Toro Irrigation Winterization Cancel The title field is required!

1. Michael Nelson

   

   0 posts
   
   2/26/2013 9:02 AM

   We had Toro 854 heads installed back in 2006/07 with a new construction. Come winterization we have issue with risers breaking mostly on the second go around of the blowout. Toro has somewhere along the way changed the riser to make it supposedly more durable and then came out with recommendations on blowing out thier systems. Is anyone else having issues primarily with heads installed in 06/07? Is anyone following the recommended blowout procedure which involves just going through the system once and then pulling out risers in various areas the second time through. I've always gone through everything twice, gives me peace of mind. Now they say not to do that. Please share any thoughts or experiences.
   
   Mike Nelson, CGCS
   Blue Top Ridge Golf Club
   Riverside, Iowa

   
   
   
   
2. Michael Armstrong

   

   0 posts
   
   2/26/2013 11:02 AM

   I have an "older" Toro system with 700 series heads and have no riser problems here. What air pressure is your compressor set to? Toro recommends no more than 65 psi at the head. I set my compressor at 70 psi and by the time the air reaches the heads your looking at a 55-65 psi. Also, in my opinion, bigger is the better. We use a 750 cfm compressor here. Its not about pressure as much as it is about volume. Greater the air volume the more efficient your blow out will be. These two things result is excellent results for me. I would also recommend only blowing it out once. Drain as much water out threw hoses, couplers and valves prior to blowing out. Just leave the heads on long enough to get the mist then STOP. As long as you get a majority of the water out you will be fine. I am in upstate NY and we usually have long cold winters with lots of frost in the ground. Never had any issues using these methods.
   
   Hope that helps,
   
   Mike

   
   
   
   
3. Wydra David A

   
   2/26/2013 11:02 AM

   Sounds like a pressure related issue to me. What was the pressure reading of your system while blowing out? (Not the pressure at the compressor but somewhere out on the course) We always plug in a quick coupler with a gage on it in the middle of the course. We never let it get over 80psi if we can avoid it. I agree with you about going through your heads twice though. I always find where water has found its way to the lower end of some of our laterals. Theres definetley a lot of force exerted on the risers when its just air coming out. I could see how you might launch some internals if the pressurre is too high.

   
   
   
   
4. Michael Nelson

   

   0 posts
   
   2/26/2013 1:02 PM

   We use a pressure regulator and allow just enough pressure to operate the heads, around 40-45psi. I've used pressure gages in the field as well and never above 50psi.I have had the 700 series head at other courses and no problems. The 800 series head has the extra height to the riser which adds to the velocity when the head pops up. Toro is expecting me to alter my winterization process to accommodate their product. It's that second go around that we're seeing the damage but it's also that second go around that gives me peace of mind that I won't be chasing splintered pipe in the spring.
   
   Mike Nelson, CGCS
   Blue Top Ridge Golf Club
   Riverside, Iowa

   
   
   
   
5. Venne Gregory

   
   3/4/2013 7:03 AM

   We have had the same issue here with the same heads from that time period. Toro has been very good about replacing them every year. I did look over Toro's blowout recommendations last fall, and we follow their guidelines, and still have the issues. Fortunately, we only have 5-10 break every year.

   
   
   
   
6. Jeffrey Moser

   

   0 posts
   
   3/6/2013 8:03 AM

   You should only go through the heads once during blowout. If you feel that you must turn on the heads in the lower areas for a second time you can use a tool that holds the riser up.

   
   
   
   
7. Patrick Carroll

   

   0 posts
   
   3/6/2013 9:03 AM

   We put in a new Toro system in 2005 and had the same problem with blow out on the second cycle. We use a 900 cfm compressor at 100 psi. We only go through one cycle and it has worked great. Good luck