MY TDR-2/R-50 SPRINKLERS
ARE GETTING STUCK ON THE RIGHT HAND TRIP, ARE ROTATING SLOWLY
OR ARE NOT ROTATING AT ALL. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Low water pressure or a low flow rate can lead to slow rotation
of the head. Slow rotation can cause a head to stick. You
can speed up the rotation by adjusting the basket on the bottom
of the rotor's internals. Make sure the setting on the bottom
of the sprinkler internals matches the nozzle you are using.
Often the problem behind many sprinkler rotation problems
is that the water pressure is either too low or too high.
The first step is to find out your water pressure from your
water department or whoever provides your residential water.
Then compare this approximate water pressure with the recommended
pressure for your rotors. You may need to make adjustments
or additions to your system if the pressure is too low or
too high. See the section on impacts not rotating for more
information.
MY POP-UP IMPACT SPRINKLERS
HAVE STOPPED ROTATING - (Applicable to Models 15111A and B,
Maxi-Paw, Mini-Paw, 2045A, AG-5, LG-3 and MG-4)
One of our first questions is how many years old or how many
irrigation seasons have your sprinklers operated? It is normal
for impact sprinklers to require some maintenance after about
7 to 10 seasons. As with any moving sprinkler, water pressure
and flow volume play an important role in the rotation of
the heads. Here's any easy way to determine if water pressure
is the possible cause of the problem. If the head is not rotating
back to the left, go to one of the correctly operating heads
on the same circuit. Using your thumb, seal off the nozzle
where the water is shooting out. If the non-rotating head
starts to rotate, you may need to recalculate the system's
optimum flow volume.
IS IT ALRIGHT TO MIX DIFFERENT
TYPES OF SPRINKLERS ON THE SAME LINE?
We recommend that you DO NOT mix different types of heads
on the same circuit, because each type of sprinkler applies
water at a slightly different rate. For instance, an impact
sprinkler might apply 1/4 inch of water per hour, while a
spray sprinkler might deliver 3 inches per hour. If they are
on the same circuit, you may have to overwater parts of your
lawn in order to get the right water coverage in other areas.
WHICH LUBRICANT DO YOU
RECOMMEND FOR USE WITH YOUR SPRINKLER HEADS?
The only lubricant Rain Bird recommends with any of our equipment
is water! Any other lubricant will cause dirt and other debris
to attract and stick to the different parts of the sprinkler.
This dirt can become abrasive and wear out seals causing the
sprinkler to loose performance, stop turning, leak, or even
stop functioning completely. If you're having trouble with
sprinklers that are not rotating, please see the solutions
related to rotation.
There are two versions of the popular T-Bird sprinkler. The
FC (full-circle) and the PC (part-circle). The full-circle
model can not be adjusted to any other pattern, but the part-circle
(PC) model is simple to adjust, as long as you don't mind
getting a little wet. On the PC model, the left trip is fixed.
If you must move the left edge, you must turn the case, or
remove the sprinkler from the case, turn it, and tighten it
back down. The right edge trip is adjustable. It is easiest
to adjust this trip while the sprinkler is operating. To adjust
the right trip, first remove the split ring from the nozzle
turret (it is about 1 1/2" down the pop-up piston). Next,
push down on the top of the nozzle housing and turn it clockwise
to add to or counter-clockwise to reduce the arc pattern.
You will feel and hear a ratcheting sound when this head is
adjusted, which is normal. ONLY TURN THE NOZZLE IN THE DIRECTION
THE SPRINKLER IS ALREADY TURNING, whether it is clockwise
or counter-clockwise. Turning it against the direction it's
already turning can damage the sprinkler by stripping the
gears, causing head failure. When you finish adjusting the
arc, replace the split ring on the pop-up piston.
I HAVE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
FOR THE TDR-2/R 50 AND I'M STILL HAVING TROUBLE ADJUSTING
THE ARC PATTERN. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you're still having trouble with the adjustments, double-check
these areas. Be sure you have removed the vandal collar from
the riser during adjustment and that you have replaced the
vandal collar after making adjustments. Also, make sure that
you are holding the riser at the base below the vandal collar
area. Do not allow the riser to rotate when you press down
and twist the turret. As you depress and twist the turret,
you should feel a ratchet. This is an indication that you
are making the adjustment properly. The R-50 is another rotor
that is easier to adjust when the head is operating because
you won't have to hold the stem (the part that pops up) while
you adjust it.
