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

I don't think it is the type of valves...I bet most other valves would do it also.

My guess..and it is really an educated guess as I am not there!

Low volume can cause the valve to do this...it is a fairly slow closing valve anyway....and even more so if the volume going through the valve is "rushing" to try and fill the pipes and operate the sprinklers.....when the solenoid pin closes down over the port there is a bit of a delay as the water fills the top of the diapragm.....causing it to try to close, causing the diapragm to "pop" up and down and eventually close.

How is that for a simplified, layman term type of explanation....?

Try this:

With the valve running the zone....turn the flow control down until it starts to affect the flow noticeably..you will see the sprinklers radius start to decrease and you will hear the valve restrict the flow and feel it in your hand on the flow control....then open the flow control until that "feeling" goes away and the heads come back up to full radius....then shut it down and see if it helps.

Let us know please.

You didn't mention the pipes were open! LOL!

Then I am surely correct in saying it should be fine...unless of course the total amount of GPM in the heads you will eventually install on each zone is equal to...blah blah blah...

Let us know.

You can get improved valve operation and service life if you do adjust the flow controls on the valves, as was described earlier. You would do this after all the heads and nozzles are in place. Even with everything in good operating order, the first time a sprinkler system is turned on in the spring (in freezing climates where the pipes were blown out with an air compressor the previous fall) the valves may bang a bit until the air rushes out of the heads.