Olson Valves

[ARGOS]

I know there have been a lot of post debating the pros and cons of some of the pre-assembled valve manifolds. I have come across the Olson 6 valve assembly a couple times on service calls.

My first impression is how easy they are installed, but have found that servicing them is difficult, especially getting parts.

Yesterday I was trying to find a leak in both "stems" of the valve system. I checked the usual culprits, such as a lose bleed screw, lose solenoid, gasket around diaphragm, crack...no sign of a leak.

My question is does anyone have experience with the connectors on these valves? I am not familiar with them. The newer Olson's have a union on each valve. This set has a crimp connector of some kind similar to pex. I am thinking that this is the area leaking.

The customer wants the whole assembly replaced, but I was still curious if anyone has had experience with these?

[DanaMac]

Never heard of Olson. Nelson, yes. Olson, no.

Never seen a pre-fabbed manifold like that before.

[Mike Leary]

If the valve box ever had to come out.....big fun. I prefer notching.

[Waterit]

That's a Home/Depot/Lowe's special. Found one at a customer's place, lasted for about 2 years, then had to cut entire mess out and replace with DV's. Another of those good-idea-bad-in-practice things. Also qualifies for Fimco's stupid sprinkler tricks thread.

[Mike Leary]

qualifies for Fimco's stupid sprinkler tricks thread.

Yup, I still see boxes with holes drilled in them. :dizzy:
Congrats on your 1K posts.

[ARGOS]

You hit it on the head...notching is more preferable. There is no room to get a good look at things and no way to remove the box to try and get a sideways look.

I have scheduled a replacement of the whole valve box. I love building manifolds, but it sure seems like a waste of time. System is only five years old.

[AI Inc]

That's a Home/Depot/Lowe's special. Found one at a customer's place, lasted for about 2 years, then had to cut entire mess out and replace with DV's. Another of those good-idea-bad-in-practice things. Also qualifies for Fimco's stupid sprinkler tricks thread.

Ive seen them advertised in trade mags, but have yet to see a supply house carry the,.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

As The Manifold Turns.....................

[ARGOS]

I once thought these Olson boxes were slick city. I had one positive experience. Now I think they're puck city.

Here is their site. (http://www.olsonirrigation.com/PROD/OISWW/OISww4.html#100-PRO)

Irrig8r mentioned that he thought they were no longer manufactured, but I find them for sale on-line. I wish it were true they were no longer sold. As a matter of fact I wish someone would start a class action law suit.

I ran across another one of these today. Basically the same contractor let loose with Olson manifolds. As far as I can tell completely impossible to service. A great idea for the installer, good luck down the road. (I am not convinced it is such a great idea for an installer because it dictates you pipe layout).

I am sure I have isolated the leaking valve. Sure wish I could figure out how to get to it. The Olson three you can get to the valves only because there is room in the box.

[mitchgo]

I have only come across this olsen valve box for one client.

The customer had a leaking valve and used the ball valve shut off at the manifold to turn off that section.

Stupid valves!

[SoCalLandscapeMgmt]

I remember the Olson Rep was always at one of the supply houses that we buy from pushing this product. He was always trying to engage me in a conversation about it. I finally told him there was no way I would buy anything where the valved were fixed to the box like that. He went on to try to tell me how the valves in that assembly were almost identical to the Rain Bird PE-B. I told him that there was absolutely no comparison between the PE-B and the junk that they had in that box. The first time I saw that thing all I could see was trouble 5 or 6 years down the road for whoever installed one.

[Waterlogged]

This brings up an interesting question. Should you learn to install, first, in order to become a better service tech? Or should you become a service tech first, in order to become a better installer?

I spent years installing and it made service work very easy for me. However, I know I could train somebody to be a better installer if they could see the junk I'm fixing.

Just asking. :waving:

[DanaMac]

This brings up an interesting question. Should you learn to install, first, in order to become a better service tech? Or should you become a service tech first, in order to become a better installer?

I spent years installing and it made service work very easy for me. However, I know I could train somebody to be a better installer if they could see the junk I'm fixing.

I went from installer to service tech, and think that is the way to go. That way you can learn how a system should be installed and designed, and it gives you some perspective when you are looking at a system that has problems.

[Wet_Boots]

The best installations will come from service techs, since they can eliminate the weak points that require the most repair work.

[DanaMac]

The best installations will come from service techs, since they can eliminate the weak points that require the most repair work.

Yup. we see what fails in both products and methods, and avoid them when installing.

So Waterlogged's question really works both ways.