Identify?

[BSME]

two of these solenoids are bad... would like to replace just the solenoid cuz the valves are going to be hard to spin out... they are real deep by the way... I put my foot in it and the hole went past my knee...

anyway.. anybody know if they still make them? They are rainbird with flow control...

[BSME]

it doesnt look as deep as is it... i swear....

[DanaMac]

You can pick up replacement parts at Home Depot. You should replace all the internal guts though. The entire stem/actuator/plunger (whatever you want to call it on this valve). My local HDs have all the replacement parts.

[Wet_Boots]

They aren't in the 2005-2006 catalog. It might be possible that the entire operating part can be spun out and replaced with a valve convertor made for a Champion brass valve. (Irritrol still makes those)

[BSME]

HD huh? that explains a lot about this system...

Every time I go into that place I can't help but walk by the sprinkler parts to see what kind of nipple problem a homeowner is getting advice for... but I always want to take off my shirt that has the company name on it because I get embarassed being seen by those parts...

I'll keep that advice in mind Wetboots if they dont have it

[bicmudpuppy]

I think RB called them "Y" valves, they would be 3/4" and the solenoid is specific. RB dealers used to be able to order them, and they are a "residential" grade product for the knock off hardware store market. Personally, if you can get T & M, dig it up and replace it. I know, pita, but you won't be sorry.

[Dirty Water]

I'm loving the junction box just hanging out in there :)

If its T&M, replace them all... :)

[DanaMac]

Yes they are Rainbird Y valves.

Don't make it any harder than it needs to be. If you don't have time to dig that up, because you will be digging out side the box to put in a telescoping slip fix or compression fiitting to get the pipe back together, then just replace the simple components. Will replacing the entire valve make the system that much better? No, it wont. Replacing the REPLACEABLE components will get it to operate the way it was originally designed and installed.
Have you heard the saying "You can't polish a turd?" Well that fits with these situations. Sure it's a homeowner job. Just fix it. If you can get them to pay you for hours of digging and replacing, great. But they would probably appreciate it more if you can fix it to the point that it works just as it did before, for a heck of a lot less money.
Probably my least favorite job is rebuilding manifolds. I know I'm a sprinkler tech, but I hate using a shovel.

[bicmudpuppy]

Yes they are Rainbird Y valves.

Don't make it any harder than it needs to be. If you don't have time to dig that up, because you will be digging out side the box to put in a telescoping slip fix or compression fiitting to get the pipe back together, then just replace the simple components. Will replacing the entire valve make the system that much better? No, it wont. Replacing the REPLACEABLE components will get it to operate the way it was originally designed and installed.
Have you heard the saying "You can't polish a turd?" Well that fits with these situations. Sure it's a homeowner job. Just fix it. If you can get them to pay you for hours of digging and replacing, great. But they would probably appreciate it more if you can fix it to the point that it works just as it did before, for a heck of a lot less money.
Probably my least favorite job is rebuilding manifolds. I know I'm a sprinkler tech, but I hate using a shovel.
Yeah, but can you still BUY the valves or the kit so you can replace them? I rebuilt a few of these a LONG time ago, but I haven't tried to acquire the parts lately, I thought bird quit making this valve.

[DanaMac]

Yes you can. HD had them a week or two ago. From what I have heard in the past, anytime a product in any industry is discontinued, replacement parts must be available for a certain number of years. 10-20 from what I heard. They did change these parts a little, so if you buy the entire guts to replace, the solenoid is very similar to the DV solenoid now.

[SprinklerGuy]

I just bought some also.....some turd polishers...that is classic!

I agree w/ Dana btw.....fix it if you can, telling them the entire time that it SHOULD work fine...if it doesn't we will have to do something more drastic, but until then, lets try and make it work eh?

We are sprinkler repairmen...not sprinkler replacemen right?

[bicmudpuppy]

Yes you can. HD had them a week or two ago. From what I have heard in the past, anytime a product in any industry is discontinued, replacement parts must be available for a certain number of years. 10-20 from what I heard. They did change these parts a little, so if you buy the entire guts to replace, the solenoid is very similar to the DV solenoid now.
The local HD here doesn't. Nothing RB in thier rack at all. Lots of that "T" stuff and watermaster or whatever that look a lot like the old irritrol valves. Fixing what can be fixed and feeling good about the repair is great. This valve, while not a installer grade product, did have a good run and IF I could find parts without busting my chops, I would fix (said I did several years ago), but there are products - timers, heads and valves that I strongly recomend not fixing. And sometimes, if cheap is the only way the customer wants to go, then another tech is their best answer. I NEED the work, but I can't afford the headache. I fix a lot of valves. Now that mech timers are almost phased out, I don't get to fix a lot of controllers. I (not sure this is a good thing) make the top of the list from some for hydraulic systems, and re-building a custom 11 used to be a good thing. Anyone else find it easier on the customers wallet to use three-way solenoids and a solid state timer instead now?

[DanaMac]

Honestly, I've never even seen a hydraulic system. I've heard of a couple in the area, but have never been to one in 12 years. So what I would probably do is call one local company that has been around forever, (who sends me a lot of work), have them work on it, have them bill me, then mark it up a few bucks. Now thats the easy way to work on a hydraulic system!! :D

[Wet_Boots]

Fixing hydraulic systems builds character.

[bicmudpuppy]

Fixing hydraulic systems builds character.
Sounds like a Semper Fi poster. There are days I would rather be dead!

[SprinklerGuy]

LOL......re-doing hydraulic systems builds your bottom line......finding those valves with creative techniques and replacing with electric valves and running wires and changing the timer...cha-ching.

Actually, back in the day I enjoyed finding the valves and replacing, rebuilding them...and finding the leaks in the distro tubing and fixing that....but I have lost patience in some areas....but like Dana, I have yet to see one here in Colorado Springs area....always a first time.

[Ground Master]

I repaired one of those systems a few months back.

I could not find the parts at home depot, but Lowes had them

[Wet_Boots]

How did you go about locating leaks in the distribution tubing? It seems to be pretty durable stuff. I think the only time I had one of those leak was in a system with a spare line, so I was never bothered with having to fix the leaker. I used to replace the failed 'bullet' valves with standard 230/250 types with flow controls, so I could winterize the hydraulic control tubing with the bleed screws.

[bicmudpuppy]

How did you go about locating leaks in the distribution tubing? It seems to be pretty durable stuff. I think the only time I had one of those leak was in a system with a spare line, so I was never bothered with having to fix the leaker. I used to replace the failed 'bullet' valves with standard 230/250 types with flow controls, so I could winterize the hydraulic control tubing with the bleed screws.
I spent the better part of two days on a system once, scratching my head and looking for a bad tube. Then the homeowner had this light bulb come on and told me about the utility guys cutting something and putting it back together "over there by the walk". Geniuses had cut through six or seven tubes and just spliced it all back together. They had crossed the common tube. OMG, I couldn't believe he didn't bother to mention THAT when we were talking about the thing not working correctly.
None of the spliced tubes were actually spliced clean, etc. Even knowing what was wrong, I spent another half day putting it all back together "right" and cleaning up the splices.