Henry cut this one out today. Even he knows to not waste your time looking and repairing. Valve did last 20 years. I checked the MA and it was definitely not on too tight. This is what happens when you slam shut in the last millisecond for twenty years. It got upgraded to a 205 with a flow control. Have to look close but you can see the hairline crack.
Appears to be the HR FC-100 Series which is now the Irritrol Century Plus valve that we pretty much exclusively use. With that solenoid I'd say it's definitely 20+ years old. That's the solenoid that replaced the original round metal solenoids. They then went to the current round plastic case solenoid after the one in your picture.
I've always hated those valves. Hydro-Rain HR-1, Rainbird EV-100. Whatever Hardie called it and now Irritrol?
Seems the biggest problem I had with them was temperature and or humidity variations. The plunger in the solenoid would sometimes keep the valve from opening or just partially let it open and often led to a water hammer type effect.
I found that filing a little off the metal end of the plunger would cure the problem.
They were a close second to my most hated valve... the Toro Flo-Pro.
Do you freeze there, London? Oh, by the way..I was told by the moderators...one pic per month
of Rain-Jet bonnets. If that's a pressure issue on those valves, me & Hank want to buy some!
Do you freeze there, London? Oh, by the way..I was told by the moderators...one pic per month
of Rain-Jet bonnets. If that's a pressure issue on those valves, me & Hank want to buy some!
Was there a date code on that HR-1? I've seen plenty of Richdel/Irritrol valves with the Rain Jet name, but not any Hydro Rain designs with the Rain Jet name on them.
I've always hated those valves. Hydro-Rain HR-1, Rainbird EV-100. Whatever Hardie called it and now Irritrol?
Seems the biggest problem I had with them was temperature and or humidity variations. The plunger in the solenoid would sometimes keep the valve from opening or just partially let it open and often led to a water hammer type effect.
I found that filing a little off the metal end of the plunger would cure the problem.
They were a close second to my most hated valve... the Toro Flo-Pro.
I can see how you feel this way. Who can like a valve that doesn't shut off after manually bleeding it. In defense of this valve I see a lot that have worked for 20+ years before needing service. I'd like to think on further review you won't make them a close second to the flo-pro on your hatred list.
Was there a date code on that HR-1? I've seen plenty of Richdel/Irritrol valves with the Rain Jet name, but not any Hydro Rain designs with the Rain Jet name on them.
That is a first for me as well. I thought I had seen every variation of that valve. As for Rainjets I've always like that head and besides very little popup height thought they did a good job. The old 3/4" inlet rainjets were awesome. Unfortunately every system seemed to be a poor design and HO installed which gave them a bad rap.
Guess I was looking at the molding and not paying much attention to that. There was a difference between the older FC-100 2" & 3" valves versus the 1-1/2" ones. The 1-1/2" ones had the screws but the larger ones had brass bolt posts. In the newer Century Plus models they're all bolt posts now.
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