Sounds like somehow you got the wrong size filters. The hole should fit snug on the pump.

Vaseline (nor any other petroleum product) is not compatible with plastic pool parts. Please clean off all you can and get it out of any nooks and crannies. We had to replace a summer escapes pump this summer because it was lubed with vaseline. The hose fitting snapped right off.

Can you post exact model numbers for the filters and pump?