Ronald Conard, CGCS said: Kyle Fick said: When is the last time Rainbird switched a model number? The housings for the rotors have stayed virtually unchanged for as long as I can remember. Toro seems to come out with a "new and improved" alternative yearly. Not bad year to year, but 10 years into a 30 year system, are you going to find what you are looking for anymore? That's a thought I ask myself a lot.
Nine years into a new Rainbird system with 51dr heads and they no longer service these heads.
We had 51DR heads installed with our new system in 1993 or 96, with SBM electrical/mechanical clocks, I don't know why when in the same time frame there were gear driven heads and circuit board controllers. Always thought because it was a municipal job the contractor that bid, picked up the obsolete stuff at a good price. Thing is the stuff still works. We use Sport turf irrigation for 51 parts we can't get from Rain Bird and Board Tronics for clock repairs. We are installing newer up to date Par+ units, and what I like about Rain Bird is everything will work with our Status II computer program.
Of course this was 20 years ago, but I remember Toro VT4's with the old computers installed in the early 90's at 3 our county courses in New Jersey, by the time the last was installed we had to go to Network 8000.
I prefer Rain Bird, but pick who gives you the best service.
Mel