what are these two components in the sand filter for?

[jgy2001]

This is the Extreme Power USA above ground pool pump 1.9HP 4500GPH with 19" 175lb sand filter
https://xtremepowerusa.com/products/75032
We have not been able to get any answer about the following two components:

what are these two components in the sand filter for?

1. the sand filter hexogon core comes with a 17" long, 1/4" round plastic rod attached to the base of the core. It is straped to the core with tie wrap. What is the function of this, and should we cut the tie wrap?
2. The sand filter comes with this 1.75 inch long, 1/4" round hollow with cut slots around this plastic component. What does this do? What does it suppose to attached to?

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

[Gus]

I cannot understand what the first one is but, the second one goes in the sand box. The it makes sure that the water goes through the sand, it sucks the water from under the sand.

[jgy2001]

The plastic black adapter for the pressure gauge broke. The pressure gauge screw into the 5-way valve assembly.
Trying to contact Xtremet Power USA without much sucess. The adapter has around 1/2" male NPT screw thread into the 5-way valve assembly. The pressure gauge has around 3/8" male NPT threaded into the adapter. See the two photos uploaded.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... XWUcQgy-XI

Hope I can buy this somewhere. Thank you for your help.

[jgy2001]

The plastic black adapter for the pressure gauge broke. The pressure gauge screw into the 5-way valve assembly.
Trying to contact Xtremet Power USA without much sucess. The adapter has around 1/2" male NPT screw thread into the 5-way valve assembly. The pressure gauge has around 3/8" male NPT threaded into the adapter. See the two photos uploaded.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... XWUcQgy-XI

Hope I can buy this somewhere. Thank you for your help.

[jgy2001]

Found the pressure gauge adapter part in xtreme Power US web site.

We have tried the water jet into the bottom of the sand to deep clean flash out the dirt, then pump out the dirty water.
Ares there any better way to clean the sand by disassemble the 5-wqy valve, the hoses, and pumping the dirty water out?

[jgy2001]

I got the idea from this two part YouTube video on deep cleaning of sand filter. But cannot let the dirty water spill onto the patio. Have to wet vacuum to suck the dirty water out from the tank. Suck some sand too. Too hard work and too slow. Must be a better way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wBhwYv_RKI