Question
Hello Jim: It has been 2 years since we last talked. I hope all is well on your end. I have eight (8) pop-ups on one zone, with 60 PSI coming in to the valve and 38 PSI at each pop-up. I changed all of the nozzles to Rainbird, high efficiency ( He-VAN). The pop-up body is a Rainbird Sure Pop, 600 series. A 4 1/4" body with a 2 1/2" pop-up. When the clock calls for watering, the nozzles won't come up. The water just seems to blow by the wiper seals. If I lift 2 or 3 of them, then the rest will come up. The same thing happens if I by-pass the clock and turn them on manually with the bleeder valve. If I put all of the standard nozzles back in, everything works OK. Rainbird says that the 600 series bodys are Ok. However, I notuice that the 1800 series bodys have a different (better) wiper seal design. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you again. Bill Betzolt.

Answer
Hey Bill, sorry this took so long, I forgot to put myself on vacation. So we only use the 1800 series heads, because it is a more professional head, and you are right, the wiper seal is much better. Normally these heads can be in for 15 or more years, before there is an issue with the seal. The problem you might encounter, is that the 1800 is now only available in the 4" pop-up, and the body will be much taller then your present heads. If the pipe is deep enough, you can put a shorter nipple in, or you can put them on a swing joint to get them down to the proper height. The other solution, would be to change just the cap (with the wiper seal) on your present heads. I don't understand why the standard nozzles are working, and the high efficiency are not, it should be just the opposite. Even though it is more work, I would suggest changing the heads to the 1800 series, you will be happier in the long run. Good luck and have a great day.