Frost Free Hydrants

[turnkey4099]

I have four Merrill brand hydrants that have been in the ground for 15 years. I did get a used one for free, and ended up having to put new seals in it as it leaked. Toolk 2 big wrenches and a big ***** cheater bar to get the head off. If I had that job to do again, I probably wouldn't.

Same here. I learned to bench a new one and loosen that factory installation before bur ying a new one. They must use a torque wrench cinched down to My God! to install them.

Harry K

 

[HeLa]

This Baker Monitor ... has a spool valve with o-rings instead of a faucet washer and by loosening a set screw, you can turn the top to point where you want it.

Baker Water Systems - Monitorｮ Magnum Yard Hydrant

that's a really slick feature!

 

[Xfaxman]

that's a really slick feature!

Yep, and with the same set screw loose, you pull it straight up and out to replace the o rings, no big wrenches needed. :thumbsup:

 

[Gary Fowler]

You shouldn't have to dig them up, they are replaceable by taking the top part with handle off...if you can break that top free..

Harry K

You obviously have never taken one of these apart. It took all my weight on a 24" pipe wrench with a 2' cheater bar plus brother in law helping to hold down the heavy 40"x 72" table that my vise is mounted on to break the joint loose. Since our water lines are plastic, you must take them loose to do anything with them other than adjust the seat. Digging them up isn't a big job in our area since the water lines are only about 12-14" deep and by doing so, you don't run the risk of breaking the line and causing a bigger problem to fix.

 

[Paddy]

Other points to note as a side topic; The feature that allowed for the non freeze to work, valve at bottom with a drain hole to clear the stand pipe, has an issue with being contaminated ground water. When the device is off, it can and often does fill with "dirty" ground water. Once you open it flushes out. But if the end of the hose is closed and by chance the water main is shut off, the contaminated water can back flow.

I had a frost freeze located at the well head, so it was between the source and my house. Bad risk of contamination. All better with a back flow preventer.

 

[JRobyn]

Wonder how the cost of the Baker spool valve models compares with a Woodford and the cheapy Simmonds from Lowes? I'm using 7 of the Simmonds. Been in for about 7-8 years now. They work ok as long as you don't regularly use them or your wife doesn't run over them with the bushhog.:duh: The handle-to-stem linkage to lift the valve plug is not the best design IMHO.

I had to modify this one to thread the stem and add the adjusting nut after the square head setscrew stripped while trying to get enough down force to seal the plug. One factor in their favor; they almost match her truck!

 

[Xfaxman]

There is one on eBay for $120, but much better quality than the cheapys.

 

[HeLa]

All better with a back flow preventer.

right. this is code in most places.

there are also "sanitary" versions of the hydrants available but i've never actually seen one.

 

[turnkey4099]

You obviously have never taken one of these apart. It took all my weight on a 24" pipe wrench with a 2' cheater bar plus brother in law helping to hold down the heavy 40"x 72" table that my vise is mounted on to break the joint loose. Since our water lines are plastic, you must take them loose to do anything with them other than adjust the seat. Digging them up isn't a big job in our area since the water lines are only about 12-14" deep and by doing so, you don't run the risk of breaking the line and causing a bigger problem to fix.

Yep, I have and I needed about what you uised except the "bench" is a very heavy metal monster built out of a commercial oven. Didn't need people holding it down.

The difficulty of breakign that factory install is why I have advised in this thread to do it BEFORE burying a frost free.

Harry K

 

[RichZ]

Wow, lots of good info here. Thanks for all the tips!!