Emperor 280 is not working

[gmh]

I scored a used Emperor 280 filter and set it up over a 5 gallon bucket for a test run. After priming it I turned it on and it made a horrendous racket, spewing water out only in spurts. I took it apart and seated everything properly (I think), primed again, and still got a noisy mess.
This filter was free so no big deal, but I wonder if I am neglecting something. No owner's manuel or experience with these.

 

[1oooop]

hmm, can I get a pic of the impeller? also, did you really prime it? same thing happens to me when I don't prime with every single filter I have

 

[DAVIDFBT]

Have you given it a couple of minutes after turning it on? Is the problem that it doens't pump any water at all, or it's just very loud? Check the impeller for junk built up around it.

 

[gmh]

The impeller is clean as is the whole filter. To prime it I fill the filter box all the way to the top then plug it in. I left it on a few minutes each time.
It seems to work at first (albeit loudly) and then gets much louder as the water level in the filter box gets lower.
No pics available but the impeller looks fine, blades intact, no gunk.

 

[excuzzzeme]

You may need to keep filling by hand until it draws up the water on it's own. Yes it will be very noisy until that happens.

Make sure there are no holes in the intake tube that can suck air. (Look for a cracked tube)

 

[gmh]

Hmm, After many tries, assembling and reassembling, priming constantly, nothing seems to work. I guess the filter is worth what I paid for it.
Zero.

 

[gmh]

Well, today I was doing my weekly tank maintenance and saw that filter sitting in the bucket. I went ahead and put it on the tank for one last try. Afer much filling and refilling the filter box it finally got into gear and did it's job. But it is probably four times noisier than the Penguin 350 sitting next to it. After an hour I could not take it any more and removed it.
I always though Emperors were slightly superior to Penguins but my 350 is quiet and needs only one prime to get started.
The Emperor will be given away to someone who can put up with it.