Pentair Genuine Replacement 1-1/2 Inch Leaf Trap Lid, R18650

The Pentair R18650 is the replacement lid for the 1-1/2 inch leaf trap, model 186. It is the genuine Pentair part.

Why lids fail

A trap lid lives in full sun with chlorinated water on the inside of it. Over a few seasons the plastic crazes: it goes cloudy first, so you can no longer see how full the basket is, and then it cracks. A cracked lid on the suction side of the pump is worse than it looks, because it draws air into the line and the pump starts losing prime and running hot.

Fitting it

Shut the pump down, relieve the pressure, unscrew the old lid and fit this one. There is no plumbing work. While the trap is open, look at the lid o-ring, since a lid that has been leaking usually has a tired seal underneath it, and that is ordered separately.