Sprinkler valve...

[integral]

well please tell me u didnt go out and buy the same valve?

[pyrogeek]

If your valve isn't opening correctly, maybe your pilot is too large and the valve can't vent it effectively. Or, of course it could be sticky. I use glycerin, but you could use vegetable or mineral oil.

[Pyr0man1ac]

Why? It workes fine, I just overtightened it... it isn't weak or anything. It was a personal error, not a problem with the valve. And the epoxy is rock solid...

[Pyr0man1ac]

Sorry to sound a little annoyed, but read back a little... the valve works fine now, but thanks for your help anyway. I put a marshmallow directly in the output of the valve and fired, and it went like 50 feet. This thing is going to be a beast .

[slackerzsharp]

I've been suffering with many of Pyr0man1ac's problems and this thread has been very informative. I used a 2" Nelson that had a guide rod, the whole flow control knob attached to the rod was trashed. Is my project dead in the water? Exactly how important was the guide rod? And I don't understand hwo the equalization port would function if the guide rod passed through it? I already blew $120 on the valve and I'm desparetly trying to save this.

[Pyr0man1ac]

The flow control knob doesn't matter... I took mine out and used the hole it made to attach my hose. I'm afraid I can't help you with the guide rod problem, because I don't really know much about valves myself, and I don't have one. Good luck!

[integral]

$120 on a valve? where do u live man? u can get sprinkler valves in the USA for $17. in the awesome country of AUSTRALIA... u can pick one up for 20 bucks... the only valve near that price was some italian gucci one i saw at an independent store.

the guide rod essentially guides the diaphragm inside the valve. all u really need to do is offset the pilot valve away from the centre of the valve and ur good. in saying that... i dont know if it will work since i dont know the extent of the current damage done to it.

GL

[slackerzsharp]

The Lowes Hardware stores only offer 1" valves in the Philadelphia area so I headed out to Aquarius Irrigation in Norristown (all the other stores were in NJ). Their cheapest 2" valve was only a few bucks less then the one I'm working with. It seems like there is a large jump in price (in my area) for the 2 inch valves compared to any of the smaller devices.
Because the guide rod is already gone and I plugged the equalization hole (directly under the blow gun primer), should I drill a new equalization hole offset a few cm from the original hole?

[integral]

u sealed the equalisation hole being the flow control in the middle? in that case, yes just drill a new equalisation port anywhere on the top of the valve, making sure it doesnt touch anything on the inside. im not sure how well the valve will actually function without its guide rod since the valve was made to be used with one. u can only try to find out i guess xD

[slackerzsharp]

I drilled two small equalization holes offset from the epoxy covered factory hole. The valve held although air leaks developed elseware. I did notice an odd delay between the time I pulled the blow gun trigger and when the valve actually vented...I guess this is due to the length of hose connecting the blow gun to the valve body.

[integral]

ya... the bigger the pilot volume, the longer it will take to vent. also... since ur using a 2" valve, the blowgun might not have enough flow to dump the pilot fast enough. try something like a ball valve if reducing the hose doesnt work.

[Pyr0man1ac]

To get a high flow blowgun valve, go to an ace hardware reseller. That's where I got mine, it works really well...

[isban]

I'm new to the pneumatic scene and just got a sprinkler valve like the one being discussed. This may be a dumb question but if I use the hole from the control knob and connect the blowgun to it is that all I need to do to mod it? Or is there anything else like other holes that need to be sealed or something? It just sounds too easy.

[Pyr0man1ac]

That is essentially all you have to do if you have no problems with it. I had to do many other things, like the ones mentioned before, becuase mine wasn't sealing right, etc. I also put my hosebarb through the control knob hole. Don't worry, no questions are dumb! (Well, that's not true, but you have to really try to ask a stupid question )

[isban]

Wow thanks for the speedy reply.
I've been looking at the valve and finally realized how everything works and it all makes sense know. And I must say that I have heard some genuine stupid questions in my years. :rr: