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Odd Valve problem
I have Hunter SRV valves and I have one zone that stopped working. If I turn the solenoid the 1/4 turn to activate the zone manually, I can hear water flowing but the sprinklers do not run. If I open up the bleed valve the sprinklers will run for a couple of minutes and water comes out around the bleed valve. The controller has no effect. At 1st I thought it was a bad solenoid but I would have thought I could get it to run manually. The guys that installed the system seem to have disappeared so any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
-Raymond
Most of the time when a valve refuses to open, the volume of water on top of the diaphragm is being replaced faster than the bleeder port can disspate it. Hence the diaphragm cannot open. Sounds like you're right at the threshold. Try a new diaphragm.
The Irrigation Specialist Mfg' Az.
Please check my website and you'll find what I do and the unique tools I make and market.
Real timesavers, especially the Suck-Tube and Krik-It.
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Because......
When you bleed w/ the solenoid...the water bleeds off the top of the diaphragm much slower than w/ the bleed screw....therefore.....the bleed screw may "force" the valve open...but replace the diaphragm and I'll bet your good as new...
BTW...Bill Painter is the the guy that explained that too me painstakingly about 15 years ago by calmly and patiently removing the bonnet of a valve and showing me how it worked...thanks Bill!
Love ya!
Sprinkler Solutions, Inc.
Arizona and Colorado
www.sprinklersolutions.net
Thanks Bill & SprinklerGuy I really appreciate the responses. I ordered a new valve yesterday so I could take it a part and study it a bit before messing with the one in the ground. Then I will swap out the parts.
I have another question, the problem valve is supposedly new. My system was installed last fall. I was thinking it must just be defective, but this zone is the farthest from the water supply. Is it possible I am dealing with a water pressure issue and need a heaver duty valve or something? I will swap out the diaphragm and see what happens, guess I am just getting paranoid Ive had to fix a few too many problems with my system.
Thanks again.
As an update,
I swapped out the guts including the solenoid and it does the same thing. What do I do next? A bigger valve with a heavier diaphragm maybe? Though I dont see how I can do that without cutting the pipe.
Anyone know any good sprinkler guys in the Seattle area?
Thanks,
-Raymond
Hi there. It sounds like you have a clogged port. Take the valve back apart and look for a grain of sand or something blocking the waters flow. Look for small holes where the solenoid is. Both upper and lower parts of the valve. Get a pipe cleaner or something to push through there. You may have also blocked the port with the new diaphragm somehow. Good luck!
If I can't fix it, it's broken!
All of these remedies are good choices to follow through on. my question is, are you sure it is a Hunter SRV valve? I do not recall that valve having an external bleed.
Josh
Irrigation /Landscape Lighting / Pump and Well Specialist
Hi jmduke - you are right it's not an SRV, it a PGV I figured that out when I saw the SRV and I got a PGV instead
I got it working. I was all set to cut the pipe and replace the valve with another new one but then I deiced to make one more attempt at just swapping out the parts incase I did something wrong last time. This time I noticed the pressure regulator was all the way down tight. When I first tried the valve nothing happened like last time but then I opened up the regulator and the sprinklers fired up.
I want to thank everyone for their advice and particularly send out a big thank you to Bill Painter. He emailed me separately and we exchange a few emails and when it look like I needed to cut the pipe and removed the old valve and had me send him a picture of the situation have gave me detailed instructions for replacing it. He really went the extra mile to help.
Thanks,
-Raymond
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