lean on the handle but that cant be good long term. This is the same multiport I rebuilt a couple years back when the spider gasket went, so I'm wondering if I just didn't seat something right back then and it's finally catching up to me, or if sand got up in the valve body somehow. Anyone run into the gasket swelling or shifting after a rebuild. Not trying to buy a whole new valve if I can help it, figured I'd pull it apart again this weekend but wanted to ask before I start taking it apart blind.

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#2
Had almost this exact thing happen on mine a few years back after I redid the spider gasket myself, handle would get close but not drop in all the way and I'd have to lean on it like I was arm wrestling the thing. Turned out when I put it back together I'd gotten the gasket seated just a hair off center, it wasn't torn or swollen or anything, just not sitting flush in its groove all the way around, and that little bit of proud rubber was enough to catch the spider arm before it could rotate fully home. Sand getting up in there is possible too I guess but in my case there was no grit when I pulled it apart, just the gasket sitting crooked.

Before you tear into it this weekend I'd pop the top off first and just eyeball the gasket sitting in the groove, run your finger around the whole circumference feeling for a spot that's higher or bunched up, that takes two minutes and saves you from pulling the whole spider assembly for nothing. If it does turn out to be the gasket, go slow pressing it back in evenly, that's where I rushed it the first time, up here in Ohio I was trying to get it done before dark and didn't do it right.
#3
haven't rebuilt mine yet so cant speak to the gasket shifting thing directly, but bill's point about running a finger around the whole groove before pulling anything apart is solid advice, way less work than tearing into the spider assembly on a hunch. only multiport issue i've had was just crud built up around the o ring from not greasing it, handle got stiff but still dropped in fine, nothing like what you're describing with it catching a quarter inch short. if the gasket checks out flush all the way around i'd be more suspicious of sand in the body like you said, especially if you've ever run it on backwash a little too long or had a filter issue kick grit loose into the valve.