How to Adjust a Rotor Sprinkler

Rotor sprinklers are a type of lawn sprinkler that helps to maintain lush green grass and the pretty gardens outside the home. There are rotor sprinklers for lawns that are made in different sizes, and these sprinklers can be adjusted to help spray the water and get to those hard to reach areas.

Step 1 - Turn off the Sprinkler and Adjust the Center Screw

Turn off the water to your sprinkler system. You will find a flat screw in the center of the sprinkler, and a metal or plastic set screw nub toward the edge of the sprinkler where it rotates. You can adjust the strength of the spray by tightening or loosening the screw. You can usually accomplish this by squeezing the screw in between your fingers, but you may need a set of tweezers or pliers to aid with this task.

The set-screw nub will be turned counter-clockwise. Keep turning until it comes to a stop. You will need to use a screwdriver to do this task, or you can use your set of tweezers.

Adjusting these two screws will help the rotor sprinkler rotate in both directions.

Step 2 - Adjust the Nub Screw

The nub screw indicates how far the water will travel from the sprinkler. It's usually next to the center screw and can be adjusted by twisting it either to the right or to the left.

For the spray to go the distance, turn the center nozzle screw counter-clockwise. This will increase the distance of the spray. Turning the rotor sprinkler clockwise will lessen the distance of the spray.

Step 3 - Rotate the Pop-Up Part

To adjust the pattern of the spray you will rotate the pop-up part clockwise. Turn this until it stops turning.

Step 4 - Adjust the Left and Right Stops

There is a right and left stop for the rotor sprinkler. Adjust the right stop to as far as the head of the sprinkler will go. You will need to screw the head of the sprinkler down. Then twist the entire sprinkler into the ground and the receptacle that holds it in.

To adjust the left stop of the rotor sprinkler, turn the nub screw clockwise, 1/4 of a turn. This turn indicates a range of 90 degrees for the head of the rotating sprinkler.

Step 5 - Turn on the Sprinklers

Once you have made all of these adjustments, you can turn on the sprinkler.