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Rain bird 51 rotor sticking down

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enorl76

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I’ve got a few older rain bird 51 rotors from a golf course sticking in the down position. Tried using lithium grease but it doesn’t seem to stay long enough.

They get 50psi pumped at them, and even trying to use two screwdrivers takes a lot of effort to finally get them to pop. then they’ll be fine for several cycles then get stuck again.

Any suggestions from the pros?
 
#7 ·
I rebuilt about 100 of those things in the 80s. They were some of the best heads ever. They were for bentgrass putting green's so performance was important. I think RB quit making them in the 70s but they still sold rebuild kits. They also sold a RB brand stub wrench that you had to have to get them apart. The kit helps a lot (with rotation) but if either one of those nozzle's get's trash stuck in it then that was a problem. If you do rebuild make sure that the stream straightener (#15 on the breakout) is in there.

As far as not popping up maybe you can nozzle down but 50 psi isn't going to help matter's much. That's a heavy unit. It might be time to replace.
 
#8 ·
It's the spindle wrench requirement that puts repairing these into the advanced class. There might be an easy-out that can stand in for it, but even with the thing dismantled, there are a lot of washers that have to be stacked in just the right order for the repaired head to function.

On the diagram, part #26 is a seal (Buna-Nitrile rubber) and part #23 might also have to be checked, because flat cover gaskets could have a wiper seal function.

Good Luck!
 
#11 · (Edited)
I must contend that iv haven't seen very many rainbird risers stuck in the up position, now that I consider a brand variable to the recollection.

Iv had good luck with WD40WRSL, when thats the only issue.

Then again! I remind myself im getting away from the OP's specific model.
 
#12 ·
I remember when the me-too brass anti-backsplash impact heads from Nelson arrived on the market with their stainless steel spindles. Seeing those spindles made it clear that we were relieved of any expectation of ever repairing the impact mechanisms.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
agrostis said:
I rebuilt about 100 of those things in the 80s. They were some of the best heads ever. They were for bentgrass putting green's so performance was important. I think RB quit making them in the 70s but they still sold rebuild kits. They also sold a RB brand stub wrench that you had to have to get them apart. The kit helps a lot (with rotation) but if either one of those nozzle's get's trash stuck in it then that was a problem. If you do rebuild make sure that the stream straightener (#15 on the breakout) is in there.

As far as not popping up maybe you can nozzle down but 50 psi isn't going to help matter's much. That's a heavy unit. It might be time to replace.
Click to expand...
The PSI isnt the problem, its literally just like hard stuck down. It's so stuck that two screwdrivers under the lid cant pry it up.

I have to remove the lid and yank up on the impact head itself to finally free it.

That seems like more than just sand and grit, its almost like a cement that finally breaks free. It'll work for another several weeks and then it'll stick again.
 
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