Which Pool Pump Seal Kit Do I Need?

Often referred to as a Seal Kit, Gasket Kit, or an O-ring kit, a GOKIT includes the important gaskets and seals for a specific pool pump model.

The common components of a GOKIT are the following

• Shaft Seal
• Housing Gasket
• Lid Gasket
• Diffuser Gasket (Inground Pool Pump models only)
• Lube Packet

Standard gasket kits come with the standard shaft seal for traditional chlorine pools. To find the saltwater GOKIT, add SALT to the part number of the regular kit. For example, Pentair WhisperFlo’s gasket kit, the GOKIT32‘s saltwater version is the GOKIT32SALT.

When Do I Need a Pool Pump Seal Kit?

Seal kits are often purchased with a replacement pool pump motor to ensure the reassembled pump housing is watertight. The shaft seal is the only seal truly required for the correct installation of a new pump motor. It sits in the seal plate, sealing the gap between the impeller and the motor face; it prevents water from damaging the motor.

GOKITs can also be part of pump refurbishing or preventative maintenance. If your pump shows signs of a water leak or is having trouble priming, you may have a faulty lid, gasket, housing o-ring, or shaft seal.

Another sign of a bad shaft seal is the loud grinding noises caused by the pump motor’s bad bearings. Rusted ball bearings often cause that loud bearing noise from a faulty shaft seal leaking water into the motor’s internal parts.

What’s Needed to Find the Right Pool Pump Seal Kit?

Each seal kit matches a corresponding pool pump model, i.e., the Hayward Super Pump’s GOKIT3, the Pentair WhisperFlo’s GOKIT32, and the Jacuzzi Magnum GOKIT14. So, to identify the right gasket kit for your pump, you must first identify the pump housing make and model.

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Here are a few places to check…

Find the Pump Model Name or Number

Every pool pump has at least one label that lists the manufacturer’s name, model, and model number. The specification labels are most commonly found on the pump’s main housing.

A secondary model information tag may also be on the pump’s original motor. Replacement pool pump motors will not list any pump housing-specific information on their label, as square and round flange motors can be installed on dozens of pump models.

Pump Part Number

If your pump labels are too faded to read or to miss, part numbers on individual components can be used to identify your pump model. Or, at the very least, we can narrow the field of possibilities that we can compare.

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The best places to find searchable part numbers to identify your pool pump are:

1. Pump Strainer Lid
2. Strainer Basket
3. Seal Plate
4. Diffuser
5. Impeller

How to Use a Part Number to Identify a Pool Pump Gasket

Enter the part number into Inyo’s pool parts search to find more info on the part and any compatible pump models it’s used on. Click the Parts tab to find the schematic pages for the associated parts on the product description page. Then, review the linked schematics to find the pump housing most resembles your model.

In this example, we’re using the Sta-Rite Trap Cover C3-139P1; this part is used on four pump models. To find

Pumps With Two or More Pool Pump Kit Options

Pump models like the Pentair Challenger or the Sta-Rite Dura-Glas & Max-E-Glas have two or more gasket kit options. You need to confirm which model version you have to get the right kit for. Replacing a new gasket is crucial to ensure proper sealing and prevent leaks.

Date Range

Pump models that have been modified during their production run may have different gasket kits to fit the two designs.

For example, the Sta-Rite Dura-Glashas a gasket kit for its Pre-‘98 (GOKIT6) and post-‘98 (GOKIT54) production run. An easy way to ID which kit you need is to inspect the shaft seal to see if your seal looks like the left GOKIT6 on the right GOKIT54. A leaking shaft seal can lead to further damage if not addressed promptly. The motor shaft is essential in preventing leaks by ensuring the shaft seal is properly fitted. The pump motor plays a critical role in preventing leaks by keeping water from entering the motor and causing damage.

In this guide, we cover more ways to identify which kit you need: How to Determine if My Dura-Glas Is Pre-‘98 or 1998 to Present.

Feet of Head Rating

The Pentair Challenger is produced in two categories: the Challenger CF High Flow Series for medium-head systems (GOKIT73) and the Challenger CH High Pressure Series for high-head systems (GOKIT5).

Check your Challenger’s diffuser and housing gaskets. If your diffuser and housing gaskets have a square cross-section, it is a CF Series; if they have a round cross-section, it is a CH Series.

For other ways to identify your Pentair Challenger, read our How to Pick the Correct Pentair Challenger Gasket Kit (GOKIT) guide.

Ask Inyo’s Pool Experts

If you aren’t sure about which pool you have or which seal kit you need, contact Inyo’s Pool Tech Experts with pictures of your pool pump’s label and a side profile shot for the best results. Our techs can identify your pool pump and its associated gaskets, and we’ll even confirm that you’re purchasing the correct motor or any other parts you’re getting.