Question
I have about 50 of the R-50 Rotors and the entire system is about 7 years old. Over the years from the 1st year I have replaced about half of the rotors for one reason or another. The most common problem is that they will not retract and I think they are hanging on the wiper where the lock ring for the arc adjustment is made. I think it's a design flaw but now RainBird wants me to pay $10 just to ask them anything. I was told these are the best on the market but I had a lot fewer problems with the Toro rotors and they were over 10 years old. Don't you think they should last longer than a couple of years? Suggestions?

Answer
The R-50 has had problems with retraction since I can remember.  I once had a 6 acre park that had about 250 of them installed, and after every mowing we would have to replace a dozen or so.  I quit using them about 20 years ago and switched to Hunter I-20 for that size sprinkler.  Rainbird is notoriously difficult to deal with in cases of product failure.  However there are some people who think the R-50 is good.  But yes, they should last longer than a couple of years.  When you replace them, choose another head.