Anyone else have leaking actuated valves?

[jblizzle]

I have a Pentair solar 3-way valve that is controlled by an Intermatic actuator.
What was a drip ever few seconds has not turned into a near constant stream out through the shaft area.

While doing pad maintenance, I took the valve apart (which looked fine), used a generous amount of silicone grease on the 2 shaft o-rings and put it all back together. Seemed to basically stop it at first ... until the actuator started moving again.

If I do not install the actuator, I have no leaks at all.

It almost seems like the actuator is not properly aligned and is putting sideways force on the shaft making it leak?

The first Intermatic I got ended up having a crack internally, so the shaft would wobble and not hit the dip switches to stop the rotation. This is the replacement they sent me and wondering if there is just a design flaw with these.

Anyone else have a leaking valve problem with Intermatic actuators?
Are the more expensive actuators any better?

 

[mas985]

I have had small leaks out of my Pentair solar valve before and usually replacing the o-rings helps. But I have found that it sometimes takes a couple of tries before I can stop the leaks. I have Goldline actuators but as far as I can tell, they aren't the cause of the leaks. But I can see how a misalignment could possibly cause a leak.

 

[jblizzle]

They were leaking last year and I swapped the o-rings from an extra new valve ... did not seem to help.

AT one point I got the leak to slow down by loosening some of the screws, suppose I might just have to mess with it to see if I can get it to slow down.

Maybe I will see if I can get them to send me more o-rings, although nothing looks wrong with these.

Do you recall that there are supposed to be 2 o-rings with a plastic c-ring between them?

 

[bobby1017]

I have a Pentair solar 3-way valve that is controlled by an Intermatic actuator.
What was a drip ever few seconds has not turned into a near constant stream out through the shaft area.

Same here, my solar valve developed a leak last year, still about the same now, slow drip.

 

[mas985]

Do you recall that there are supposed to be 2 o-rings with a plastic c-ring between them?

Yes, 2 o-rings with a spacer.