Sprinklers

Author
Discussion

DonkeyApple

Original Poster:

62,535 posts

184 months

Tuesday 17th June
quotequote all
Clearly these are disposable these days but just out of stubbornness I'd like to get what was a fairly expensive one back working properly.

In short the arm doesn't oscillate. It will for a bit and I suspect water pressure is playing a part, however, because it is on the edge of working I feel there is something to be done.

Was thinking of back flushing it, putting some Harpic inside and then a bit of wd40 but are there any known tricks?

Dr Mike Oxgreen

4,314 posts

180 months

Tuesday 17th June
quotequote all
Are you in a hard water area?

I’d be contemplating buying some cheap vinegar and finding a way of immersing it or flushing through with that. The water-driven motor will be at the input end, so you may only need to immerse that part.

DonkeyApple

Original Poster:

62,535 posts

184 months

Tuesday 17th June
quotequote all
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
Are you in a hard water area?

I d be contemplating buying some cheap vinegar and finding a way of immersing it or flushing through with that. The water-driven motor will be at the input end, so you may only need to immerse that part.
Yup. That's the idea behind using the Harpic as it'll work much quicker. To be honest, to get limescale build up would take much more use than this sprinkler has ever had and I'm guessing the most likely culprit will be muck from the mains water.

Simpo Two

88,986 posts

280 months

Tuesday 17th June
quotequote all
Check your tap and hose connectors for filters and remove them.

DonkeyApple

Original Poster:

62,535 posts

184 months

Tuesday 17th June
quotequote all
Working again. Back flushing washed out a fair bit of muck which was probably the primary issue. Cheers.

Tymb

188 posts

110 months

Tuesday 17th June
quotequote all
If you do think it needs a bit of lubricant don’t use normal old WD40 it’s a water dispersant and will just wash out and make things worse. Sprinklers quite often expect some water in bearings and moving surfaces. Some thing like (WD-40) GT85 which has ptfe in it, it will clean things out but should leave a ptfe layer or lithium grease like below would be better.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/wd-40-white-lithium-gre...

JoshSm

1,040 posts

52 months

Tuesday 17th June
quotequote all
WD40 and vinegar would likely damage any seals - they're most likely EPDM. To descale use citric acid, to lubricate try silicone oil.