Drain line on hydraulic sprinker system

[adam]

I have an old hydraulic toro Custom sprinkler controller. The drain lines seems to be
getting water from the control supply line. Is it possible this leak is due to some seal
breaking that can be fixed by disassembling the controller ? Or is this a big headache
that isn't worth the time.

I found the drain leaking while trying to find where the control (supply) line goes. The supply
line doesn't have enough pressure to keep the valves closed (off) so I'm trying to find
where the line comes from and plumb a new line to clean that one out...
(Unfortunately, the lines don't seem to terminate in an easy to locate box in the yard.
[I haven't found it with all the poking around I have done.])

Thanks.

Adam

[SteveW]

I installed a couple of these controllers in the late 70s and at that time, the company owner I worked for would rig up a valve manifold out of galvanized pipe and hydraulic valves, and then we'd bury the whole thing without putting in a valve box - guess the thinking at the time was that these things should be so reliable as to not need service...

As I recall, each valve has a 1/4" control line coming off it, each of which plugs into the controller. The valves are off as long as the controller does not allow water to flow out of each control line. The controller has a separate 1/4" drain line which will have constant water flow as long as a valve is open.

I do recall that Toro also used to make a totally hydraulic controller, intended for use in highway medians, etc. where no electricity was available. It would have a constant flow of water from the drain line to run a hydraulic timer.

Don't know if any of this helps or not but that's my limited knowledge of these valves/controllers.

[adam]

That sounds like the system I have, except the valves are normally open. Adding water
in the control lines closes the valves. So the controller received water separate from
the hydraulic valve manifold in your installations. It looks like all the control tubes go to
the same place. What fun - dig up your yard until you find something...

Thanks for the info.

Adam

[SteveW]

The good news may be that if you can trace the hydraulic lines (look for where they exit your foundation, for example) you may be able to find the valves. Obviously will have to dig sort of carefully to avoid cutting the control lines.

I think the valves I used to install were also normally open. The water for controlling them came from their own water supply (the valve manifold), not the controller - so the 1/4" control lines from the valves to the controller are under pressure, with the water originating at the valves, and flowing to the controller. To open a valve, the controller lets water flow from the valve, through the control line, to the controller, then out the drain line.

[Wet_Boots]

The Custom controller would be a Normally Open type, with a separate supply line, usually with a separate shutoff valve. A break in one of the hydraulic tubes can relieve enough pressure to allow the normally-open valves to open. You get the fun job of finding the leak. Happy digging!

It was actually possible to configure a hydraulic sprinkler system in a way to allow the winterizing procedure to also remove all the water from the controller and hydraulic lines. It was rarely done, however.

[Kevin in Dallas]

I have the same old Toro Controller. I want to rip it out and put in a new system. Where does the water that runs the controller come from? Does it come from one of the in line valves, or is there a separate connection for the 1/4 control line that hooks into the water supply? There is no manifold, just a line out from the supply. All the valves are in-line.

I have located the shut off valve and the back flow preventer for the sprinkler system. There is a PVC line running out of the box, but there are no 1/4 lines in the box.

If I cut all the 1/4 lines and take the box out, will I still have water running through the control tubes? How do I stop the water flow?

[SteveW]

Yes, if you cut the 1/4 " lines, water will leak out of them. The water for those control lines does come from the inline valves.

[adam]

If you are taking out the controller could I pick it up from you ?
I was able to get mine working, though the aged components makes it leak a bit
much water out the drain line...

Somewhere in the yard there are a set of valves and the water supply to send water
to the controller. You'll have to find that to get rid of the tubing - or you can cap
the tube and bury it. But you may want to find the valves anyways.

Where in Dallas are you ? I'm NE in Lucas (near Allen)

Adam

[Daniels]

There is only one reason that a drain line on a Toro controller leaks when the system is not running. That is that the pilot valve is leaking. The best bet is to contact Toro support in Riverside CA or me for options. There are a few parts available and some rebuilt units and good used controllers. There is the option of a converter unit. Toro makes one and Bill in Phoenix manufactures another. I have found that individual actuators are a pain but they also come manifolded usually in fours, eights, etc. I have been working on hydraulics in Spokane for more than forty years and helping people who want to hang onto their hydraulics as long as possible. I have answers for all your hydraulic problems and techniques to make your job easier. I hope this helps.

[The Dickster]

I need to know what causes my drain line on my Toro Custom Eleven to leak 5 gallons of water per 1.5 hours when the system is off, not sprinkling. This has not happened in the 30 years I have owned this system. Thanx for any help to isolate this issue. The Dickster from Minnesota.

[SprinklerGuy]

Hydraulic systems were available in three configurations, Normally Open, Normally Closed and Pin Type. Although most of the Hydraulic manufacturers have discontinued the product line, Toro still participates in this area. I have been troubleshooting and repairing these systems for 29 years so I look forward participating in future discussions. Many after-market components are available to maintain the automatic operation of the Hydraulic system without having to install a new system. Most new controllers can be installed with the addition of an Hydraulic module/manifold or converter.

[simran]

That sounds like effective system. I heard lot about this system but never got any chance of using it. I want to know that what is the difference between all three configurations (Normally Open, Normally Closed and Pin Type) available in it. irrigation design

[BDWhite]

I have two Toro Custom ll, series 90 12 station controllers...neither of which work. I would like to have you pick and choose the best of these parts to build me one working controller, or steer me in the correct direction to replace the controller only. I use it for dust control in a 5 acre parcel and do not plan to dig up and replace all the existing water and hydraulic control lines...or is it possible for me to build a water manifold with a series of ball valves to shut the pressure off to the valves~then drain off the dead side with an external drain line and additional ball valve? I guess this system would consist of 24 ball valves and I would need to close one and open one to operate that sprinkler head.