Identifying and Replacing a Hardie Hydraulic Valve in an Indexing System

The system has a Hardie valve downstream of the pump with two handles on the stem, a small sensing line to the pump inlet, and no solenoid. The well has strong artesian pressure. The owner wants to know if this valve can be eliminated when replacing a leaking indexing valve.

What This Valve Actually Is

This is a hydraulic valve - the predecessor to modern electric solenoid valves. Hydraulic systems used water pressure through small control tubes to actuate valves, managed by a hydraulic controller (not an electric timer). The sensing line to the pump inlet suggests it may function as a pressure-regulating or pump-protection device.

Can You Remove It?

Not without major system changes. If you disconnect this hydraulic valve, you must replace it with a standard 24VAC electric solenoid valve AND install a modern electric controller. The existing hydraulic controller cannot operate electric valves.

Better Approach

Since you're already replacing the indexing valve, consider upgrading the entire system to modern electric valves with a standard controller. This eliminates the complex hydraulic tubing, provides more reliable operation, and allows use of contemporary smart controllers with weather-based scheduling.

If you must keep the hydraulic system, source a replacement hydraulic valve from specialty irrigation suppliers who service older agricultural systems.