SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

First off, find a genuine image host. Facebook isn't it, not when your every 'image' leads to a secure sign-in page. Greenlawn and Rain Jet have nothing to do with each other. And yes, the Greenlawn valves can have issues. Hard to replace, when they're the angle valves. By the way, there should be a nut or screw on the valve 'bonnet' that is for manual operation, unless they modified their design.

If you have a rainsensor( this is unknown at this time), it is understandable that you could manually turn on the system at the controller/timer and get no results. It is possible that if you had rain and have a rainsensor, that your rainsensor is doing its job and preventing the system from coming on. This doesn't explain why individual zones come on or don't come on, and that is where you may have individual issues as cut wire, poor connection with wire nuts perhaps not water proof connectors, or solenoid or diaphragm problems.

let us know.
Dan

Quoted from "hi.todd"

With out a multimeter and readings on the valve wires I would only be able to guess. Is there a rainsensor hooked up to the system. Start looking around for something that is elevated on a fence or a gutter or on the eve of the garage or house near the timer. It may have cables connected to the timer or not. This could be an explanation of sometimes the entire system working or not. The individual valves working or not could be bad connections or splices that are there that you may not be aware of. With out a multimeter it is hard to say. You may need a new timer, but if it is cables or splices you will throw the money away.

Good luck!!

I couldn't find any rain meter anywhere. I haven't been able to get multi meter readings yet. Would it be a guess that there might be a short somewhere if they are operating sometimes, and sometimes not?

Quoted from "mrfixit"

Obviously not RainJet. I've never seen these valves. Apparently they don't sell them west of Colorado. I do have a question though. My eyes aren't what they used to be but how are you turning these valves on manually?

For the sprinkler heads to water/operate, I have to turn the solenoid counter clock wise for on and clockwise to turn back off. I have the controller set to specific watering times and this is when i discovered that some zones wouldn't come on. The controller does have a "manual start" button and this is what i use to test if the controller will operate the zones. But as of now, for the zones the controller isn't controlling, I am manually turning them on at the solenoid. Should the solenoid be loose to the point right before it turns on or really tight?

Obviously not RainJet. I've never seen these valves. Apparently they don't sell them west of Colorado. I do have a question though. My eyes aren't what they used to be but how are you turning these valves on manually?

Quoted from "mrfixit"

I'm going under the assumption you have the old green anti-syphon valves. A model number would help. It's hard to tell from here but it sounds like the diaphragms are old and stiff. They wont open with the controller but they will with the bleeder screw. Diaphragms are cheap. 5-6 bucks. Valves are cheap also.

Ok, with some more research it appears that the valves are the 61 Series Valves found at http://www.hydro-gardens.com/Greenlawn_Products.htm. It appears that the previous homeowner had this company set the system up with all of their products.

Quoted from "kdfhockey1"

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=34996026&id=34306697

I am not sure if you can copy those picture links into a new internet page but I do not know how else to get them a link.

Quoted from "mrfixit"

I'm going under the assumption you have the old green anti-syphon valves. A model number would help. It's hard to tell from here but it sounds like the diaphragms are old and stiff. They wont open with the controller but they will with the bleeder screw. Diaphragms are cheap. 5-6 bucks. Valves are cheap also.

I am new to this and am still searching for model numbers. I have taken some pics to help with my descriptions. I am trying to figure out how to attach them. The valves in the ground only say KRRE on the round circular piece and Greenlawn on the box with the 4 nuts/screws. The PVB is FEBCO. I am working on getting more information. I just figured i would throw this out there while i got some errands done. And thank you all for the help thus far.
[img]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=34996025&id=34306697[/img]

[img]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=34996024&id=34306697[/img]

[img]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=34996026&id=34306697[/img]

[img]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=34996027&id=34306697[/img]

I'm going under the assumption you have the old green anti-syphon valves. A model number would help. It's hard to tell from here but it sounds like the diaphragms are old and stiff. They wont open with the controller but they will with the bleeder screw. Diaphragms are cheap. 5-6 bucks. Valves are cheap also.

You should be able to manually run each valve at the value. What type of values do you have? How are you manually opening the value? Make sure the bleed screw is open and the flow control is open to its maximum. Sounds like it could be a flow stem screwed down too far or too tight causing a sticky value. Or debris in the value causing it to stick.

Reset or clear the controller. Total combined run times may have overlapped with another start time causing a zone not to run.

Lawn genie Manuals:
https://www.lawngeniestore.com/Comergent/en/US/StaticContent/LawnGenie/product_manuals/index.html

Trouble shooting Guide: https://www.lawngeniestore.com/Comergent/en/US/StaticContent/LawnGenie/troubleshooting/index.html