Design Law Sprinklers

I am talking about the copper lawn sprinklers that spin in circles. Usually a couple of different size loops that spin and make a design as the water goes through them.

My wife and I bought one about ten years ago. It was an operational one on display. We bought it brought it home and then put it in storage for about 5 years. We forgot we had it. Anyway when I took it out it no longer spun around. The loops just lift out, then looked clean so I put some butter on the brass fittings and they worked for about 2 hours. I have tried taking steel wool to them but can't get them to spin. Anyone have any experience with them things having the same problem as me and was you able to fix it?


murph

Hmmmm..... white lithium grease?

Redneck uses W-D40 or duck tape on everything. So I would say if you want it to loosen up and move, and butter worked for a while , then I would choose W-D40

American Woman said:

Redneck uses W-D40 or duck tape on everything. So I would say if you want it to loosen up and move, and butter worked for a while , then I would choose W-D40

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I have tried WD-40, silicone and grease. The lubricants just don't do it.

Why do you think it just stopped spinning? Is it easy to move with your finger?

Deadly Sushi said:

Why do you think it just stopped spinning? Is it easy to move with your finger?

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yes i can move it with my fingers, if no water pressure I can spin it easily, if I put water pressure on it; it seems like it just locks up like it gets off balance or something

turn down the pressure on the hose?
see if there's a rubber grommet that's dried out inside?

Erik said:

turn down the pressure on the hose?
see if there's a rubber grommet that's dried out inside?

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I am wondering if there isn't suppose to be some teflon gaskets at the bottom of each loop.

good possibility - I was thinking grommet to limit leakage at the top and let the water "float" the spinning ring.

Erik said:

good possibility - I was thinking grommet to limit leakage at the top and let the water "float" the spinning ring.

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Probably by the time I get done screwing around with it I could have bought 2 new ones.

thcri said:

Probably by the time I get done screwing around with it I could have bought 2 new ones.

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not as much fun.
and this way you'll have so many ideas on how to improve the design, you can use scraps from job sites to make holiday gifts for friends and family!