Thanks for answering me

First I was wrong on the color (dont know if it matters) One is red and the other blue not green. Duh---guess my memory is not too good.

Yes both are in line with the pipes.
Got the new head from Walmarts ---did get to vacuum last night--had good suction not too much so maybe it was the head after all.

Still worried about the prime thing--or could that be normal when vacuuming??It did return to normal when I backwashed.
Thanks so much for your help
Karen