Help, Please?? Can't get this Sprinkler to turn and throw water correctly.

Factual Questions
1

I bought two vintage Sunbeam Rain King Sprinklers last summer. I’d heard this style were originally used on golf courses. No confirmation on that. But, they did look like they’d throw water pretty far.

Check out the closeup pictures. The Dial goes zero to 50. I was hoping that was the radius of the circle (100 ft diameter). But, would accept a 50 fifty foot diameter circle.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Sunbeam-Rain-King-Metal-Sprinkler-K-2-WOW-/180703930342?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a12cb27e6

Problem 1. It won’t turn with the dial set at 50, 45, or 40. 35 is the largest setting I’ve found where it turns. ** It turns fast. Very fast. **

I know this type of sprinkler won’t turn if the nozzle jets are set for too wide a mist. Easy to adust just like you would a hand sprinkler nozzle. This style gets frustrating because the jets often vibrate around with use. Meaning a readjustment now and then and a fresh soaking of Aceplace.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Sherman-Lawn-Garden-Sprinkler-/130555776630?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e65bb0e76

That sunbeam doesn’t have adjustable nozzles. (see pics on link). At least, I don’t see any way to adjust the spray. Turning the knob on top makes the arms raise up/down.

This has me totally baffled. Any ideas on why it’s not turning on all settings? I’ve been reluctant to tear it down. I don’t know how it’s sealed. O-rings maybe? If so, I’m afraid they’ll start leaking if I tear it down.

Problem Two. It’s not throwing far enough. Even at 35. that should either be a 35 foot circle or a 70 foot circle. Based on the wet grass, I’m getting about a 20 foot circle. That other sprinkler I linked outperforms this bad boy.

Hate to admit something so simple is kicking my ass. But, yes indeed it is. :stuck_out_tongue:

2

Well, the timing couldn’t be better. I just found an ad from 1954 for the Sunbeam Rain King. It cost $9.50 in 1954. That’s a lot of money for that time period. I would have expected a typical lawn sprinkler to cost maybe $5 in 1954.

According to the ad, it can cover distances from 5 to 50 feet. So, that means the dial numbers (zero to 50) are the full circle diameter. Not a radius. That’s good to finally know. It would be even nicer to have a manual on this thing. :wink: But, an ad is better than nothing.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1954-Sunbeam-Rain-King-Water-Sprinkler-Ad-/220719970539#vi-content

Now, if I could just figure out why the thing only turns with the dial on 35. As I said earlier, if I set it on 40 or 50 it’ll turn a couple times and then stop. I have no idea why.

3

My WAG is that you don’t have the water pressure necessary to make it work at the higher settings.

4

Could be that internal corrosion,or perhaps an internal mineral buildup from the water supply is impeding the flow, which would have pretty much the same appearance as not having enough pressure.

Also it looks like there’s a lot of corrosion in the space between the vertical shaft and the spinning cap. If that continues up underneath the cap, it could be just a lot of friction.

I’m not sure what is the most suitable lubricant to try, but I’d try wd40 just because I have it and it can be sprayed through the little straw thing to maybe get a little penetration under the cap.