Standing Water inside Pentair Actuator - replace with Tork?

[rhawke]

My actuator was all of a sudden no longer working after 5 years. The motor was running endlessly but nothing turned and it sounded like the gears were slipping. So I opened it up and found about 1/2" of water inside the actuator, the gears rusted, the board corroded ... Any idea how so much water got in? The seal around the edges looks fine. (see pics below) Could this have come down the shaft at the top?

Anyway, I'm wondering if I should replace it with the $95 Tork Actuators? Any experiences with those?

That is still $45 cheaper than the Intermatic and $100 cheaper than another Pentair ...

 

[ajw22]

Replace the valve stem O rings in the diverter valve below the actuator. The water came up through the valve.

 

[rhawke]

Replace the valve stem O rings in the diverter valve below the actuator. The water came up through the valve.

I did that about 4 months ago when I noticed it leaking, I didn't think it would push all the way up into the actuator.

Well lesson learned, next time I'll open up the actuator to double check.

Any opinion on Tork actuators?

 

[ajw22]

Never used the Tork actuator.

 

[dgreenb]

For what it's worth, my replaced motor is still working fine. I think mine leaked in from the top, but I can't really be sure.

Intellivalve Autopsy

When I opened up my pool this spring I learned that my heater bypass actuator wasn't working. I seemed to have fallen victim to the blinking Auto light like so many more on this site: https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/is-my-pentair-intellivalve-actuator-broken.255485/...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[1poolman1]

I did that about 4 months ago when I noticed it leaking, I didn't think it would push all the way up into the actuator.

Well lesson learned, next time I'll open up the actuator to double check.

Any opinion on Tork actuators?

Probably made by the same company that makes the Intermatic branded one. I've used those with success. They're both made in China as I believe Jandy and Pentair are.