Thanks so much guys. That did the trick. I love this forum. It took a couple tries to get it right but Diver Dave is now cleaning the pool.

Do you have any suggestions about the basket? I cant budge it. It looks like it should twist a little so I can pop it out but I cant twist it. I bought some of the skimmer socks to try out but if I cant get the basket out they do me no good. The pollen is especially bad right now and I want to try to save the filter. I was think if I cant get it out any other way I would cut the basket away and pick a new one up for the pool store assuming I can get one without buying a whole new skimmer.

thanks for the help.
Frank