Plastic ring inside Jandy 3-way valve

[RickRude]

I developed a leak in the seals of my Jandy Gray 3-way diverter valve. When I opened it up to replace the o-rings, I found this plastic ring on the diverter stem. I don't know if it had been positioned above, between, or below the two small o-rings since they were so broken up. Any idea what it's for?

I think I read that Hayward 3-way valves might have a little plastic ring between the o-rings. Since it appears the diverter was not original, I'm wondering if the pool service company the prior owners used put this in there by mistake.

I left it out when I replaced the o-rings since I couldn't find it on any parts diagrams, and the valve is not leaking anymore.

 

[1poolman1]

If it works, leave it out. Pentair (Compool) valves had those (and they were/are black), Jandy did not. It may have been added by someone trying to get the stem to stop leaking.

 

[Dirk]

I would go with what @1poolman1 says on the subject, but if you'd like to read about the same trouble I had with that part, it's here.

It's odd that the ring doesn't exist for Jandy valves, because the explanation I learned in my thread suggests that without the spacer ring, the two o-rings become a failure point (just as you experienced: shredded o-rings)...

 

[1poolman1]

I would go with what @1poolman1 says on the subject, but if you'd like to read about the same trouble I had with that part, it's here.

It's odd that the ring doesn't exist for Jandy valves, because the explanation I learned in my thread suggests that without the spacer ring, the two o-rings become a failure point (just as you experienced: shredded o-rings)...

While it is never done, those O rings should be lubed at least every other year if the pool has automation of they are turned regularly. Jandy training - 1991 (more or less). As a water seal, they grease does get washed out and damaged O rings is the result. The grease serves two purposes, it allows the rings to seat/seal/rotate, and it protects the rubber from the pool water.

 

[Dirk]

While it is never done, those O rings should be lubed at least every other year if the pool has automation of they are turned regularly. Jandy training - 1991 (more or less). As a water seal, they grease does get washed out and damaged O rings is the result. The grease serves two purposes, it allows the rings to seat/seal/rotate, and it protects the rubber from the pool water.

Ah, hence Never Lube®. They're supposed to get lubed, but Never Do®...

 

[RickRude]

Thanks, everyone. Very interesting (and confusing).

As shown in this prior thread I found after posting mine, it seems that the Jandy Space Saver valves do have a plastic ring, but only one O-ring. And come to think of it, I never positively identified two O-rings when I opened mine up, so there may well have been only one. But my old valve has 8 screws so I'm pretty confident it is not a Space Saver.

https://www.troublefreepool.com/thr...t-jandy-valve-o-ring-size.255000/post-2229381

At least our valves are working properly now. Hopefully this discussion helps people in the future servicing their valves for the first time.

 

[1poolman1]

Ah, hence Never Lube®. They're supposed to get lubed, but Never Do®...

Yep, diverter seal is "Never Lube." The rest, not so much.

 

[generessler]

On my Jandy valves the shafts have 2 o-rings. The top one drops in a shallow slot, and the bottom one just fits in the gap between the side of the shaft and the side of the tube that the shaft runs through. There's a ring like yours (black not white) that keeps the bottom o-ring from riding low in the tube so that it can't seal. It's just a positioning thing. Mine are mostly broken (the valves are old), so I just push an extra o-ring on the shaft to do the same thing.