PLEASE READ THE VIDEO DESCRIPTION - I was mistaken when I stated that the Red and Blue nozzle PGP sprinkler housings were different. Hunter Industries has confirmed that Red and Blue nozzle PGP housings and rotors are interchangeable. Thanks!
This is one of the best TH-cam videos I have ever seen. This gentleman is smart, speaks clearly, well organized and truly a uniquely gifted teacher. Thank you Sir.
Outstanding video!!! SIR, you have simplified my life, first thing I did was make a "removal tool", and YES, you should have patented it. Life is so much easier now with much less digging😍
Our irrigation system is about 20-years old now and I just replaced another PGP head using my tools a couple of days ago. I usually end up replacing a few each season and I've pretty much perfected my technique and can replace and raise a sprinkler head using only my two tools, the adjusting tool that comes with the head and a small hand spade in only a few minutes. I still can't believe Hunter Industries wasn't interested in my tools, but I'm always happy to hear they have helped a fellow home owner.
fyi: 4 Pack Hunter 123200SP Nozzle Insertion Collar, Rotor Hold-Up Tool Yes, this is a Super video, it feels good to get the work done the right way. Thanks "Robert"!
Great video and helpful tools. When you removed the blue nozzle with the needle nose pliers you said to turn 90 degrees. You actually turned it 180 degrees. That was a great tip!
if you look on the white Hunter tool there is a half round cutout on one of the finger holes with two tips that fit the slot of the Blue Nozzles you can use this to rotate the nozzle out of the body :)
I’m an irrigation tech. You’ve got some great ideas. I like the tools u made. There are bent locking pliers that help remove and install the head. When I remove a head for replacement, I use a cordless vacuum to clean out anything that falls back into the hole. Saves me tons of time cuz I’m not digging. It works about 90% of the time. Keep these videos coming.
Thanks. 1 fyi about seepage. Hunter sells a filter basket that has a rubber gasket on the bottom of it. This works as a check back valve. So now the seal around the top doesn’t matter anymore.
Holy crap, what a great tool idea! Exactly what I need today to get a PGP shell out of the ground! I spent hours online trying to find a tool for this exact job to no avail…
Turn the screw until it overlaps the nozzle. Yes, that is what I missed out. I had to search for the blue nozzle in the garden! Great tips! Appreciated.
Thanks for the tips, they make things easier. I didn't have a 4 inch rainbird head so I just used a 1-1/4 piece of pvc that was sanded down with a dremel. A little epoxy and a screw to hold it together.
Thanks for watching and taking the time t leave a comment. Using what you have lying around is the way to go, sounds like you've come up with a good solution.
I love Hunter heads, they're very easy to adjust the spray pattern and rotation with a small flat screwdriver..When removing the sprinkler from ground i removed the inner body and simply used two pairs of pliers, egging the hole before taking out completely ..That packs any loose dirt from falling into water line..
Sir, needless to say i wish I'd seen this video before I started. It has now been liked, shared & saved. I don't know what line of work you're in but you should have been an instructor. Thank you
Nice job! Ah shucks, I don’t know why they don’t maybe the spring shaft guts part the same as old to just leave the shell cup in the ground. Would seem much easier then digging further to twist the whole thing out.
Dan, thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. Unfortunately there is no way to update a video once it's published on TH-cam, but users can update the description below the video. I updated the description to let folks know that I was mistaken when I made this video, the guts from the new PGP sprinklers do fit the old shell!
I inherited my sprinkler maintenance responsibility when my landscaper told me last year that he did not want anything more to do with my 13 year old system. So I went through multiple you tube videos, purchased some tools, spare parts and even made a very similar PVC wrench that I notched with a Dremel tool. This video was one of the best I found. The only problem I have is the comment that just replacing the guts while leaving the housing in place will not work. I’ve replaced five heads that way and they all seem to be working fine? What part of it doesn’t work when you reuse the housing?
My situation is similar, the one affordable sprinkler installer in town retired and that is how I got started repairing my own system. I couldn't get the splines to engage properly the first time I installed a new Hunter PGP core in one of the existing bodies, so I assumed there was a design change between the old and new PGP heads. My assumption has been proven wrong and I've mentioned this several times in the comments and in the information below the video, sorry for any confusion that may have caused. I'm still relatively new to TH-cam and haven't yet found a way to edit a video once it's posted. I'm glad to hear the video was helpful and that the PVC tool is working to make your maintenance easier!
@@Koolbob2 thank you Koolbob! I looked further and found the post from Bryce and your summation so now I’m not sitting and waiting for them to fail. I designed my tool while l shopping in Loews and decided on a T connector with a kind of Y shape off to the side for leverage. So now your video is perfect!
@@Koolbob2 One other “tool” that works well with the PVC wrench is I took a garden trowel, cut the end of the handle off for a flat surface then use a 48 oz dead-shot hammer to cut a small circle around the head.
I saw a video tip where the guy added water around the hole before removing the body to keep the dirt in place after cutting the donut. Pour in some water and wiggle the body a little to press the dirt in place. Love these tips! Thank you
@@angelae6064Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment! I've set my system to run at 3am, 4am and 5am for a few minutes at a time. I run it very early when the water pressure is strong, there is less evaporation and only 15-minutes as a time so the water can soak into my hilly yard, rather than running off. Every month or so I like to run each zone for a few minutes during the day and check that all the heads are working properly. I usually discover I need to replace a head during a test, so the soil is already damp. Sometimes the ground is too wet from a malfunctioning head or the head is at a low point in the system and if I remove the head the hole will fill with water so I wait for a day or so before working on the head. If I ever find myself attempting to replace a head when the soil is dry I'll definitely try your tip!
I have the adjustment tool but on some of my sprinkler heads I can't seem to get a bite on the screw head. Is it possible some of the adjustment screws use a slotted screw head rather than an alan head? Great video and kudos on your creativity with the tools you created.
Thanks for watching! Often the hexagonal hole in the Allen head adjustment screw gets filled up with dirt, making it impossible to get a grip on the screw with the Allen key. You need to clean the gunk out of the hole so the Allen key can get a grip. I have an awl with a sharp tip that I use to loosen up the debris and then I loop a short bit of tubing to direct the water stream from the nozzle onto the Allen screw to flush out the debris while the head is spraying water. You can also try using your garden hose, pump up sprayer or a spray bottle with water to flush out the debris. I'll make a video on this this weekend and upload it!
I held the PVC pipe up to the top of the PGP sprinkler and made marks on the pipe where the notches needed to be with a sharpie. I then put the pipe in a vice and cut notches with a hacksaw, but now that I have an angle grinder I would use that with a cut-off wheel.
Great video, I like that tool! Just one thing as Hunter pointed out the new and old cases are compatible with the new Hunter PGP with blue nozzles or Hunter PGP Ultra
2:16, Yes you actually can. You just have to get the threads right. these heads are able to retrofit by simply unscrewing, and can even retrofit into the more advanced PGP Ultra sprinkler in the old body with a nice and leak tight fit.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. Last year Hunter Industries confirmed that the old and new parts are interchangeable and I added their comments to the video description. I am not aware of any way to alter my existing video to reflect the update, so the quote from them will have to do for now. I'VE RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM HUNTER INDUSTRIES!!! "Hello Robert Thank you for your idea submission on Hunter’s Open Innovation site. We welcome ideas from our customers that assist Hunter in delivering innovative products and services to the markets we serve. Your idea for PGP Tools for no-dig sprinkler replacement was reviewed by our Product Team through our Built on Innovation program. It’s a problem that we hear of occasionally from customers. A number of “inventors” have sent us designs for tools to service rotors, however, we just don’t sell that many tools to service our products. What we find is that most technicians and installers utilized standard “channel-lock” pliers to remove rotor caps and/or prevent the body from rotating. While not ideal, it allows them to utilize a single tool for a wide variety of products, including rotors and sprayheads. By the way, well done on your video. Very informative and concise. Our Product Manager mentioned that the Hunter PGP-ADJ riser with blue nozzles should fit in the older PGP-ADJ body that originally had a riser with red nozzles. We appreciate the input. Thank you! Feel free to send additional ideas to us at: @t If you have any questions, please contact us at: ideas@hunterindustries.com
Hunter Innovation Team" There you have it, the new blue nozzle risers should fit fine in the older red nozzle body! For some reason I had difficulty getting the blue/red combo to work on the first time I tried mixing them and thought they were incompatible. Must have been operator error! :)
Hi Robert - this is fantastic and very inventive on your part. I attempted to take apart one of my older PGP rotors and need help. What is the best way to take it apart. Thanks.
Hey John, It should be pretty simple, unscrew the collar at the top of the sprinkler head and pull the collar, head and rotor assembly out of the hollow body. Sometimes it takes a pretty firm pull, especially if there is any sand or debris that worked it's way into the innards of the sprinkler.
@@Koolbob2 That was no problem. I took the inner rotor assembly out of the hollow body and am attempting to remove the top section - head, that rotates. I picked up a 4" rainbird sprinkler as you showed and will glue to the empty inner housing once I have the innards removed. What am I missing to remove the head and get the innards out? Thanks.
@@JohnTubeOwens Ah, now I understand your question. It's been a couple of years since I made that tool, so my memory on how I disassembled the guts is a bit fuzzy and I don't have any broken PGP heads at the moment that I can mess with. I do remember removing the rubber cap and then getting the guts out but I don't remember if there was a screw under the rubber cap or if I just ripped the guts out. If all else fails, you could just cut the top off with a hacksaw.
I am not aware of any way to cap off a Hunter rotor. I had a 4" RainBird head I wanted to cap off and purchased a cap that replaced the guts of the sprinkler head so you would leave the empty sprinkler body in place. So much water gushed out around the cap that capping the head actually put more water on the lawn than leaving the head in operation. I ended up completely removing the RainBird head and capping off the riser with a short section of 3/4" PVC pipe and cap. I tossed a handful of misc nuts and bolts in the hole, just below the surface so I could locate the capped off PVC pipe with a metal detector if desired. I hope this helps you with your situation. Please subscribe and like if any of this is helpful!
Thank you for the great info. So to be clear the Orbit riser works with the Hunter heads...without issue? Many of mine are very Low. I would love a way to raise them without digging them all up.
Yes, the Orbit risers come in 1/2" and 3/4" diameters. My local HomeDepot keeps the Orbit 1/2" diameter risers in stock, but I had to get the Orbit 3/4" risers from Amazon. The Orbit risers are made from a very soft plastic, it seals very well, but be careful not to cross thread them or you'll mess up the riser. Get more than you need just to be safe. I ordered a 20-pack so I'd have enough for every head in the yard, plus a few spares. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MCYX3VK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hey Dale, thanks for watching! the Nozzle Insertion Collar (Hunter part number 123200SP) is available from a number of sources. Here's where I got mine: www.amazon.com/Hunter-123200SP-3-PACK-Insertion-Hold-Up/dp/B07732HV74/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2RBV3REOU6WMZ&keywords=hunter+123200SP&qid=1653421041&sprefix=hunter+123200sp%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-2
I suppose there's no harm in adding teflon tape, but it isn't necessary because the threads on both ends of the riser are tapered so they get pretty snug before the threads bottom out.
I thank you for all the info, and tool selection. I have been changing some of my older sprinkler (Hunter) heads as they age. I have just tried, and still trying to replace to heads that were bad. Basically no problem, but trying to set up these new heads has its challenges, at least for me. I am left-handed which usually doesn't cause much concern, but when setting up the new heads. I put the new body on the existed male connection, then I put the rotor in, so I can get the right amount coverage, but when I go to tighten the rotor cap, it is very hard to turn, and both of these new ones have leaked, or I have turned the rotor cap so that it turns the body, and I have lost my right side stop position. So is there something I can put on the threads of the cap to make this tighten up so it doesn't lead and I don't mess up my right side stop.
Hey Mike! I think I understand the issue you are having, here's how I install an entirely new head, maybe this will help. PGP heads come adjusted to cover about 180-degree rotation, the right stop is fixed and the left stop is adjustable. Unless the old sprinkler body is stuck in place, I install the entire head (rotor body and rotor guts) just as it comes new. I push down on the rubber rotor head with the palm of my hand and turn it all the way to the left stop and then all the way to the right stop. Now I know where the right stop is on the sprinkler head and I begin threading it onto the existing sprinkler head riser buried in the ground. As I tighten the head I keep an eye on where the right hand stop is so I can stop tightening the head in place when the right hand stop is pointing where I want it to. If I miss the mark and the right hand stop close to where I want it I can just tighten or loosen the head on the riser threads to get it in place. If the head is nice and snug and the right hand stop point is way off I hold the body of the sprinkler in place (a big set of channel lock pliers comes in handy to gently hold the body in place), unthread the cap, pull out the guts out, rotate them as needed and reinsert the guts so the right hand stop is where I want it to be. I was already thinking about making a Hunter PGP install video when I get a chance and your question has encouraged me to go ahead and make a video, so subscribe to my channel to receive a notification when new videos are posted.
@@Koolbob2 I agree with what you say, but I can not tighten up the cap sufficiently after I make my adjustment. The sprinkler head continues to leak, from under the cap. I am an old guy who has lots of arthritis, so while I had the body help with a pair of channel locks, I had a second pair of channel locks, trying to tighten up the cap, but the cap didn't seem to move. I started the cap by hand, so I don't think the cap was cross threaded, but for some reason, (probably me) I could not tighten up the cap to stop the leaking from under the cap.
@@mikeallumi6507 If you are using on old sprinkler body with new internals, then the first thing I would try is using the both new body and internals together. I can only think of two things that might make an all new sprinkler body and internals leak and that is cross-threading them or foreign material getting in the way. Be sure everything is clean and dirt/mug free and there's no grass or roots coming in-between the body and top. As a last resort, replace the problem head with a new PGP that you have not disassembled and I'm sure the leak will be fixed. One last thought, could the leak be coming from under the sprinkler head and rising up around the sprinkler head and looks as if it's coming from the top?
what is different between red nozzle and blue nozzle bases? I just installed a new blue nozzle head into my old red nozzle head yesterday and seems to be working fine, so what trouble did you experience in doing that? thanks for tips on tools ,looks like a great Idea.
Mike, thanks for watching the video and taking the time to comment. You are correct that the actual red or blue spray nozzles are interchangeable. the point I'm making is that inserting the entire internal rotor assembly (guts) from the newer 'blue' nozzle heads into the older 'red' nozzle housing (shell) that is threaded onto the irrigation pipe won't work properly.
@@Koolbob2 I installed a new Hunter PGP rotor (w/ blue nozzle) inside an old PGP (w/ red nozzle) housing and it seems to work fine. (To be clear, I replaced the entire insides by unscrewing the cap at the top and left the housing screwed into the riser.) Can you tell me what issues to look for, I may not have noticed it, yet. Thanks and thank you for a great video.
@@PTAC2023 It's been a few years, so my memory may be fuzzy on this, but when I tried just inserting the blue 'guts' into one of my 10-year old existing red housings the splines on the inside of the red housing didn't engage properly with the groves on the bottom of the blue guts. I struggled to get that red/blue combo to work, so I replaced the entire red sprinkler with the newer blue sprinkler and everything was fine. I've stuck to the notion that red and blue housings are not interchangeable ever since. I think there's one red sprinkler left in my yard, not sure if it was an original 10-year old version, or one of the replacement red sprinklers I've installed over the years, but when it dies I'll try to use blue guts in it and see how it goes.
Thanks for watching! I cut the PVC 'tool' off a longer section of PVC pipe with a reciprocating saw with a fine-tooth blade. I then put the 'tool' in a vice and cut the notches with a hacksaw and refined the notches with a Dremel tool until O got all of them to fit the PGP cap properly.
Yes, I was mistaken and I have made a note of my error in the video description two years ago. If you are aware of a way to edit TH-cam videos after they are uploaded please fill me in.
I suppose you could put something like a toothpick along the side to hold it from going down...and just taping the stick or whatever you use to the body while working on the nozzle area.
I keep a few spare PGPs for when an old one quits rotating or the seals begin to leak (creating a large puddle around the sprinkler). Hunter sells a seal kit, but it's so much easier to remove and replace the head as opposed to order the seal kit, remove, disassemble, replace the seals, reassemble and replace. I've always assumed that heads quit rotating because the gears are worn out and the head has reached the end of it's life. I suppose you attempt to repair the gears if you could get to them, but it would be time consuming and probably a short lived repair.
Hey Jennifer, I've never cleaned the screen on a Hunter head, but here's a video on how it's done. www.hunterindustries.com/videos/cleaning-filter-hunter-rotor
Do you think it could be the problem? ( dirty filter)...I have spent so much $ on this system, as I’m not as savvy as you. I have water, though every year I need to put pellets down my well, to clean the well tip. Now I’m wondering if the rust has yucked up the sprinkler filter? I’ll watch the video, thanks!
@@jennifernorton8975 I wish I could be more helpful, but I don't have any experience with wells or pumps. My first question would be what is the pressure and flow of your pump? To find out, buy or borrow an inexpensive ($10) water pressure gauge and a 5-gallon bucket. Screw the gauge onto an outside faucet to measure the static water pressure of your system. Then time how long it takes to fill the bucket with the faucet all the way open. There are resources on the internet to help you calculate how many sprinkler heads can operate at the same time with your pressure and flow. If you have too many heads on a single circuit, you can switch to lower flow nozzles on each of the heads to improve the spray pattern (then you simply water for a longer cycle to compensate for the lower flow rate). Our neighborhood has a well system and our pressure was only about 35PSI when our system was installed many years ago. Since then the city has taken over management of our well and the improvements they have made increased he pressure to 45PSI so now I can run higher flow nozzles on the areas of the yard that need a little extra water. I hope this helps.
Question, I have an old rain bird sprinkler with a 1/2 inch feed. How do I go from a 1/2 inch to the 3/4 inch lead to the Hunter sprinkler? Is there some kind of an adapter I could make or buy to remedy this installation? Anybody who reads this can help if you have any ideas. Thanks.
When the nozzle is unrestricted it seems more water goes to the far end than between the head and that point. When the nozzle is restricted, to shorten the distance, it seems the water is more evenly distributed across the distance. Any comment?
I agree that the water distribution looks better when the adjustment screw makes at least a minute amount of contact with the water stream. Keep in mind that there is a LOT more square footage of lawn at the outside of the sprinkler's arc than near the inside, so no need to try to make the distribution even from the head to the end of the sprinkler's throw.
I needed to cap off a 4” RainBird pop up head last year. I bought a cap that is supposed to replace the sprinkler ‘guts’, but it leaked terribly. I ended up digging up the head and capping off the elbow fitting that the sprinkler head attached to. I also threw a big bolt the hole the head came out of before filling it, that way I could find the sprinkler connector with a metal detector if I ever wanted to put the head back.
m t newton - I guess you could plug the hole with a sheet metal screw and some epoxy, but the head will still rise and rotate when the water comes on until it wears out. IMHO you will be better served if you remove the sprinkler head entirely.
@@mtnewton5219 Did you ever find a proper fitting "cap" for your PGP? I have the pretty much standard PGP-ADJ sprinkler heads. I see below KoolBob2 suggests plugging the spray hole with a sheet metal screw. That sounds logical to work. I don't care if the head still pops up and rotates.
I use my homemade removal tool on the top of the sprinkler, sometimes the entire sprinkler head turns and can be removed, sometimes only the top portion turns and I am able to remove the 'guts', leaving the housing in the ground. That's why I made a second tool to remove the housing should the guts come out on the first try. The only way I know to remove the entire sprinkler head on the first try, guaranteed, is to dig out around the head and rotate the housing with your hands.
PLEASE READ THE VIDEO DESCRIPTION - I was mistaken when I stated that the Red and Blue nozzle PGP sprinkler housings were different. Hunter Industries has confirmed that Red and Blue nozzle PGP housings and rotors are interchangeable. Thanks!
I was wondering about that, thanks
Thank you Sir for your great audio and video , tips and through explaination excellent.!!
This is one of the best TH-cam videos I have ever seen. This gentleman is smart, speaks clearly, well organized and truly a uniquely gifted teacher. Thank you Sir.
Completely agree - thorough!!!
Outstanding video!!! SIR, you have simplified my life, first thing I did was make a "removal tool", and YES, you should have patented it. Life is so much easier now with much less digging😍
Our irrigation system is about 20-years old now and I just replaced another PGP head using my tools a couple of days ago. I usually end up replacing a few each season and I've pretty much perfected my technique and can replace and raise a sprinkler head using only my two tools, the adjusting tool that comes with the head and a small hand spade in only a few minutes. I still can't believe Hunter Industries wasn't interested in my tools, but I'm always happy to hear they have helped a fellow home owner.
Ditto. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🎯👍🏼
fyi: 4 Pack Hunter 123200SP Nozzle Insertion Collar, Rotor Hold-Up Tool
Yes, this is a Super video, it feels good to get the work done the right way. Thanks "Robert"!
Thanks for the info!
PRICELESS!!
Love it when people invent stuff...that makes repairs so much easier.
Thanks for sharing.....
Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment!
Great video and helpful tools. When you removed the blue nozzle with the needle nose pliers you said to turn 90 degrees. You actually turned it 180 degrees. That was a great tip!
if you look on the white Hunter tool there is a half round cutout on one of the finger holes with two tips that fit the slot of the Blue Nozzles you can use this to rotate the nozzle out of the body :)
Thanks Marc, I always wondered what those 'nubs' on the one finger hole were for. :)
I’m an irrigation tech. You’ve got some great ideas. I like the tools u made. There are bent locking pliers that help remove and install the head. When I remove a head for replacement, I use a cordless vacuum to clean out anything that falls back into the hole. Saves me tons of time cuz I’m not digging. It works about 90% of the time. Keep these videos coming.
Excellent video. No waffle, clear and concise with grate tool tips . Thanks
Thanks. 1 fyi about seepage. Hunter sells a filter basket that has a rubber gasket on the bottom of it. This works as a check back valve. So now the seal around the top doesn’t matter anymore.
Thanks for watching and for the heads up on the filter basket!
Well spoken, detailed, and clear! No shaky camera and very well done. I wish all DIY vids were of this quality
Thank you!
Nice job, this will help as l am changing out multiple sprinkler heads in my yard
This is the best explanation video i ever watched. Thank you so much for all the tips to make working on these easier.
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Holy crap, what a great tool idea! Exactly what I need today to get a PGP shell out of the ground! I spent hours online trying to find a tool for this exact job to no avail…
grab the shell with a pair of pliers on the edge and rotate it
Thanks Bob for sharing these tips and tricks. God Bless
That tool is genius for separated sprinklers. Thank you for the idea.
I am repairing the system a tenant had installed. Your video was the easiest to follow with the best Maguyver tools. Thank you
Good Sir, you are a thinker! Thank you for these great tips.
Nice work. Very good video on Hunter PGP and the nod from corporate is a serious pat on the back. I love watching innovators at work.
Thank you John! Thanks also for subscribing!
Wow...outstanding video. Gonna start replacing my old Toro popups with these.
Turn the screw until it overlaps the nozzle. Yes, that is what I missed out. I had to search for the blue nozzle in the garden! Great tips! Appreciated.
Yup, been there. It's surprising how difficult those nozzles can be to find. :)
Good tips. I can't imagine why anyone would give a thumbs down.
Thanks for the tips, they make things easier. I didn't have a 4 inch rainbird head so I just used a 1-1/4 piece of pvc that was sanded down with a dremel. A little epoxy and a screw to hold it together.
Thanks for watching and taking the time t leave a comment. Using what you have lying around is the way to go, sounds like you've come up with a good solution.
Excellent video my friend. I've thought about notching up the PVC pipe for a removal tool. Really great work on your video. Well done and thank you!
Thanks Scott!
Thank you for the info One of the best videos I’ve seen on TH-cam explaining how to do a hunter PGP
Great Stuff! So glad I watched this before replacing my sprinklers! Thanks very much.
Glad it helped!
A very helpful video. I will try my hand at making those same tools. Thanks Bob.
Glad it was helpful!
WOW. if we lived close - you'd be getting a case of Banquet beer right now cuz' this was a phenomenal video. thanks!
Thank you Douglas!
I love Hunter heads, they're very easy to adjust the spray pattern and rotation with a small flat screwdriver..When removing the sprinkler from ground i removed the inner body and simply used two pairs of pliers, egging the hole before taking out completely ..That packs any loose dirt from falling into water line..
Found this video it was very helpful... thank you
Thanks!
The hold up tool is a Hunter 123200SP Nozzle Insertion Collar, Rotor Hold-Up Tool.
Sir, needless to say i wish I'd seen this video before I started. It has now been liked, shared & saved. I don't know what line of work you're in but you should have been an instructor.
Thank you
Very good tips best on TH-cam thank you
Thanks and thank you for subscribing!
Those homemade tools are awesome! Great video, thank you!!
Glad you like them!
Great video thanks.
This video was very helpful I enjoyed watching it these rotors are my favorite also the orbit voyager II as well. Very creative.😎😎
Very informative and he explains everything so simple. Great video !!
I appreciate that!
Great information, thanks for sharing !
Great video, love the homemade tools!
Nice job! Ah shucks, I don’t know why they don’t maybe the spring shaft guts part the same as old to just leave the shell cup in the ground. Would seem much easier then digging further to twist the whole thing out.
Dan, thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. Unfortunately there is no way to update a video once it's published on TH-cam, but users can update the description below the video. I updated the description to let folks know that I was mistaken when I made this video, the guts from the new PGP sprinklers do fit the old shell!
@@Koolbob2 thank you! That works and I can try that first to not have to go down as much. Going to give that a try soon, thanks!
Really great, informative video, such great tips, love the homemade tools. Thanks
Bob, you are kool! Great tips, great video. Thanks so very much.
Excellent information!!
great video
Thank you!
Excellent video, Bob. Thanks for the help.
You bet!
I inherited my sprinkler maintenance responsibility when my landscaper told me last year that he did not want anything more to do with my 13 year old system. So I went through multiple you tube videos, purchased some tools, spare parts and even made a very similar PVC wrench that I notched with a Dremel tool. This video was one of the best I found. The only problem I have is the comment that just replacing the guts while leaving the housing in place will not work. I’ve replaced five heads that way and they all seem to be working fine? What part of it doesn’t work when you reuse the housing?
My situation is similar, the one affordable sprinkler installer in town retired and that is how I got started repairing my own system. I couldn't get the splines to engage properly the first time I installed a new Hunter PGP core in one of the existing bodies, so I assumed there was a design change between the old and new PGP heads. My assumption has been proven wrong and I've mentioned this several times in the comments and in the information below the video, sorry for any confusion that may have caused. I'm still relatively new to TH-cam and haven't yet found a way to edit a video once it's posted. I'm glad to hear the video was helpful and that the PVC tool is working to make your maintenance easier!
@@Koolbob2 thank you Koolbob! I looked further and found the post from Bryce and your summation so now I’m not sitting and waiting for them to fail. I designed my tool while l shopping in Loews and decided on a T connector with a kind of Y shape off to the side for leverage. So now your video is perfect!
@@Koolbob2 One other “tool” that works well with the PVC wrench is I took a garden trowel, cut the end of the handle off for a flat surface then use a 48 oz dead-shot hammer to cut a small circle around the head.
I saw a video tip where the guy added water around the hole before removing the body to keep the dirt in place after cutting the donut. Pour in some water and wiggle the body a little to press the dirt in place. Love these tips! Thank you
@@angelae6064Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment!
I've set my system to run at 3am, 4am and 5am for a few minutes at a time. I run it very early when the water pressure is strong, there is less evaporation and only 15-minutes as a time so the water can soak into my hilly yard, rather than running off.
Every month or so I like to run each zone for a few minutes during the day and check that all the heads are working properly. I usually discover I need to replace a head during a test, so the soil is already damp. Sometimes the ground is too wet from a malfunctioning head or the head is at a low point in the system and if I remove the head the hole will fill with water so I wait for a day or so before working on the head.
If I ever find myself attempting to replace a head when the soil is dry I'll definitely try your tip!
I have the adjustment tool but on some of my sprinkler heads I can't seem to get a bite on the screw head. Is it possible some of the adjustment screws use a slotted screw head rather than an alan head? Great video and kudos on your creativity with the tools you created.
Thanks for watching! Often the hexagonal hole in the Allen head adjustment screw gets filled up with dirt, making it impossible to get a grip on the screw with the Allen key. You need to clean the gunk out of the hole so the Allen key can get a grip. I have an awl with a sharp tip that I use to loosen up the debris and then I loop a short bit of tubing to direct the water stream from the nozzle onto the Allen screw to flush out the debris while the head is spraying water. You can also try using your garden hose, pump up sprayer or a spray bottle with water to flush out the debris. I'll make a video on this this weekend and upload it!
Love the tips and tools
Thanks for watching and thanks for the great feedback!
Ingenious my friend
Thank you!
Easiest way to get those nozles out is loosen the screw and turn on the sprinkler. Keep your hand 👏 n front of it if you want to keep it.
Saved me a head of time! Thanks so much
Awesome, glad to hear the video helped!
What tool did you use to make the notches in the top of your 2" pvc. And Ajso what did you use to space the notches so exactly?
I held the PVC pipe up to the top of the PGP sprinkler and made marks on the pipe where the notches needed to be with a sharpie. I then put the pipe in a vice and cut notches with a hacksaw, but now that I have an angle grinder I would use that with a cut-off wheel.
koolbob2 - Dude, you are awesome. Love the old school get-er-done mentality.
Thank you!
Awesome video Bob, very good explanations.
Thank you kindly
Great video, I like that tool! Just one thing as Hunter pointed out the new and old cases are compatible with the new Hunter PGP with blue nozzles or Hunter PGP Ultra
Thanks! I'm still a newbe on TH-cam and trying to figure out how to add subtitles to correct my error about Red and Blue PGP compatibility.
You are a great instructor!
Glad you think so!
2:16, Yes you actually can. You just have to get the threads right. these heads are able to retrofit by simply unscrewing, and can even retrofit into the more advanced PGP Ultra sprinkler in the old body with a nice and leak tight fit.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. Last year Hunter Industries confirmed that the old and new parts are interchangeable and I added their comments to the video description. I am not aware of any way to alter my existing video to reflect the update, so the quote from them will have to do for now.
I'VE RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM HUNTER INDUSTRIES!!!
"Hello Robert
Thank you for your idea submission on Hunter’s Open Innovation site. We welcome ideas from our customers that assist Hunter in delivering innovative products and services to the markets we serve. Your idea for PGP Tools for no-dig sprinkler replacement was reviewed by our Product Team through our Built on Innovation program. It’s a problem that we hear of occasionally from customers. A number of “inventors” have sent us designs for tools to service rotors, however, we just don’t sell that many tools to service our products. What we find is that most technicians and installers utilized standard “channel-lock” pliers to remove rotor caps and/or prevent the body from rotating. While not ideal, it allows them to utilize a single tool for a wide variety of products, including rotors and sprayheads. By the way, well done on your video. Very informative and concise. Our Product Manager mentioned that the Hunter PGP-ADJ riser with blue nozzles should fit in the older PGP-ADJ body that originally had a riser with red nozzles.
We appreciate the input. Thank you! Feel free to send additional ideas to us at: @t If you have any questions, please contact us at: ideas@hunterindustries.com
Hunter Innovation Team"
There you have it, the new blue nozzle risers should fit fine in the older red nozzle body! For some reason I had difficulty getting the blue/red combo to work on the first time I tried mixing them and thought they were incompatible. Must have been operator error! :)
@@Koolbob2 Yes, I didn't know about it either until I saw it on TH-cam somewhere. Hope you have a great evening, and I also really like your tips!
Thanks so much for the great tips! Love the tools you've made, too. Really valuable info for me as a homeowner with a bunch of PGP's.
Great to hear!
You are the best good luck
So excellent🎯👏🏼.
Thank you!
Great tips and well presented 👍
Thanks Bigun35!
Hi Robert - this is fantastic and very inventive on your part. I attempted to take apart one of my older PGP rotors and need help. What is the best way to take it apart. Thanks.
Hey John, It should be pretty simple, unscrew the collar at the top of the sprinkler head and pull the collar, head and rotor assembly out of the hollow body. Sometimes it takes a pretty firm pull, especially if there is any sand or debris that worked it's way into the innards of the sprinkler.
@@Koolbob2 That was no problem. I took the inner rotor assembly out of the hollow body and am attempting to remove the top section - head, that rotates. I picked up a 4" rainbird sprinkler as you showed and will glue to the empty inner housing once I have the innards removed. What am I missing to remove the head and get the innards out? Thanks.
@@JohnTubeOwens Ah, now I understand your question. It's been a couple of years since I made that tool, so my memory on how I disassembled the guts is a bit fuzzy and I don't have any broken PGP heads at the moment that I can mess with. I do remember removing the rubber cap and then getting the guts out but I don't remember if there was a screw under the rubber cap or if I just ripped the guts out. If all else fails, you could just cut the top off with a hacksaw.
Brilliant!
Thanks!
Clever tools!!
Genius, THANK YOU
Great video! Thanks for the tips.
Very Good Video
Glad you liked it!
Bob, great video. I need to cap off one of my heads (this exact kind PGP-ADJ) and I can't find what I need. Recommendation?
I am not aware of any way to cap off a Hunter rotor. I had a 4" RainBird head I wanted to cap off and purchased a cap that replaced the guts of the sprinkler head so you would leave the empty sprinkler body in place. So much water gushed out around the cap that capping the head actually put more water on the lawn than leaving the head in operation. I ended up completely removing the RainBird head and capping off the riser with a short section of 3/4" PVC pipe and cap. I tossed a handful of misc nuts and bolts in the hole, just below the surface so I could locate the capped off PVC pipe with a metal detector if desired. I hope this helps you with your situation. Please subscribe and like if any of this is helpful!
Great video and simple tips!
Glad you like them!
Great video. Thank you for sharing
Very Cool Bob! (^^;👍 This is the best video on sprinkler heads I've seen! I've subbed your channel sir! Thank you! Atb - Luther
Thanks Luther!
Great video! Thanks!
Thank you for the great info.
So to be clear the Orbit riser works with the Hunter heads...without issue? Many of mine are very Low. I would love a way to raise them without digging them all up.
Yes, the Orbit risers come in 1/2" and 3/4" diameters. My local HomeDepot keeps the Orbit 1/2" diameter risers in stock, but I had to get the Orbit 3/4" risers from Amazon. The Orbit risers are made from a very soft plastic, it seals very well, but be careful not to cross thread them or you'll mess up the riser. Get more than you need just to be safe. I ordered a 20-pack so I'd have enough for every head in the yard, plus a few spares. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MCYX3VK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
what is the name of the plastic white 'clip' you bought on Amazon -- or a link to it? Thanks!
Hey Dale, thanks for watching! the Nozzle Insertion Collar (Hunter part number 123200SP) is available from a number of sources. Here's where I got mine: www.amazon.com/Hunter-123200SP-3-PACK-Insertion-Hold-Up/dp/B07732HV74/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2RBV3REOU6WMZ&keywords=hunter+123200SP&qid=1653421041&sprefix=hunter+123200sp%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-2
Really like the tools you made.
great tips, thanks
great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video! Thank you.
Glad you liked it!
Excelent video!!!!!!
Teflon tape on riser threads might help seal.
I suppose there's no harm in adding teflon tape, but it isn't necessary because the threads on both ends of the riser are tapered so they get pretty snug before the threads bottom out.
I thank you for all the info, and tool selection. I have been changing some of my older sprinkler (Hunter) heads as they age. I have just tried, and still trying to replace to heads that were bad. Basically no problem, but trying to set up these new heads has its challenges, at least for me. I am left-handed which usually doesn't cause much concern, but when setting up the new heads. I put the new body on the existed male connection, then I put the rotor in, so I can get the right amount coverage, but when I go to tighten the rotor cap, it is very hard to turn, and both of these new ones have leaked, or I have turned the rotor cap so that it turns the body, and I have lost my right side stop position. So is there something I can put on the threads of the cap to make this tighten up so it doesn't lead and I don't mess up my right side stop.
Hey Mike! I think I understand the issue you are having, here's how I install an entirely new head, maybe this will help. PGP heads come adjusted to cover about 180-degree rotation, the right stop is fixed and the left stop is adjustable. Unless the old sprinkler body is stuck in place, I install the entire head (rotor body and rotor guts) just as it comes new. I push down on the rubber rotor head with the palm of my hand and turn it all the way to the left stop and then all the way to the right stop. Now I know where the right stop is on the sprinkler head and I begin threading it onto the existing sprinkler head riser buried in the ground. As I tighten the head I keep an eye on where the right hand stop is so I can stop tightening the head in place when the right hand stop is pointing where I want it to. If I miss the mark and the right hand stop close to where I want it I can just tighten or loosen the head on the riser threads to get it in place. If the head is nice and snug and the right hand stop point is way off I hold the body of the sprinkler in place (a big set of channel lock pliers comes in handy to gently hold the body in place), unthread the cap, pull out the guts out, rotate them as needed and reinsert the guts so the right hand stop is where I want it to be. I was already thinking about making a Hunter PGP install video when I get a chance and your question has encouraged me to go ahead and make a video, so subscribe to my channel to receive a notification when new videos are posted.
@@Koolbob2 I agree with what you say, but I can not tighten up the cap sufficiently after I make my adjustment. The sprinkler head continues to leak, from under the cap. I am an old guy who has lots of arthritis, so while I had the body help with a pair of channel locks, I had a second pair of channel locks, trying to tighten up the cap, but the cap didn't seem to move. I started the cap by hand, so I don't think the cap was cross threaded, but for some reason, (probably me) I could not tighten up the cap to stop the leaking from under the cap.
@@mikeallumi6507 If you are using on old sprinkler body with new internals, then the first thing I would try is using the both new body and internals together. I can only think of two things that might make an all new sprinkler body and internals leak and that is cross-threading them or foreign material getting in the way. Be sure everything is clean and dirt/mug free and there's no grass or roots coming in-between the body and top. As a last resort, replace the problem head with a new PGP that you have not disassembled and I'm sure the leak will be fixed.
One last thought, could the leak be coming from under the sprinkler head and rising up around the sprinkler head and looks as if it's coming from the top?
@@Koolbob2 I guess that is possible, but I thought I had the body fairly tight, but I will keep that i mind as I move forward
Thanks'
Mike
what is different between red nozzle and blue nozzle bases? I just installed a new blue nozzle head into my old red nozzle head yesterday and seems to be working fine, so what trouble did you experience in doing that?
thanks for tips on tools ,looks like a great Idea.
Mike, thanks for watching the video and taking the time to comment. You are correct that the actual red or blue spray nozzles are interchangeable. the point I'm making is that inserting the entire internal rotor assembly (guts) from the newer 'blue' nozzle heads into the older 'red' nozzle housing (shell) that is threaded onto the irrigation pipe won't work properly.
@@Koolbob2 I installed a new Hunter PGP rotor (w/ blue nozzle) inside an old PGP (w/ red nozzle) housing and it seems to work fine. (To be clear, I replaced the entire insides by unscrewing the cap at the top and left the housing screwed into the riser.) Can you tell me what issues to look for, I may not have noticed it, yet. Thanks and thank you for a great video.
@@PTAC2023 It's been a few years, so my memory may be fuzzy on this, but when I tried just inserting the blue 'guts' into one of my 10-year old existing red housings the splines on the inside of the red housing didn't engage properly with the groves on the bottom of the blue guts. I struggled to get that red/blue combo to work, so I replaced the entire red sprinkler with the newer blue sprinkler and everything was fine. I've stuck to the notion that red and blue housings are not interchangeable ever since. I think there's one red sprinkler left in my yard, not sure if it was an original 10-year old version, or one of the replacement red sprinklers I've installed over the years, but when it dies I'll try to use blue guts in it and see how it goes.
Great video. What did you use to cut the PVC?
Thanks for watching! I cut the PVC 'tool' off a longer section of PVC pipe with a reciprocating saw with a fine-tooth blade. I then put the 'tool' in a vice and cut the notches with a hacksaw and refined the notches with a Dremel tool until O got all of them to fit the PGP cap properly.
This man needs to hack everything in our lives!
Wow, thank you! So glad to know my videos are helping folks!
All types of pgp rotors fit into the same canister, it is the same rotor just with different nozzles
Yes, I was mistaken and I have made a note of my error in the video description two years ago. If you are aware of a way to edit TH-cam videos after they are uploaded please fill me in.
Great work arounds...did you ever patent these?
Thanks! I've shared my tool video with Hunter and while I'm waiting to hear back from them, I've begun the patent process.
Thank you!
Do you have an Amazon link for the tool to hold the head in the position to allow you to change the nozzle?
Sure thing Ken,... www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07732HV74/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
@@Koolbob2 Thank you.
I suppose you could put something like a toothpick along the side to hold it from going down...and just taping the stick or whatever you use to the body while working on the nozzle area.
Smart man!
@koolbob2 Can you fix a non-rotating rotary so that it rotates again or is that not an option?
I keep a few spare PGPs for when an old one quits rotating or the seals begin to leak (creating a large puddle around the sprinkler). Hunter sells a seal kit, but it's so much easier to remove and replace the head as opposed to order the seal kit, remove, disassemble, replace the seals, reassemble and replace. I've always assumed that heads quit rotating because the gears are worn out and the head has reached the end of it's life. I suppose you attempt to repair the gears if you could get to them, but it would be time consuming and probably a short lived repair.
I have these sprinkler heads and the water is not as “full” as I’d like. I’m wondering if you know how to clean the filter?
Hey Jennifer, I've never cleaned the screen on a Hunter head, but here's a video on how it's done. www.hunterindustries.com/videos/cleaning-filter-hunter-rotor
Do you think it could be the problem? ( dirty filter)...I have spent so much $ on this system, as I’m not as savvy as you. I have water, though every year I need to put pellets down my well, to clean the well tip. Now I’m wondering if the rust has yucked up the sprinkler filter? I’ll watch the video, thanks!
@@jennifernorton8975 I wish I could be more helpful, but I don't have any experience with wells or pumps. My first question would be what is the pressure and flow of your pump? To find out, buy or borrow an inexpensive ($10) water pressure gauge and a 5-gallon bucket. Screw the gauge onto an outside faucet to measure the static water pressure of your system. Then time how long it takes to fill the bucket with the faucet all the way open. There are resources on the internet to help you calculate how many sprinkler heads can operate at the same time with your pressure and flow. If you have too many heads on a single circuit, you can switch to lower flow nozzles on each of the heads to improve the spray pattern (then you simply water for a longer cycle to compensate for the lower flow rate). Our neighborhood has a well system and our pressure was only about 35PSI when our system was installed many years ago. Since then the city has taken over management of our well and the improvements they have made increased he pressure to 45PSI so now I can run higher flow nozzles on the areas of the yard that need a little extra water. I hope this helps.
It would be nice if you had closed caption
Good suggestion, I'll have to figure out how to do that.
Question, I have an old rain bird sprinkler with a 1/2 inch feed. How do I go from a 1/2 inch to the 3/4 inch lead to the Hunter sprinkler? Is there some kind of an adapter I could make or buy to remedy this installation? Anybody who reads this can help if you have any ideas. Thanks.
Thank you all for the positive feedback! Please subscribe, I'm trying to grow this channel to 1,000 subscribers.
When the nozzle is unrestricted it seems more water goes to the far end than between the head and that point. When the nozzle is restricted, to shorten the distance, it seems the water is more evenly distributed across the distance. Any comment?
I agree that the water distribution looks better when the adjustment screw makes at least a minute amount of contact with the water stream. Keep in mind that there is a LOT more square footage of lawn at the outside of the sprinkler's arc than near the inside, so no need to try to make the distribution even from the head to the end of the sprinkler's throw.
@@Koolbob2 Good explanation, thank you.
How do you shut off/ terminate water going thru the nozzles. Some of my heads I no longer need .
I needed to cap off a 4” RainBird pop up head last year. I bought a cap that is supposed to replace the sprinkler ‘guts’, but it leaked terribly. I ended up digging up the head and capping off the elbow fitting that the sprinkler head attached to. I also threw a big bolt the hole the head came out of before filling it, that way I could find the sprinkler connector with a metal detector if I ever wanted to put the head back.
Thanks, I really need a way to cut off a Hunter PGP head. I'm looking for a nozzle W/O a hole.
m t newton - I guess you could plug the hole with a sheet metal screw and some epoxy, but the head will still rise and rotate when the water comes on until it wears out. IMHO you will be better served if you remove the sprinkler head entirely.
Capped PVC so it sits 2 inches above the soil.
@@mtnewton5219 Did you ever find a proper fitting "cap" for your PGP? I have the pretty much standard PGP-ADJ sprinkler heads. I see below KoolBob2 suggests plugging the spray hole with a sheet metal screw. That sounds logical to work. I don't care if the head still pops up and rotates.
You might think of a patent. Someone will steal your idea for this handy tool.
I've submitted my video to Hunter Industries R&D, but have not heard back from them.
@@Koolbob2 That is because they are busy getting a patent on it. Good luck.Thanks for the good tips.
Genious.
How can you remove the top without the can turning and coming loose from the bottom
I use my homemade removal tool on the top of the sprinkler, sometimes the entire sprinkler head turns and can be removed, sometimes only the top portion turns and I am able to remove the 'guts', leaving the housing in the ground. That's why I made a second tool to remove the housing should the guts come out on the first try. The only way I know to remove the entire sprinkler head on the first try, guaranteed, is to dig out around the head and rotate the housing with your hands.
@@Koolbob2 p9!