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Are "jar top" sprinkler valves modable?

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:37 pm
by tomthebomb137
title explains it, can you mod this kind of valve?
thanks guys

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 4:07 pm
by brogdenlaxmiddie
Do you have a picture of the specific valve? Or perhaps a Model/Identification number? Didn't the Mythbusters use one of these in a build or something?

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:23 pm
by mopherman
If you can find a place to drill and tap above the diaphram without restricting any movement, you can mod any sprinkler valve. try to get a top-view picture and find a place.

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:28 pm
by bigbob12345
http://www.thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT/lib ... 1_mod.html
If thats the type of valve you are talking about.

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:54 pm
by tomthebomb137
thanks so much bigbob, thats exactly the valve im trying to mod, but do you beleive it will be as fast as the other design of sprinkler vavle (the ones with the solenoid on the top side instead of top center) ?
also is the gain from using another sprinkler valve as a pilot significant?
thanks again guys :D

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:23 pm
by bigbob12345
It will be just as fast as any other sprinkler but has even better flow(wider opening).
a blowgun will give you good enough performance a sprinkler valve pilot may increase the velocity by a couple fps at most so it isnt worth it

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:27 pm
by jr
I all ways use jar tops....if modded correctly I have not had to use epoxy!

check out these to posts:

http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/retirement-t13292.html

http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/fresh-paint-t13297.html

http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/my-newe ... 13232.html

I used jar tops on both and they rock :twisted:

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:39 pm
by bigbob12345
I have only used a jar top on one project but it seemed to get better performace than the regular old orbit watermasters.
but they are a tad more expensive and in my opinon annoying to modify.
They also look better. 8)

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:47 pm
by jr
I beg to differ the jt (jar top) are $1.oo cheaper (at home cheap'o) than the others; not to mension the cost of the epoxy

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:53 am
by Jared Haehnel
Figured I post this on this thread instead of creating a new one...

I just wanted to double check that DC power won't kill the soliniods in my jar top valves. Just picked them up the other day first time I noticed it when I getting ready to plug them into the switches....

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:13 pm
by tomthebomb137
so im better off just taking the extra valves and making like a quad valve kinda thing, or you think this wont have much gain over a dual valve? btw jared, i think DC should work becasue after i modded my other watermasters i just had to play with those leftover solenoids :lol: and i know they function on DC but i dont wana say its a deffinate because i dont know if it causes them damage over a period of time, but you can have mine after i mod my valves if you want :P

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:00 pm
by jr
Jared, I would just modd them and not bother with the silenoids.... In my experience all they do is slow the valve action and limit the power of the launcher...

I built a small g-ball launcher...with the silenoid the ball only went 50-75 ft. after I modded the valve (on the same gun with the same psi.) the ball goes 150-200 yds :shock:

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:35 pm
by bigbob12345
I dont think the difference is that great but it surely is a difference worth noticing.
A unmodded sprinkler isnt much better than a ball valve but if you really dont want to spend $4 and mod it then you can use DC it should be fine.

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:30 am
by Jared Haehnel
I'm just using them to actuate. I wouldn't think it would have a huge impact on power of the gun... perhaps I'm wrong... the gun is going to be big enough where I will have to mount it on a turret.

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:25 pm
by tomthebomb137
i like the sound of that :D