What If The Piston Does Not Pop Open?

Step #1 - Check to see that the water is turned on.

Step #2 - Do you have enough water pressure? You need at least 45 pounds per square inch (PSI) of water pressure in your system to push the piston open (more if rubber bands are used).

Step #3 - Are there water leaks? Fittings should be watertight so pressure can build up in the Bottle to operate the on/off cycles. Verify that all rubber washers are good and replace them as needed. In addition, the O-Rings can become dry from non-use and leak. To stop the leaks simply turn the water on and force the Pull Top up and down several times. The flushing action should re-seal the O-Rings. If you continue to have leaks you can also turn up the Flow Controller. The increased flow can compensate for any leaking.

What If The Piston Does Not Cycle Closed After Opening?

Step #1 - Was the piston magnetically locked closed in the first place, before starting? Lock it closed by lifting and dropping the Pull Top.

Step #2 - Check for obstructions that might prevent the piston from moving freely up and down. It may also need to be cleaned. (See "Flush Cleaning" in Setup)

Step #3 - Is the Flow Controller turned up too high? If water comes in too fast it will keep the pressure elevated in the bottle. This can keep the piston from closing. Two solutions are available. Either turn the flow controller down to reduce the flow going into the bottle, or use sprinklers or drippers with larger orifices to increase the flow rate going out of the bottle during the open cycle.

Step #4 - Is there enough back pressure? The water must be discharged through some water dispersal device like sprinklers or drippers. The constrained flow creates the necessary back pressure to act on the piston for it to make a clean stroke.