I’ve got a Merrill yard hydrant that has slowly deteriorated to a mere drip. I was sure that my problem was a crushed water line under our driveway, but when I dug it up and (intentionally) cut the pipe, I see that there is no problem with pressure or volume.
So the problem is obviously a restriction in the hydrant. When I open the valve I can hardly blow air through. Has anyone fixed one of these?
Thx,
Scott.
Replies
If you can't flush anything out of it, you might consider replacing it if it's over ten years old. I don't think you can buy replacement parts for them nut I won't swear to that. You should be able to get good yard hydrant w/2' bury for under $75 easy.
Remember to use a bucket of gravel around the bottom before you back fill.
It is a shame that all the people who really know how to run this country, and run it right, are busy, cutting hair, driving taxi's and trucks!
I believe George Burns said something to that effect.
>>>I don't think you can buy replacement parts for them nut I won't swear to that.Their website shows parts available, but I'll need to see if there's a distributor here. I figure I might need a valve assembly; there's not much else to go wrong with them.thanks,Scott.
True, the valve is down at the bottom, and the only real problem area. Most of the old hydrants I've seen can't be taken apart. They are so badly corroded that the thread will break off first.
Altho... there is always the Flame Wrench! That might do it.
But if you can get it apart, then a good cleaning and new seals should be all.
I think....
It is a shame that all the people who really know how to run this country, and run it right, are busy, cutting hair, driving taxi's and trucks! I believe George Burns said something to that effect.
>>>Altho... there is always the Flame Wrench! That might do it.Holy cow, how did you know? After almost an hour of pulling, beating, and cursing, I finally got out the torch and was able to get the faucet head off of the standpipe. Not an easy job; my mechanic's vise could barely hold the pipe as I beat on the wrench with a hand sledge. For one cent worth of pipe dope at the factory they could have saved me all that grief.Looks like a simple cleanup job might do the trick. Our well water carries lots of suspended clay, and the water going to the hydrant is unfiltered.Scott.
Edited 6/28/2009 3:32 pm by Scott
I've tried to field strip many of them to save the customer some cash. Very seldom did I get one apart.Good luckSteve
It is a shame that all the people who really know how to run this country, and run it right, are busy, cutting hair, driving taxi's and trucks! I believe George Burns said something to that effect.
In case someone searching the archives in the future encounters the same problem:Yard hydrants are extremely simple devices. The handle actuates a shaft down the middle of the standpipe which raises and lowers a little rubber plunger in a brass valve body.As mentioned in previous posts, the faucet and handle assembly tends to sieze to the standpipe, but if you can get it off then you can raise the handle, rod, and rubber plunger out of the standpipe, making it easy to service the hydrant without digging it up.In my case the rubber plunger was worn out.Scott.
Yard Hydrant Troubleshooting
Scott, it indeed sounds like you have a restriction somewhere in the line. When you lift up on the handle is there any drag on the handle or does it just open easily? Are there any hydrants on the same supply line between this hydrant and the source of the water?
DJ