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zone 1 pulsating with weak flow

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Phxflyer

Unregistered

1

Tuesday, December 1st 2009, 3:03pm

zone 1 pulsating with weak flow

5 zone system. Zone 1 is not coming on full but is instead pulsating with weak water flow. I replaced the solenoid but this did not help. I changed the wiring from zone 1 to unused zone 6 at the controller. This also did not help. The clerk at the hardware store didn't think the diaphragm would cause this. No leaks and this zone was working a few weeks ago. Any ideas?

Phxflyer

Unregistered

2

Tuesday, December 1st 2009, 3:09pm

RE: zone 1 pulsating with weak flow

Quoted from "Phxflyer"

5 zone system. Zone 1 is not coming on full but is instead pulsating with weak water flow. I replaced the solenoid but this did not help. I changed the wiring from zone 1 to unused zone 6 at the controller. This also did not help. The clerk at the hardware store didn't think the diaphragm would cause this. No leaks and this zone was working a few weeks ago. The zone operates with good water flow if I open the valve manually.

mrfixit

Moderator

Posts: 1,518

Location: USA

3

Tuesday, December 1st 2009, 5:08pm

Diaphragm

Sounds like changing the diaphragm should do the trick. If not then change out the whole valve or bonnet. Which model valve is it?

Phxflyer

Unregistered

4

Tuesday, December 1st 2009, 7:00pm

It's an Irritrol 205 series valve. I should have picked up the diaphragm but the guy had me convinced it was the controller with this kind of problem. It was a counterman at SprinklerWorld. He seemed so sure, but swapping out zone 1 with unused zone 6 didn't fix it so my next guess was the diaphragm.

I'll post here tomorrow if that fixes it so it could help others.

mrfixit

Moderator

Posts: 1,518

Location: USA

5

Wednesday, December 2nd 2009, 1:54am

A controller can cause a pulsating sound. Very rare. Try this if you can. Swap solenoids and wiring with a valve next to it. See if you still have a problem. I'm interperting your pulsating sound as the diaphragm trying to open but it too old and stiff. Changing a diaphragm on a 205 can be tricky. I attach the diaphragm and spring to the bonnet with the screws before placing the bonnet on the valve.

Good luck!

Phxflyer

Unregistered

6

Thursday, December 3rd 2009, 2:44pm

That did it! It was the diaphragm. Your advice of attaching the new diaphragm in the bonnet first made the assembly a piece of cake. I just put one screw through a little on each side, lined it up over the bottom, continued to tighten those two screws, then put the additional 6 screws in. No leaks and it worked immediately.

Upon questioning the clerk at SprinklerWorld again about it being the controller, he said some Rainbird controllers are known to have a problem that causes a pulsating chatter. I have a Champion unit. And I think what I called "pulsating" was just a very weak flow causing the heads to momentarily come up then drop repeatedly.

In any case, again, thanks for your words of wisdom. :thumbsup:

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