Why won’t my Freshlife Sprinkler Head Spin Anymore?

Dear Sproutman: Why won’t my Freshlife Sprinkler Head Spin Anymore?

Dear Sprout Cadet: Well…it's all about the PHYSICS of the thing....

If there is a sufficient force of water spraying from the outer holes on the spinner, it will spin. But there are several factors that can inhibit the free flow of water. These are addressed in the instruction booklet that comes with the sprouter. Please review those points in addition to the discussion here. How diligently you address these factors will reflect the degree of success you achieve.

THE MOTOR

First check the fountain generated by the motor to see if it is emitting enough pressure. Remove all the blue tubes and all the barrels. Use only the bare motor/reservoir section. Fill up the reservoir with water (about 2-3 quarts). Run the water in the reservoir for at least 1-2 minutes and observe. A healthy motor will eventually start to create a whirlpool of waves that want to leap over the edge of the reservoir ledge. If you don't get that, then your motor may be clogged with calcium deposits from your water sludge and debris from seeds. Read HOW TO PURGE A CLOGGED FRESHLIFE on the FAQ page. But.... if you do see the whirlpool, then proceed with this list.

CHECK THE PRESSURE TUBE

Next add the pressure tube---that's the blue tube with the disc on the bottom. The disc has a closed side and a screen side. Use a toothbrush to make sure the screen is free and unblocked. Place screen side of the disc over hole side in the floor of the reservoir. If you observe carefully, you will notice that one side of the hole in the bottom of the reservoir is closed, the other half is open. Place the screen over the open half. This provides maximum power. Always set it up this way. Plug it in and observe the fountain coming out of the blue pressure tube. If the fountain looks strong, then unplug and proceed to the next step.

BARREL CONNECTION AND BLUE TUBE

Next add one barrel with the blue tube, just the barrel and tube---no sprouts. Plug it in and observe the flow through the tube. If the flow is poor, then examine the connection between the water barrel and the growing barrel. Make sure there is no gap in that connection. If the reservoir (lower) blue tube connects successfully with the upper blue tube, then you will observe a good flow of water out the top of the blue tube. If there is insufficient flow, then reset the barrels. If the flow is good, then proceed.

CLEAN THE SPINNER

Next test spinner. Place the spinner on top of the blue tube---without electric power---and spin the head by hand to see if it spins freely. If not, there may be organic material caked on the inside of the post. Clean it with a Q-tip or even better, a pipe cleaner. You can also oil the inside once cleaned with a little clear vegetable oil on a Q-tip. Then spin-test it again---no water, just by your hand. Once it spins freely by hand, then go to the next step.

Turn on the water---no seeds just yet---and observe the sprinkler head spin.

If the water pressure is good, but the spinner does not spin, then we have concluded by process of deduction that the problem is located in the spinner itself. The spinner has adjustable doors and five holes per arm. To increase the spinning, increase the pressure coming out of the holes closest to the tip of the arm. Do this by using the doors to block the holes closest to the center of the spinner. Repeat this on the other arms. You now will have three of the five holes on each arm blocked. This maximizes the water pressure exiting the outer

If this does not create enough pressure, you could close one more hole. If you block the hole at the very end tip of the spinner arm, you will further increase the spinner's water pressure. But there is no door to shut on this outermost hole. Instead, use a small amount of gum (yes chewing gum), or wax to temporarily seal this hole.

CLEANING THE SPINNER

It is also possible that seeds or mineral deposits are blocking the full flow of water through the holes in the spinner. Use a pin to dislodge any obvious debris or soak the spinner in clear distilled vinegar to try to clear the material out of the spinner. The photo depicts a dismantled spinner and reveals just how clogged these spinners can get over time from mineral deposits and sludge from seeds.

TWO ARM SPINNER

Another option is to use the two-arm spinner if the four-arm spinner still does not turn. Once you observe the spinner working well, then add seed to your sprouter and start sprouting. The two arm spinner is available from the manufacturer www.TribestLife.com. Contact Tribest toll-free at 888-254-7336, or 562-623-7150. Or via email at service@Tribest.com and follow their instructions.

SPINNER REPLACEMENT

Please keep in mind, these spinners are simple plastic items that not hearty enough to last more than a year of regular use. Unless you clean them regularly, they get clogged. It is a good practice to replace your spinner once per year.

Good luck and Happy Sprouting,

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