Thank you so much for your clear instruction and pictures as you go, I’ve been trying to understand the guides now that I’m taking care of my family’s system and I couldn’t quite grasp rainbird’s spotty info and videos.
Just ran into this channel and I'm extremely thankful. Have a brand new sprinkler system and I'm tweaking a bit as I find dry spots. I have not found anything as clear or crisp as these videos and explanations. Thank you sir
this clarified some of the adjustment issues for me. Now I guess it's up to me to fiddle with it a bit until I get it where I want it. I'll try it with the water on since that will make it all easier - like the old school rainbirds (not brand, but heads). If I can't do that i'll have to run back and forth to the shut off until I get the adjustments just right. Thanks for the clarifying points - and I didn't even have to use a magnifying glass to see the hieroglyphics i would need to translate.
Great tutorial. I wish I would've watched this prior to my struggle today lol. Im troubleshooting an issue with my heads not fully popping up. Sometimes they get stuck half way and bubble out. If i go and pull the heads up they spring to action. The throw for my 3500 is 16-24' and my water pressure puts them at the 16' mark. Would this be because of a bad head or too low of water pressure?
Sounds like low pressure. You can test by capping a few of the heads. Also check any inline filter on system to make sure clean and that shut off valve is fully open.
I have water leaking slowly out of the top of my Rainbird 3500.. and I watched your other video about slope issues and I think that is my problem. Can I use a check valve in my 3500 like you did on the Hunter?
Those check valves are only for pop up heads. Rotor heads typically have them built in but only will do a max of something like 7 elevation drop. The spring or seal on it might be getting work out and replacing it might solve the issue. You could just unscrew it and screw new one into existing body for easiest swap out.
Very helpful videos. One question on the slip clutch. If the slip clutch has been turned too far to the left, is there a way to correct that? Let's say I wanted to get the left side to not be so far to the left? Thank you!
Great Channel! Thank you. I have learned much from your site, but I have a question.. I have installed a new Rain Bird 3500. It is installed and working, but I need to change the spray pattern. The arc, range and sweep are good, but the spray is not really a spray. It's just a single, thin squirt with an arch that reaches a distance of about 15 or 16 foot. I'd like to expand the thickness of the arch to make it more of a spray as it sweeps back and forth.. Is that possible?
After ensuring the nozzle is still installed with the set screw, use the set screw and screw it farther down until it starts deflecting the spray, that will change the spray pattern.
Thanks for the helpful video. I have a couple of questions. My rainbird 3504 was installed in 2013. How do I know if my sprinkler head has the slip clutch to make a left stop adjustment? I don’t know if older heads have this feature. If it doesn’t have the slip clutch, how would I adjust the left stop more to the right without having to remove the entire head? Also, is there a way to snap off the top cap that covers all the screw adjustments? I tried to increase the arc, but when I insert the screwdriver into the slot and try to adjust it, it doesn’t seem to do anything. I think maybe dirt is embedded in the slot so the screwdriver can’t get a good grip to on the adjuster. Not sure how to clean out debris from the slot. Thanks for your help.
I think the slip clutch goes back to at least 2011. I would try flushing it with water in the ports while tool is in there. Removing the rubber top would be my last resort because I’ve never had much luck reattaching / not sure if they are meant to take off and reinstall. Hope this helps a little.
Excellent explanation , It's so difficult to adjust de sprinkler , I am from Perú, and is difficult to understand the instructions in English. I will try your steps by steps thanks. Gracias
I really wish I would have found this before I installed a bunch of sprinklers. I usually sit on my knee and get the adjustment where I needed, then when I screw it in the left side would twist. I seriously just spent more time adjusting a sprinkler then I did installing the sprinkler
I have to adjust one of mine to 180 degrees every season. For some reason when I start it up it does a full 360. Is that common? Thanks for your videos.
Very nice video it was helpful to understand how they adjust but i have a question mine quit spinning this year it has really good pressure any idea how to fix this issue
So here's what I need to know. The arc and the radius; if I want to decrease the distance that the water goes out, is that the arc or the radius? We have one patch of grass that gets so brown every year. Pretty much the same area. One person says that there's not enough water getting to the spot and I thought that would mean that I have to decrease the distance out so that the specific area gets more water. Does that make sense? Wish you could come over and fix this!
You would screw down the set screw to reduce the radius or distance the water is sprayed. When the set screw is screwed down enough (it functions to also holds the nozzle in), it essentially blocks the spray pattern reducing its distance, redistributing more water in a smaller footprint. Hope this helps!
My sprinkler heads are downhill from the water source. When the cycle is done a large amount of water continues to flow out of the top of the head and puddles near the head. Is there anyway to stop that?
You will want to make sure you replace it with either 3504-PC-SAM that has a check valve installed in it to keep the water from draining out. If the slope is too great or change in elevation of the ground is too great then there is a possibility that it could still drain but I think that change is greater than 7 feet (not typically the case). Try that and let us know how it goes or you.
I like how you described the left adjustment if it is short of where you want it to start, BUT mine is to far to the left and I cant find anything on how you bring the start point to the right.
So just do what you would if you need to go left but just go all the way around until you are back to the left position you need. In other words, keep going left until you get where you need to just keep moving the right position so it stays "ahead" of the left position / left position doesn't get ahead of the right position. Hope this explanation is understandable.
I have one I screwed up and was trying to follow your advise but setting the left is confusing. I get how you use the screw to adjust the right but your doing this with the unit not in the ground. The left point isnt going to be exactly where I want once I screw it in the ground so the secret is how to I set the ring if you will to stop at the point I want if the left had a built in stop point to the left that your alluding to?
Can one reduce the amount of water dispersed with a rainbird 3500 or 5000. My garden is getting drenched it is completely sodden and I am not in a position to cap off any of the rain heads. I just want to reduce the amount of water emitted, but not on all of them since one of them is doing just the right amount of watering so it’s not as if I can just reduce the amount of time they are on, so I was hoping to reduce the water volume emitted in two of them and leave the third as it is they are all on the same time or any advice how I can do that?
Great vid, but I would like to know more about adjusting the LEFT stop. If I need to adjust it more to the left, do I just turn the rotor body to the left and then re-adjust the right stop? My concern with rotating the rotor body to the left is also unscrewing the rotor from the swing pipe elbow. Won't this cause the rotor to leak a bit at the base? AND...do you use pipe wrap tape on the elbow when installing a new rotor? Thank you!
Good questions. Let me know if this video helps answer your question about the left stop. th-cam.com/video/9FT89infihk/w-d-xo.html No teflon tape for this plastic fittings is needed.
@@thesprinklerchannel That’s great as I do have a few 5000 series. I also have new 3500 series rotors. Same adjustment or do I have to unscrew the top, take out inside, rotate it to my stop position and then screw back on? I saw that in another vid on 3500’s. Thanks again!! 🤙🏼💪🏼
@@SLCTerp I wouldn't be surprised if they are using the same slip clutch now on the 3500s as well. Haven't tested it yet. Thanks for the feedback and let us know if everything checks out during operations with water. Thanks!
Thank you for the well explained video and address common questions too! Question for you - When you adjust the sprinkler arc when the sprinkler is installed, do you adjust it while its spraying? Or do you pull the head up? Or do you just do it while the head is down? Or does it even matter? Thanks again! I'm subscribing since this was so helpful.
@@thesprinklerchannel I think Russ asks how to move leftmost position more to the right. So how to reduce the arc on the left side. Actually I got the same question. Maybe you have to turn it counter clock wise ~350 degrees (that's my guess). Hope I do not need to remove whole sprinkler from the ground, cause my contractors installed at least 4 heads with too much radius on the left side :(.
@@DentargPL Not sure if my explanation was a clear as it could be. But yes like you said more simplified turn it counterclockwise 350 degrees or such, you will just want to keep reduce the right side before doing that so you don't "cross over" or pass where the right side of the arc is set. Thanks for helping with this question and clarifying the response.
That is a great question Tank. Only the Rain Bird 5000 Plus versions have the option or slot that allows one to turn off the spray for maintenance, etc. The Rain Bird 5000 standard or 3500 would have to be capped at the base / where it connects in order to not have water spray at all (basically remove the head).
Is it not adjusting? Make sure you have the right adjusting rain bird tool and that it is in the notch before twisting / turning. If that is all done, there is a possibility the gears are striped and might need replacing. Let us know what other questions you might have.
The most confusing, incoherent explanation of how to adjust the 3500 sprinkler head. I finally just had to play with it until it went where I wanted it. Write an outline, make a script, take close ups of the adjustment points, the orifices and anything else where your hand obscures the object or the camera cannot focus fast enough. You obviously know the subject but without preparation or post production polish , the video is poor at best.
I thought it was pretty simple and straight forward 🤷🏻♂️ Maybe the comprehension is what was poor 😂 Adjusting my heads was a breeze after watching this.
Don't spend 30 seconds telling us what you are about to tell us. I know some English teacher told you to write an Intro paragraph, but the real world doesn't want its time wasted.
Your explanation is so clear, I thought I would never understand how it works, and then I found your video. Thanks a lot!
Me too...Been trying to figure these silly things out for a week..
Perfect explanation! Easiest and most straightforward sprinkler head adjustment I've ever seen. I'm getting a bunch of these! Thanks!
Great video! Short but simple explanation. Thank YOU for sharing your knowledge! 🙏
God bless you!
Thank you so much for your clear instruction and pictures as you go, I’ve been trying to understand the guides now that I’m taking care of my family’s system and I couldn’t quite grasp rainbird’s spotty info and videos.
Glad to hear this helped!
Just ran into this channel and I'm extremely thankful. Have a brand new sprinkler system and I'm tweaking a bit as I find dry spots. I have not found anything as clear or crisp as these videos and explanations. Thank you sir
Great video. That was helpful. You explained the small details very well.
this clarified some of the adjustment issues for me. Now I guess it's up to me to fiddle with it a bit until I get it where I want it. I'll try it with the water on since that will make it all easier - like the old school rainbirds (not brand, but heads). If I can't do that i'll have to run back and forth to the shut off until I get the adjustments just right.
Thanks for the clarifying points - and I didn't even have to use a magnifying glass to see the hieroglyphics i would need to translate.
Thank You So Much. This is what TH-cam was meant to do.
This video was really helpful. I also appreciate that you take the time to answer viewers' questions. I learned a lot.
Thanks Anthony!
Great video, thanks it is so hard to understand how the slip clutch works from the instructions but you make it very clear.
This is super helpful! Makes this very simple, clear as a bell..as to how.. Great job -Thanks very much!!
Great tutorial. I wish I would've watched this prior to my struggle today lol. Im troubleshooting an issue with my heads not fully popping up. Sometimes they get stuck half way and bubble out. If i go and pull the heads up they spring to action. The throw for my 3500 is 16-24' and my water pressure puts them at the 16' mark. Would this be because of a bad head or too low of water pressure?
Sounds like low pressure. You can test by capping a few of the heads. Also check any inline filter on system to make sure clean and that shut off valve is fully open.
@@thesprinklerchannelthanks for tips, much appreciated 👍
Your like a teacher. Very clear. Thx.
Another great and clear video. Thanks!
I have water leaking slowly out of the top of my Rainbird 3500.. and I watched your other video about slope issues and I think that is my problem. Can I use a check valve in my 3500 like you did on the Hunter?
Those check valves are only for pop up heads. Rotor heads typically have them built in but only will do a max of something like 7 elevation drop. The spring or seal on it might be getting work out and replacing it might solve the issue. You could just unscrew it and screw new one into existing body for easiest swap out.
Thanks for the info. One of my rainbird 3500 only sprays, but won't turn, what is the problem?
Sounds like the internal gears are stripped / worn out. Time to replace.
VERY helpful video. THANK YOU!
Very helpful videos. One question on the slip clutch. If the slip clutch has been turned too far to the left, is there a way to correct that? Let's say I wanted to get the left side to not be so far to the left? Thank you!
Continue adjust around until you get back around counterclockwise
Great Channel! Thank you. I have learned much from your site, but I have a question.. I have installed a new Rain Bird 3500. It is installed and working, but I need to change the spray pattern. The arc, range and sweep are good, but the spray is not really a spray. It's just a single, thin squirt with an arch that reaches a distance of about 15 or 16 foot. I'd like to expand the thickness of the arch to make it more of a spray as it sweeps back and forth.. Is that possible?
After ensuring the nozzle is still installed with the set screw, use the set screw and screw it farther down until it starts deflecting the spray, that will change the spray pattern.
Thanks for explaining this well. I get it now
Awesome explanation, thank you.
Thanks for the helpful video. I have a couple of questions. My rainbird 3504 was installed in 2013. How do I know if my sprinkler head has the slip clutch to make a left stop adjustment? I don’t know if older heads have this feature. If it doesn’t have the slip clutch, how would I adjust the left stop more to the right without having to remove the entire head?
Also, is there a way to snap off the top cap that covers all the screw adjustments? I tried to increase the arc, but when I insert the screwdriver into the slot and try to adjust it, it doesn’t seem to do anything. I think maybe dirt is embedded in the slot so the screwdriver can’t get a good grip to on the adjuster. Not sure how to clean out debris from the slot. Thanks for your help.
I think the slip clutch goes back to at least 2011. I would try flushing it with water in the ports while tool is in there. Removing the rubber top would be my last resort because I’ve never had much luck reattaching / not sure if they are meant to take off and reinstall. Hope this helps a little.
Excellent explanation , It's so difficult to adjust de sprinkler , I am from Perú, and is difficult to understand the instructions in English. I will try your steps by steps thanks. Gracias
Tal vez un día lo haremos en español 😉
I really wish I would have found this before I installed a bunch of sprinklers. I usually sit on my knee and get the adjustment where I needed, then when I screw it in the left side would twist. I seriously just spent more time adjusting a sprinkler then I did installing the sprinkler
Thanks, helps very much
I have to adjust one of mine to 180 degrees every season. For some reason when I start it up it does a full 360. Is that common? Thanks for your videos.
Definitely not common. Quite unique actually.
Dang you really know your stuff man nice vid
Hi, is there a way to completely shut off water via the slots on the top?
Not possible with these specific heads
Perfect, thank you.
Very nice video it was helpful to understand how they adjust but i have a question mine quit spinning this year it has really good pressure any idea how to fix this issue
The gears might be stripped. I’d replace one and see if that fixes it before replacing others.
Thank you
So here's what I need to know. The arc and the radius; if I want to decrease the distance that the water goes out, is that the arc or the radius? We have one patch of grass that gets so brown every year. Pretty much the same area. One person says that there's not enough water getting to the spot and I thought that would mean that I have to decrease the distance out so that the specific area gets more water. Does that make sense? Wish you could come over and fix this!
You would screw down the set screw to reduce the radius or distance the water is sprayed. When the set screw is screwed down enough (it functions to also holds the nozzle in), it essentially blocks the spray pattern reducing its distance, redistributing more water in a smaller footprint. Hope this helps!
My sprinkler heads are downhill from the water source. When the cycle is done a large amount of water continues to flow out of the top of the head and puddles near the head. Is there anyway to stop that?
You will want to make sure you replace it with either 3504-PC-SAM that has a check valve installed in it to keep the water from draining out. If the slope is too great or change in elevation of the ground is too great then there is a possibility that it could still drain but I think that change is greater than 7 feet (not typically the case). Try that and let us know how it goes or you.
I like how you described the left adjustment if it is short of where you want it to start, BUT mine is to far to the left and I cant find anything on how you bring the start point to the right.
So just do what you would if you need to go left but just go all the way around until you are back to the left position you need. In other words, keep going left until you get where you need to just keep moving the right position so it stays "ahead" of the left position / left position doesn't get ahead of the right position. Hope this explanation is understandable.
I have one I screwed up and was trying to follow your advise but setting the left is confusing. I get how you use the screw to adjust the right but your doing this with the unit not in the ground. The left point isnt going to be exactly where I want once I screw it in the ground so the secret is how to I set the ring if you will to stop at the point I want if the left had a built in stop point to the left that your alluding to?
When installing, set arrow to left, then thread it onto the flex pipe elbow until it is snug AND left arrow points in the desired direction.
Very helpful! Thank you.
Life Saver! Great video!
Can one reduce the amount of water dispersed with a rainbird 3500 or 5000. My garden is getting drenched it is completely sodden and I am not in a position to cap off any of the rain heads. I just want to reduce the amount of water emitted, but not on all of them since one of them is doing just the right amount of watering so it’s not as if I can just reduce the amount of time they are on, so I was hoping to reduce the water volume emitted in two of them and leave the third as it is they are all on the same time or any advice how I can do that?
Changing out the nozzle would be one way to do so. This may also affect the coverage distance.
Great vid, but I would like to know more about adjusting the LEFT stop. If I need to adjust it more to the left, do I just turn the rotor body to the left and then re-adjust the right stop? My concern with rotating the rotor body to the left is also unscrewing the rotor from the swing pipe elbow. Won't this cause the rotor to leak a bit at the base? AND...do you use pipe wrap tape on the elbow when installing a new rotor? Thank you!
Good questions. Let me know if this video helps answer your question about the left stop. th-cam.com/video/9FT89infihk/w-d-xo.html No teflon tape for this plastic fittings is needed.
@@thesprinklerchannel That’s great as I do have a few 5000 series. I also have new 3500 series rotors. Same adjustment or do I have to unscrew the top, take out inside, rotate it to my stop position and then screw back on? I saw that in another vid on 3500’s. Thanks again!! 🤙🏼💪🏼
@@SLCTerp I believe only the 5000 have the slip clutch so I think you're correct in how to adjust the left stop on 3500s.
@@thesprinklerchannel I just tried it on the 3500 and it appears to have worked! I didn’t test it w water and I hope I didn’t break it LOL 💰💰💰
@@SLCTerp I wouldn't be surprised if they are using the same slip clutch now on the 3500s as well. Haven't tested it yet. Thanks for the feedback and let us know if everything checks out during operations with water. Thanks!
How do you readjust the left fixed position if I’ve gone too far to the left.
Rain Bird 5000 - 1 Last IMPORTANT thing!
th-cam.com/video/9FT89infihk/w-d-xo.html
Same for 3500
Thanks guy.
Thank you for the well explained video and address common questions too! Question for you - When you adjust the sprinkler arc when the sprinkler is installed, do you adjust it while its spraying? Or do you pull the head up? Or do you just do it while the head is down? Or does it even matter? Thanks again! I'm subscribing since this was so helpful.
On or off but I like to do it while it is on so I can see actual / live results and adjust “on-the-fly”.
thank you sir!
How do you shut this rainbird 3500 off without having to dig it up and cap the line?
Only option is to take it off and cap at elbow
How do you adjust the left side set point if it is To Far Left???
Rain Bird 5000 - 1 Last IMPORTANT thing!
th-cam.com/video/9FT89infihk/w-d-xo.html
3500 series should be the same technique.
you turn to the left then turn some more then turn to the right and that resets your left stop? that part got me totally confused
Once you start rotating you have to complete it before going back other direction in order not to mess up internal gears.
Thank you kind sir!
So the left side is always fixed, does not changed is that correct?
And I can slip to the left but then increas the arc to the right?
If I am understanding correctly, yes.
Thanks.
You described how to make the left more to the left. How do I make the left move more to the RIGHT?
In the video it describes how to adjust the arc with the + and - that will adjust the right.
@@thesprinklerchannel I think Russ asks how to move leftmost position more to the right. So how to reduce the arc on the left side. Actually I got the same question. Maybe you have to turn it counter clock wise ~350 degrees (that's my guess). Hope I do not need to remove whole sprinkler from the ground, cause my contractors installed at least 4 heads with too much radius on the left side :(.
@@DentargPL Not sure if my explanation was a clear as it could be. But yes like you said more simplified turn it counterclockwise 350 degrees or such, you will just want to keep reduce the right side before doing that so you don't "cross over" or pass where the right side of the arc is set. Thanks for helping with this question and clarifying the response.
does the outer casing crack on my 3500 sprinklers?
Very possible especially if it was ran over by a car or hit by a mower or edger.
Can you turn off a rain bird 3500 head? If so, how?
Unfortunately not
my left has gone too far to the left. how do i bring it back to the right
Same for 3500 if is newer
Rain Bird 5000 - 1 Last IMPORTANT thing!
th-cam.com/video/9FT89infihk/w-d-xo.html
I've had Rainbird 3500s for years. They are a pain in the ass to adjust. Would not recommend them for the average homeowner.
How can you turn or off a rain bird?
That is a great question Tank. Only the Rain Bird 5000 Plus versions have the option or slot that allows one to turn off the spray for maintenance, etc. The Rain Bird 5000 standard or 3500 would have to be capped at the base / where it connects in order to not have water spray at all (basically remove the head).
I guess I'm just dumb
I don't get it. My almost sprays entire 180 and I only need it to go 90 or 100 at most
Is it not adjusting? Make sure you have the right adjusting rain bird tool and that it is in the notch before twisting / turning. If that is all done, there is a possibility the gears are striped and might need replacing. Let us know what other questions you might have.
It’s not always easy so don’t get down on yourself.
non of your directions are the same as the directions that come with the model 3500!!!
Ill just call someone. Too complicated for me.
nothing here about adjusting the sprinkler head
The most confusing, incoherent explanation of how to adjust the 3500 sprinkler head. I finally just had to play with it until it went where I wanted it. Write an outline, make a script, take close ups of the adjustment points, the orifices and anything else where your hand obscures the object or the camera cannot focus fast enough. You obviously know the subject but without preparation or post production polish , the video is poor at best.
I thought it was pretty simple and straight forward 🤷🏻♂️ Maybe the comprehension is what was poor 😂 Adjusting my heads was a breeze after watching this.
Don't spend 30 seconds telling us what you are about to tell us. I know some English teacher told you to write an Intro paragraph, but the real world doesn't want its time wasted.
Video is WAY too long.
Thank you. Great video - you've been a huge help. 🫡
Thank you!!!!!