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I need some help with my sprinkler valve

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:27 pm
by maverik94
ok, I just bought a Obrbit Watermaster 1" Automatic Jar-Top Sprinkler Valve, and I'm having some trouble understanding how to modify it. I looked at the sprinkler valve modding topic in the "how-to" section, but that is a 3/4 inch valve, mine is 1" and it is different, it has a guide rod, and the large black thing with the wires coming out of it (this my first time using sprinkler valves) is in the center, rather than the side of the valve, as shown in the "how-to" topic. Is it possible to mod this valve? if so, what do I have to do differently? I google searched for images, but could find any of the kind I have, but you can find a picture on amazon.com, which is where I bought it. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:00 pm
by jrrdw
I think you can unscrew the solenoid and mount the blow gun in the same hole and treat the guide rod as normal from the how to. I've never seen the kind your describing.

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:08 pm
by maverik94
ok, thats what I thought, I guess I can just widen the hole where the solenoid was for my hose barb, right?

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:19 pm
by psycix
Widen it carefully and tap it in.

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:22 pm
by maverik94
ok, do I need a special tool to tap it, or can I just use my hose barb to thread it?

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:15 pm
by MrCrowley
You can just use a hose barb to thread it. Though if you plan on making more then one cannon, invest in a small tap and die set.

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 5:59 pm
by maverik94
alright, Ive put my hosebarb in, but if I blow in it to build up pressure, then pull thew trigger, nothing happens, however, if I blow in it backwards, air comes out of the trigger, but not the other end, does it only work under high pressures or did I maybe do something wrong. This Is exactly what I did. First I removed the solenoid. Then I unscrewed the outlet valve and filled that with epoxy. Then I drilled a hole for my hosebarb (actually it connects directly to my blowgun trigger). Then I epoxyed the barb/connector into the hole. Then I screwed the connector into the blowgun. Did I mess something up? Oh, btw, when I epoxyed the hole, I DID leave the airflow open.

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 7:36 am
by jrrdw
If you can get some pictures of it and what exactly you did, that would be a great help.

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 7:54 am
by TurboSuper
Afaik the diaphragm only seals at 25PSI or so.

Don't quote me on that :D

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:09 am
by frankrede
TurboSuper wrote:Afaik the diaphragm only seals at 25PSI or so.

Don't quote me on that :D
My sprinklers hold less, I have one right now that holds 10 psi

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:49 am
by psycix
but if I blow in it to build up pressure, then pull thew trigger, nothing happens, however, if I blow in it backwards, air comes out of the trigger, but not the other end, does it only work under high pressures or did I maybe do something wrong.
You mean you used your lungs to check for sealing? That wont work. Most sprinkler valves need at least like 20 psi to seal, and your lungs will only produce 2psi.

@turbosuper & frankrede
That all depends on spring strength and quality/cleanness of diaphragm. Different brands different properties.

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:00 pm
by maverik94
ok, thanks, that's a relief, I was a little wirried that my vakve was malfunctioning, but what If I have just shot my gun and I wanna bleed air out of my gun, but Im at less than 25 or 10 psi, do I have to manually push in on my schrader valve?

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:10 pm
by psycix
Could, you could also just try to fire. You could also tap in a ball valve to vent off the chamber if you wish.

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:05 pm
by maverik94
ok, thanks, all these responses have really helped me, Thanks a lot you guys!

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:19 pm
by Pilgrimman
If you open your pilot valve, the cannon will depressurize whether it depressurizes through the sprinkler valve, or in the case of low pressure, the pilot valve. Can't wait to see this cannon :D