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

I can think of a few items. Do you have a master valve? If one of your valves has a hole in the diaphragm then it will always be on while the master valve is open. -- If that stations wire is hooked up to the pump relay then it will come on with each zone as well. There's a possibility the timer is telling that zone to run. Try disconnecting the wire to that zone at the timer and see what happens. Good luck!

It sounds like you have two valves wired together. I'm assuming when it's time for the broken station to run all the sprinklers in that zone come on. More than three. That would tell me there are two valves running at the same time. Or, as you mentioned before you have low pressure so maybe only three sprinklers on that line are popping up. It's most likely the diaphragm but not necessarily. I'd find the valve and take the bonnet off. Inspect the diaghphram for holes or it might have fallen apart. Look for debris in the valve. Sometimes the solenoid plunger will stick open. Good luck!

One of two problems. It's probably the valve itself. There are many reasons why a valve will not shut off. It depends on which valve you have. Here's what you can try. Disconnect the wire from the controller that runs the valve that's stuck on. The ground wire will be work also. If the valve shuts off then the problem's at the controller. That's usually not the case. So the odds are the problem is at the valve. You're looking at, repair, replace or adjust. Good luck!

I have a few ideas. I'll try to keep it simple. Since you just worked on the valves then possibly you have the wrong solenoids. Possibly there's no post inside the solenoid. Possibly the solenoids are adjusted wrong not tight. Possibly you fiddled with the flow control and broke holes in old diaphragms. Possibly if you changed a diaphragm and debris "rocks" got inside the manifold and valves keeping the valves from closing. There's more but I'd say that should keep you busy for a while. If you could post a picture of the valves it might help.

Good luck!

Here's the most likely problem. The diaphragms are old and stiff. The valve you have doesn't have a flow control to help the diaphragm close. Try tapping on the valve with the handle of a screwdriver while the water is on. See if the valve closes. If this was my system I would buy the valve you have pictured and switch the diaphragms and bonnets. Meaning everthing but the valve body which is the bottom half of the valve. Yes there could be debris in the valves as stated in my last post.

Good luck!