Re-Assembling a Valve for Iron Filter

[Reach4]

A "filter-only" piston does not have provision for a brine draw or similar cycle. I think AIO draws air during that brine draw cycle time. So while I have not worked with an AIO filter, the downflow piston makes sense to me.

The 5810 pistons are notorious for breaking, which is why the valve has been discontinued. My 5810 SXT -based softener's piston has not broken, fortunately. The 5800 does not share that problem, and has not been discontinued.

It seems logical to me that they or somebody could make a more robust 5810 piston. Where did yours break?

 

[JustaDIYer]

This isn't an AIO type. Just a straight KL filter.... rapid rinse and backwash for regen.

This is a 5810sxt valve.

Doni just order a white dot piston or a yellow dot one?

See the picture for where it broke. Not the first time ive had a piston break in this area.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

I am thinking that if you program for RF=FLtr, it would expect the filter piston... but I am just looking at the manual. Do you have an injector? Is there a connection at the injector port, or is there just two plugs? See the bottom of page 16 of the service manual.

There was a time when there was a shortage of downflow pistons.

When you do put this together, lube the piston and seals with Dow No. 7 release compound or Chemplex 862

 

[JustaDIYer]

I have this on both sides of the valve; I wish i had an injector so i could inject bleach every so often to clean it

I'll check to see what the valve is set to for under VT, valve type. I take it if it's set for Fltr get the filter piston and if set for downflow, get that piston. these things aren't made very well are they, probably replaced 4 in the last 5 years or so between the softener and this valve.

 

[Reach4]

Good thinking.

I see you have a top basket. You may want to remove that to prevent clogging that can prevent sufficient backwashing.

I took my top basket off of my iron+H2S filter. There is another thing that can be used -- I am thinking mushroom diffuser, but I am not finding the discussions of that that I expect.

KL is often under-backwashed. I think 7 gpm would be a minimum desirable for a 10-inch tank -- not that that would contribute to piston breakage.

 

[JustaDIYer]

I removed that basket and bought an umbrella type diffuser for top of riser tube.

My valve is setup as dF1b, downflow/upflow single backwash. So ill order the download piston, white dot.

I've been cleaning the valve and bypass, started by soaking it in a solution of water and iron out. And today, diluted some bleach in a bucket of water and cleaned them up some more. Rinsed them good in clean water afterwards.

 

[JustaDIYer]

turns out my riser tube is 32mm (~1.25" diameter) and the umbrella diffuser is for 1.05" risers (it's ID was under an inch). I just took the dremel to it and went to town til it fit over the riser tube. fits very snug now and got it down about 6" down the riser.