Question
QUESTION: Hi Jim,

My Toro Greenkeeper 212 is about 10 years old.  I have never had a problem before.

I turned it on this year and the heads don't seem to be getting enough pressure to pop up all the way.  There have been no changes to my water service and we still have good pressure in the house.

Also, the zones are coming on not in the correct order.

thank you

ANSWER: Hey Joe, I might need a little more information. Are all the zones weak in pressure, or is it only 1 or a few? Also, does it seem like more than one valve is running at a time, or is it only one valve at a time? If more than one valve is running at a time, then the system will not have enough pressure to run more than one valve at a time. It could be either a valve is stuck on (running all the time) or the controller is turning on more than one valve at a time. If only one valve is running at a time, and you still have bad pressure, it could be the diaphram in this individual valve needs to be replaced. If only one valve is running at a time, and all the valves have bad pressure, then it could be the main turn on/off valve is not on all the way, or if you have a master valve, it is not turning on all the way. Let me know if you have anymore information, and I can be of better help. Thanks and have a great day.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jim,

Thanks for getting back so quick.  At first, zone 1 was very weak.  Then zone 2 was also getting water but not enough for the heads to pop up.  When I hit zone 3, zone 4 popped up.  Then I started messing with the valves.  On one of them, not sure which zone, the little turn knob on top was loose.  I tightened that one and made sure the rest were tight, (should they be)?   After that, zones 1 and 3 came on at the same time.  All were too weak to pop up the heads even though they were getting water.
Hope this helps.  
Do you think it is something a semi-novice could fix or do I need my lawn guy?

Thanks so much.

Answer
Hey Joe, that stem that you are talking about is called a flow control knob. You need to make sure this is fully opened (screwed counter-clockwise) for the valve to have full pressure. If it is  screwed down, then the valve is turned off. Try opening up the flow control first, and then see if the valves operate correctly, if not, then talk to your yard guy. Good luck and have a great day.