Valve problems after cleaning

18 years ago

2 Zones not turning off. Opened up the Toro P-220 valves and cleaned (not really knowing what a good cleaning is though). First valve worked fine through 4-5 test cycles after cleaning but now, several days later, stays on like before.

With the second valve, it was getting dark and I didn't have much time so I bled it and took cleaned the solenoid. I did not open it up to clean the diaphragm. When I tested the zone the valve took about 30 seconds to close but eventually it did close. Again, 4-5 test cycles, same thing...about 30 seconds to close. When I had more time I opened it and cleaned it like the first. Now it stays on longer. Remains open while the next two zones run and then closes.

Any hints on these two? Is it possible that the system was so dirty that I need to go back and clean again? Is there something I have described that hints of something besides dirty valve?

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Comments (3)

ronalawn82
18 years ago
volunteer, I am not familiar with the specific valve model but generally, all such valves take some time to close. There is usually a transfer port through the valve body; this bleeds the water from the underside of the diaphragm as the spring presses down it when the water is shut off. Check that this port is clear. It is always beneficial to install a filter in the water supply line ahead of the manifold. This reminds me to clean the filter on my system this week-end.
volunteer
Original Author
18 years ago
I have fixed so much on this system that I forget somethings at times. I wonder if one of them has an impact on this situation... there are two cracked pipes left to fix. One in Zone 2, one between or in either Zones 3 or 4. One of the valves that won't close is Zone 3. The cracks are causing a significant amount of pooling on the ground. Significant being in the gallons not cups range. Someone drove posts into the ground and caused these and more broken pipes most of which I have fixed. Would cracked pipes cause valves to operate incorrectly? Maybe lack of proper pressure? The zones do spray, they don't really look like they are weak pressure wise. Maybe the cracks are letting in debris which clogs up the valves after they are clean? Do I have the cart before the horse inthat it is senseless to try to fix valves and adjust heads, etc. until the cracks are all taken care of?
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bradleysrgator
18 years ago
The pipe breaks won't affect the valve function unless the breaks are before the valves. It sounds very much like you need to replace or rebuild the valves. Diaphragms work harder than any other part of an irrigation system except for maybe the pump on a pump system. They generally need to be replaced after 6 - 10 years. Toro, in my experience fail sooner than other brands and are also the more difficult to rebuild. (many more screws and parts). Also 11/2" and 2" valves do take longer to shut, usually 20 - 45 seconds, but if they do not shut at all even once, you either have a foreign object underneath the diaphragm, a bad diaphragm, or the spring is missing on top of the diaphragm. Hope this helps.