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HUNTER IRRIGATION

13 posts
  1. Slaughter Michael W
    Slaughter Michael W avatar
    7/24/2011 7:07 AM
    I was wondering if I could get feedback from anyone who has Hunter Irrigation at their course or facility. We have Hunter and it has been in the ground for nine years. The decision to put Hunter in was made before i arrived. From day one this system has been a complete nightmare....from cracking heads, cracking pilot valves, foot valve malfunctions, solenoid issues, controllers not responding(comm boards,facepacks,power supply boards). We have put power conditioners on our power lines that supply power to the controllers and the problems still persist. The hunter tech and my sales rep tell me im the only one with all these problems. We average around 5 to 10 problems/week with this system, sometimes it could be as much as 20 problems/week. Any thoughts or comments?



  2. Peter Bowman
    Peter Bowman avatar
    11 posts
    7/24/2011 8:07 AM
    mwslaught1 said: The hunter tech and my sales rep tell me im the only one with all these problems.


    You might be the only one with the system.

    All kidding aside, there are probably a couple others out there. If your rep is serious that you're the only one having those problems, I'm sure he could put you in touch with others who do have the system. Call them yourself and find out.



  3. Slaughter Michael W
    Slaughter Michael W avatar
    7/24/2011 8:07 AM
    i actually feel like I'm the only one with this system. Before I came here, I was using Toro....I never ever had a problem...if i did have a problem it was very rare. There are a few other courses near me in Virginia that have Hunter as well....I'm planning on giving them a call tomorrow. Well as far as the salesman, i really dont think he would tell me if other folks are having problems....when we started having the cracked head problems it took me 5 years to get a answer...and the only reason i got an answer is the fact the Hunter Tech finally stopped by after five years of not seeing him...actually i didnt even know who he was! awesome support!

    Mike



  4. Fleegel Timothy
    Fleegel Timothy avatar
    7/24/2011 5:07 PM
    Mike I have Hunter in the ground. Where are you located? I'll email you when I'm able to.



  5. Slaughter Michael W
    Slaughter Michael W avatar
    7/25/2011 6:07 AM
    I am located in Powells Point, NC. Yes, please email me...i would like to know if you are experiencing the same issues too.

    Mike Slaughter
    Kilmarlic Golf Club
    Powells Point, NC
    kilmarlicgc@yahoo.com



  6. James Geiger
    James Geiger avatar
    1 posts
    7/25/2011 6:07 PM
    i believe we are the only course on long island (new york) and have run into all the problems you have and now we cant get bottom valves so we are changing entire heads out to the newer 900 series and just recently have run into a problem getting adapters to switch the old 11/4 acme head to the new 11/2 acme head. never ending issues to this very simple system plus we have come to find out that when we get a new computer we need to install xp pro because the genisis system won't work on windows 7



  7. Dick Brian
    Dick Brian avatar
    7/26/2011 9:07 AM
    mwslaught1 said: I was wondering if I could get feedback from anyone who has Hunter Irrigation at their course or facility. We have Hunter and it has been in the ground for nine years. The decision to put Hunter in was made before i arrived. From day one this system has been a complete nightmare....from cracking heads, cracking pilot valves, foot valve malfunctions, solenoid issues, controllers not responding(comm boards,facepacks,power supply boards). We have put power conditioners on our power lines that supply power to the controllers and the problems still persist. The hunter tech and my sales rep tell me im the only one with all these problems. We average around 5 to 10 problems/week with this system, sometimes it could be as much as 20 problems/week. Any thoughts or comments?


    "Nightmare" is a good term for it.
    We have a hunter system that is approx 10 years old.
    We are experiencing every problem you describe.
    With limited resources and budget here in SE KS its trial and error.
    Mostly error.
    We even had an experienced irrigation tech come look at it.
    Even he was confused.
    Everyone tells us something different, control board, solenoids, etc. But no luck.
    Our biggest problem is heads not shutting off and not turning correctly, as well as leaking.
    No matter what we've tried - still no luck.
    Not much else to offer- except you are not the only one having these issues with a Hunter system.



  8. Wahlin Scott B
    Wahlin Scott B avatar
    7/26/2011 10:07 AM
    My experience has been that the Hunter Control System is bulletproof. The good heads they produced were the brass impact heads, but they were overwhelmed by the cheaper Rainbird and Toro plastic heads. The Toro heads you can aim with your foot, but this instantly kills the Hunter Heads. I experimented with Hunter Heads in fairway applications where they have lasted for years, but on greens they always broke. I believe this is because someone messed with them when they were on. I have also heard that they can tend to blow out of the ground for winter prep up north. We do not have that problem in South Florida.



  9. Chase Best
    Chase Best avatar
    0 posts
    7/26/2011 11:07 AM
    I have a Hunter system here and it is about 13 years old. I have every problem you describe. It is hard for me not to have to come in on the weekends because almost everytime I run a program something will stick on, or not come on. I have a decoder system and nightmare is the right term. Our system was installed when the course was redesigned and it was tied in with old irrigation. so I am still finding old parts from all of that. Also, old surge protectors are a pain, we just spent 2 days looking for a line fault problem and it turned out being a buried box along the line about 3 feet down. Cracking heading, heads that blow out are typical here. I am slowly changing over to Rainbird block heads instead of going Hunter. Around our greens we are now completely all Toro heads with maybe 4 Hunter heads remaining. I know that our system was put in at very cheap at the time. I worked at this course when I was in HS and remember all of the irrigation issues that we had from day one and they have no gotten any better. As far as our satellite stations, they overheat. Transformers have now gone out twice in the last year. Radios are also a typical repair for me, alongwith facepacks. Luckily my tech get back to me ASAP and can usually talk me thru the problem.

    We also have a seperate par 3 course here and we have a Toro sytem. It is only 5 years old and I think I have changed 2 solenoids in that time period and no heads.


    Chase Best
    Old Capital Golf Club



  10. Douglas Eggert
    Douglas Eggert avatar
    1 posts
    7/26/2011 1:07 PM
    I have only the Hunter Legacy controllers, 10 units with the stainless steel cabinets. I really can't complain. They have sat in 30" of flood plain waters... With the age of the units(1995) I still have to change a transformer now and then. I'm a great customer of Boardtronics...they have fixed all kids of problems for me, from corrosion issues from age, to just component failure. I've had 2 even get smacked with either a mower or the assistant's vehicle, both working an hour later.

    I currently keep at least 1 of all the interior components on hand. I have been given spare clocks, which are fairly simple to operate and program.

    I'm currently running the new Genesis III on a computer from 2003, which is running windows 2000. It operates quite well for the system. This is my backup computer since the main one was struck by lightning in early June of all places, the maintenance radio antenna. The maintenance radio is fairly easy to use. I just replaced the old handheld radio this season, it finally died. The new replacement was around $450.

    The new Genesis III does require a new Windows 7 operating system to be dummied down to XP. To me it's no big deal, I now have 2 PC's on my desk. Everynow and then I reboot my PC, it seems to operate smoother. I only turn it off, if it gives me issues.

    As for the head issues, I have Rainbird, both 700 E's and the block head 700's...idiot designer. So I can't tell you anything about the head issues..

    I'm a big proponent of maintenance on each of the units...check the grounding connections, all terminals get a check with a screwdriver at least 2 to 3 times per season, check all wire nuts for tightness and corrosion. I do have aftermarket lightning suppression on the communication cables, helps a lot. I have moth balls in a plastic cup in each of the units, tends to keep out unwanted visitors.



  11. Michael Coy
    Michael Coy avatar
    0 posts
    7/26/2011 4:07 PM
    We have had Hunter Genesis for 22 years and I absolutely hate. Everything that has been mentioned before happens weekly here. Toro system was installed last year in the new practice facility and not one issue since. The phantom irrigation setter. I love that guy!

    Michael Coy
    Oxmoor Country Club
    Louisville, KY



  12. Theron Weeks
    Theron Weeks avatar
    0 posts
    8/10/2011 8:08 PM
    I am in southern NJ and have experienced many of the issues you all have mentioned. i also feel that service is completely lacking here. Earlier this year in April we made a slight redesign of one of our holes. Ran new larger pipe size and added a few heads. took so long to get new G90's (or G900 now) that i ended up putting 3 Rain Birds in because they were avail next day. Was told they were being 'made' Finally arrived and i told my rep too late. Gave him another chance on some g70's (or 700) shortly after that in May - I have yet to receive the three i ordered - unbelievable! Service has gone way down in recent years and there are a few others in the area with Hunter systems. wish I had the money to replace but for now it might be a few Rain birds at a time. At least i know i can get them within a few days



  13. Michael Rosen
    Michael Rosen avatar
    0 posts
    8/11/2011 6:08 PM
    We have Hunter Genesis.... 90 & 70 series heads with no central. I've never changed so many pilot valves or solenoids in my life. We will go through 1 or 2 facepacks per year, but I don't mind the controllers and have not had any issues with heads turning on or not. Have never had any problems with the full circle drives, however the part-circles are not good.



  14. Trevor Monreal
    Trevor Monreal avatar
    5 posts
    9/10/2018 10:09 AM
    Did a search on this but the last discussion was in 2011...
    Wondering what experience anybody has had (recently) with Hunter golf irrigation heads.
    Pros, cons, lifespan, and whatever else you care to share.
    Thanks,



  15. Michael Wagner
    Michael Wagner avatar
    0 posts
    9/11/2018 5:09 AM
    I have a few hunter heads on the course. Some G80 and some G35. In my opinion they aren't very good. The distribution of water is good but when they stop spinning you replace all of the guts. I have been phasing them out as they fail. A lot of times when they fail they are left stuck up in the air and will not go back down easily. Many times I've had golfers break off the top because they try to force them down which breaks them. I've got a lot of different heads on the course and have used a lot of heads over the years and I consider hunter to be one of the worst. It's just my 2 cents but I wouldn't buy them.



  16. Todd Bishop
    Todd Bishop avatar
    1 posts
    9/11/2018 7:09 AM
    We had several different Hunter heads on our course, total POS's. I agree with Michael, just say NO!



  17. Trevor Monreal
    Trevor Monreal avatar
    5 posts
    9/13/2018 2:09 PM
    Thank you for both for the information.



  18. Josh Mahar
    Josh Mahar avatar
    0 posts
    1/22/2019 9:01 AM
    We installed Hunter G90s in 1998 and they have been a solid head for us. Not particularly fond of the G70 series as they seem to have more issues. Have used some of their newer 800 series and they seem tough-might need to mess with nozzles for better distribution though.



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