The problem of the pump is that addressed here often; that if you have imbibed sand clamp the valves, I can confirm though, but I can not understand why, as here so often claimed, it raises the pump immediately away.
For those who think to get the gravel cleaner, or already possess:
If the valves no longer close, just take the pipe sections from sitting in front of the valve, and take out the valve, briefly rinsed in clean water if necessary and tough soiling away with a finger and the pump is running like new again. The whole process takes about 1-2 minutes and is absolutely not complicated.