Sprinkler Head and Nozzle Replacement

Stepping Through This Simple Process

Symptoms of a Problem.

While watching the sprinkler system in operation you may observe any of the following:

1. A ragged water jet. (Nozzle may have blown out or warn out).

2. Sprinkler not raising up above the green. (sand may be in the mechenism or top dressing has raised the green above the nozzle).

3. Water jet is striking the back board (Adjust the arc of the nozzle).

4. No water pressure. (probably a burst pipe. Check the club house water supply).

5. One or a bank of the sprinklers is not firing (could be mechanical but more likely electrical)

6. Some areas of the green don't seem to be getting watered adequately. (Do the saucer test)

Replacing a Sprinkler Head and Nozzle. (Symptoms 1 & 2 above)

The main sprinkler pipe should be about 8" below the ditch board base.

Note the home made plastic "sand collar" to keep sand away from the mechenism.

Keep digging until the whole sprinkler head is exposed. Then unscrew it.

Use the right hand rule. Thumb points where you want to go; in this case, up. Fingers point rotation.

The sprinkler head has been unscrewed. The pipe nipple exposed with the old teflon tape still in place.

This is a pipe nipple extension kit that can be cut at desired height to raise a sprinkler, or make a metal extension if you have some pipe & a die. Also need a female adaptor.

Rain Bird extraction tool. Insert in correct hole. Turn 90 deg and pull up to overcome the spring tension.

Rain Bird heads are all plastic. Nozzle is facing Mike so you cant see it here.

In this case the plastic nozzle is blue.

This is a closer look.

No Nozzle. Note the nozzle locking screw that has been screwed down so you can see it.

A slightly better view of the locking screw.

This shows the angle of the nozzle hole a bit more clearly.

As you can see, this is a #1 nozzle. Mike prefers a #4. The # indicates the jet size.

Remember to wrap teflon tape around the pipe nipple before replacing the sprinkler head. Remember the right-hand-rule with the thumb pointing down for reinstallation.

Various sizes of spare nozzles. Pamphlet describes the various sprinkler head holes.

This sprinkler head had lost its nozzle. Look at the split or ragged stream.

Mike stressed that the nozzle size determines how far and broad the jet will travel and that it should always reach the next sprinkler on either side. If the water pressure was less than 65 psi then a smaller nozzle would be required to make the jet travel further.