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What've I done wrong with this sprinkler mod?
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:20 am
by CharmingEdgar
I bought a 1" orbit sprinkler valve and modded it as per the guide that's on the GGDT website. However when I have my valve fully set up ready to be used I try blowing through the in hole and it just goes through no matter what state the blowgun is in.
The spring is in place, also in the last picture on the guide a hole is sealed which isn't present on my valve, should I just seal the rectangular one?

Re: What've I done wrong with this sprinkler mod?
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:36 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
Sprinkler valves usually need a minimum pressure of around 15 psi to seal, your breath can only provide a fraction of that, so don't expect it to seal this way.
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:07 am
by PotatoEnemy17
Also, make sure that there is no leakage around the area that you installed the blow gun. On my gun there was leakage there, and I had the same problem as you.
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:09 am
by CharmingEdgar
The blowgun hole is sealed shut with a lot of epoxy, the whole area, thanks guys, guess I'll have to wait for my parts to come in the post tomorrow and then finish gluing to test it.
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:19 am
by PotatoEnemy17
Also you must make sure the hole for the solenoid is closed up. I just left the solenoid in on my cannon.
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:25 am
by CharmingEdgar
My sprinkler valve's solenoid was in the middle so i just re-purposed the hole to fit the blow gun
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:29 am
by mattyzip77
I was curious as to if this valve ever ended up working???
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 3:22 pm
by CharmingEdgar
Nope, I just came back to post saying that no matter what there's a fair amount of air going through it, tried blocking the hole and the little pipe in the chamber. There is a massive difference between when the blowgun's open and not as far as volume getting through is concerned but there's so much leaking that I can't pressurize my cylinder.
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 3:28 pm
by mattyzip77
Post pics of the whole valve and are you filling your chamber with a shop compressor????
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 3:35 pm
by iknowmy3tables
CharmingEdgar wrote:My sprinkler valve's solenoid was in the middle so i just re-purposed the hole to fit the blow gun
you really need to check which holes go where if you do that, the solenoid section is supposed to have two channels attached to it. The retracting section of the solenoid will cover a hole in the center leading to the output. the channel to the section that the blowgun should pilot will be on the side, modifying the solenoid hole isn't that simple you should show us a picture of what you did
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 3:50 pm
by CharmingEdgar
I was using a double cylinder foot pump, pics on the way.
Edit for the pictures.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mdkokg5594iti ... .54.17.jpg
Electrical tape over the rectangular slit that leads to the tiny pipe in the chamber.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jdy3c2yyfm0b6 ... .54.43.jpg
Chamber and said pipe, was covered in tape but I removed it so the pipe could be seen.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5nxioup39pufe ... .54.51.jpg
All of the parts.
Edit again, for some reason my pictures don't work. You'll just have to click the links, sorry.
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:35 pm
by mattyzip77
Ahhhh a jartop valve. Anyways I am guessing your not getting enough pressure from your footpump.u need at least 15 to 20 psi to get the diaphragm to seal. You need a compressor. That foot pump wont do the trick. And if that blowgun is attached in that pic its ass backwards. Turn it around the other way....
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:40 pm
by MrCrowley
Make sure the valve is facing the right direction. Turn the blow gun around as it's threaded on the wrong end. Pump like crazy with the foot pump until you get the valve to seal. I can get a 2" sprinkler valve to seal with a track pump if I pump quick enough at the start.
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:01 pm
by CharmingEdgar
My blow gun isn't threaded in. It had an attachment with it that fit perfectly onto a really small hose nipple I had and so I epoxied them together to avoid buying a double threaded nipple.
I'll have to try it again later as I tested the valve using a 2L drinks bottle, dont worry it was perfectly sealed, and ripped it, and all of the duct tape, off for the pictures.
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:40 pm
by dewey-1
What is the first picture showing?
It better not be epoxy on the end of the metal tube!
Had you followed d_hall's instuctions and pictorials your blowgun would be installed correctly.
Did you epoxy the black bleed screw in as per instructions?