How To Fix A Stuck Hard To Turn Hayward Pool Sand Filter Valve Handle

Hayward Vari Flo & Vari Flo XL multi port dial valve handles are notorious for being poorly lubricated. With the use of some silicone lubricant you can rejuvenate the seals and the handle will turn freely.
This video also serves as a demonstration as to what would be involved in replacing the seals.

[@QuaabQueb]

....I should also mention you should probably search for SILICONE GREASE. You will find that silicone "lubricant" yields results from adult shops.

[@AldoRyan]

Correct. A friend told me so...

[@socomt5]

Would a damaged selector handle cause an issue with prime?

[@QuaabQueb]

@@socomt5 no not really. If the pump is not priming it is leaking or pulling in air from somewhere

[@socomt5]

@@QuaabQueb problem is. I can not isolate where the prime loss is coming from. Now regarding the selector handle….water is now bleeding from the top of the valve from the handle. And. I found out my sister had turned the handle to ‘pool spa boost’ for normal operation.

[@socomt5]

@@QuaabQueb well, I can DEFINTELY tell you I habe a feeling my o rings are shot. So I can at least address that. Great video. Ty.

[@jamesmccullough677]

What to say thank you for showing step by step. I looked high and low for the right video. Saved me from hiring a professional.

[@MrYu2ube]

Very helpful video. My pool store told me parts weren't available and wanted to sell a whole new filter. Your video and $50 in parts and my 25 year old unit works like new! Like others, I found that removing the handle by leaving the upper plate bolted in place worked well.

[@mgamga9476]

In the future. Remove pin and handle while multi port valve is together. It should be the first thing you remove.

[@keeganob126]

Thank you for this video. You didn't use more words than were absolutely necessary. Appreciate that!!!

[@MikeJuntaman]

Thanks, I replaced MPV/ key assembly. I Pushed down on the top in the vice and had my wife tighten the vice. Easy peasy. Lay a rag on your vice so the gasket stays clean!

[@richardkoon5544]

I just used to wood clamps with rubber tips instead of standing on the assembly. EASY. Pin dropped right into the handle. Great video.

[@QuaabQueb]

That would be the EASY way to do it. What fun is that!

[@richardkoon5544]

@@QuaabQueb LOL. Thanks for the demo.

[@QuaabQueb]

@@richardkoon5544 Glad it helped, and thanks for the comment.

[@kristanjackson1413]

Thank you so much, this helped alot. I had trouble getting the handle back on, so I screwed the top to a piece of wood and was able to get it back on.

[@user-un6hj4hl7w]

Very helpful video. thank you. only thing I would add when I did mine after watching your video, I used two large "C" clamps, placing a piece of wood on the bottom of the valve and compressed it to get the pin out and back in. out was easier that way and when you go to put the pin back in, everything has to be lined up right so the pin will go back in. my pin slid right in place with no pounding on it.

[@x2malandy]

I cut a foot long piece of pvc pipe to put on crank handle to help turn it. Taking apart per your video and getting it fixed. I have a new spider gasket and proper lub. Looking forward to the challenge now with your video. Thanks.

[@thewickedgatekeeper]

Great video! Helped me out a lot, thanks!

[@greghackney8437]

Use a disc of cardboard temporarily inside the valve body to hold the cup up and put the screws in in Lewis of standing on it. Works like a press to get the pin back in. Then remove the cardboard.

[@o.thomas518]

Very useful video, it saved us hundreds of dollars! I couldn't believe this happened to the valve after 2 seasons of saltwater pool usage (the spring didn't rust yet). We couldn't backwash for weeks until we found this video and gave it a try instead of buying a new valve. I used Hayward Jack's Aqualube from Amazon and it worked wonders. I only had 1 o ring that did not even come off but the white one did; it still worked out. We followed every step of the video because order indeed is important. The valve actually moves so easily now that I first thought we made a mistake. Putting it back together was tricky so hubby used 2 clamps to gently squeeze the plastic together to put the pin through. I am wondering how to protect this unit from the elements and if it is possible, could this problem be prevented or will we have to do this every 3 years?

[@JC-cv4ut]

Hey a tip to compress the spring, use a couple of G clamps. Then the handle and pin come out easy!

[@bomark2002]

This is the video I’ve been lookin for, why buy when you can fix it?

[@wrongmower]

Toxic waste haha, thanks for sharing, just did mine today 👍

[@pingdis]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@jram7047]

I'm about to do this for the first time , thanks for the video , one idea I would try and i want your input before I break something is , instead of standing on the assembly is it possible to clamp it back in the housing with the screws and then put the dowel in?

[@QuaabQueb]

Nope because the spring is what presses down the key

[@reddodge630]

I used 2 speed clamps slightly compressing the 2 main parts together, worked like a charm. You'll know its enough when the handle flops freely.

[@esmerichards9058]

This is indeed great, however, our pin is not positioned on any indent.. there can not tap it out to pull the whole thing apart.. Completely stuck! :(

[@entrthedragon]

There is a three prong black spinner in the waste port (new filters) Does anyone know if it’s really needed? It sometimes gets stuck in my ball valve on the waste port so I can’t close it. I think it’s pretty crappy that Hayward glued their spider gaskets on so you have to buy the whole part instead of a $10 gasket.

[@jondoe7901]

Does doing this make the lever push down easier too?

[@miraquepasa6519]

I changed my sand twice did back washing did circulation but still the only time seems like it works is if I slightly push down on the handle

[@greghackney8437]

Needs a new spring

[@tinak8953]

Do you suppose the excel filter head is the same? Mine just decided to stop turning. It worked fine a couple weeks ago. It's only a year old.

[@sam999ber]

Are 2 on Hayward diverter key valves the same or universal?

[@mohamedsadjil1330]

Dommage la qualité de l'image et un peu trouble

[@coop3014]

You’re f’n funny

[@Sloot20]

Hi Chargero, thanks for the videos. Our Hays sand filter handle is currently stuck near the waste water setting (not fully locked in). The handle is totally jammed and not moving. I've switched the isolation valve from the skimmer to closed, and the intention is to disassemble the top of the filter tomorrow. Do I need to do anything additional before removing the top of the filter? Your video already have it removed from the actual body of the filter.

[@QuaabQueb]

You can simply undo the 6 screws and pull off the handle assembly. You do not need to take the entire valve off the filter head.

[@Bettebet79]

Mine won't start up.. Is there a reset button ???

[@dropbear4973]

I vacuumed my pool for the first time, now my handle on my sand filter is extremely hard to turn it feels like crunchy sand is preventing it from turning. Why did this happen and how do I fix it?

[@QuaabQueb]

You have vacuumed on the wrong setting and sand got in the top. Always vacuum on drain/waste to completely bypass the filter and discharge to the street.

[@dropbear4973]

Oh, I thought you were supposed to vacuum on filter?

[@dropbear4973]

So to fix it do I just remove the top screws and blast it with garden hose?

[@QuaabQueb]

@@dropbear4973 you can, just make sure yo backwash and rinse after. If you vacuum on filter all the crap is getting caught in the filter

[@dropbear4973]

I just dont understand how sand got to where it messed up my vavle handle, I don't see anyone else complaining about this after vacuuming on filter. It was very hard to move the handle to backwash and rinse but I did manage to do it and it didn't clear it up.

[@pfont60]

Impossible to replace this pin

[@QuaabQueb]

Use screw clamps

[@Geraldt61]

A nice clamp works easier.

[@1362johnson]

It's so much easier if you drive that pan out while it's still bolted to the filter. You don't have to stand on anything. Cuz the spring is already compressed.