Six Rain Bird 1804 Spray Heads Installed and a Failing Maxi-Paw Upgraded to a Hunter PGP Ultra in Clawson, MI

Hunter HydroTech completed a residential sprinkler-head upgrade in Clawson, Michigan that improved pop-up height, curbside placement, rotor reliability, and overall watering coverage.

The project included replacing six older spray heads and upgrading one failing Maxi-Paw impact rotor to a Hunter PGP Ultra.

Mixed 2-inch and 4-inch spray heads

The property had a combination of older 2-inch and 4-inch spray bodies. Some of the heads were too short for the surrounding turf and were easily blocked by grass.

Hunter HydroTech generally avoids 2-inch spray heads in standard residential lawn areas. They may work in limited applications, but it does not take much grass growth, thatch, soil settlement, or edging buildup to obstruct the watering pattern.

Why short spray bodies cause poor coverage

A spray riser must lift the nozzle above the active grass height. When it cannot clear the turf, water strikes the grass immediately around the head rather than reaching the intended area.

• Weak visible throw
• Dry areas farther from the head
• Overwatering close to the body
• Grass growing over the cap
• Risers becoming trapped
• Repeated seasonal cleaning

Spray heads have lower flow and less upward force than most rotors. A rotor may push through light grass growth while a smaller spray riser remains trapped.

Six new Rain Bird 1804 spray bodies

Hunter HydroTech replaced all six mixed-height heads with new 4-inch Rain Bird 1804 spray bodies.

The 1804 provides practical pop-up height for many residential turf areas without leaving the body unnecessarily exposed above the finished soil.

Improving placement near the curb

Several heads needed better positioning near the curb. Heads installed directly against pavement are vulnerable to edging equipment and may become crooked or damaged.

We moved the new heads away from the curb where practical while maintaining coverage to the lawn edge.

• Reduced edger exposure
• Less chance of a cracked body
• Better body alignment
• More serviceable underground connections

Setting and adjusting the new spray heads

Each Rain Bird 1804 was installed straight and level with the finished soil. The nozzles were adjusted to match the lawn shape and improve overlap.

We checked:

• Clear pop-up movement
• Correct finished height
• Vertical alignment
• Nozzle pattern
• Arc and throw
• Coverage to neighboring heads
• Leaks around the body and connection

The Maxi-Paw had stopped rotating

The property also had one Maxi-Paw impact rotor that was no longer rotating. The head remained aimed in one direction instead of sweeping its intended arc.

A non-rotating rotor can continuously soak one narrow section while leaving the remainder of the lawn dry.

The Maxi-Paw also remained stuck up

The Maxi-Paw stayed in the raised position after the zone shut down. We cleaned around the head to make sure grass and soil were not trapping it, but the problem remained.

A rotor that stays raised is vulnerable to:

• Mower damage
• Foot traffic
• Vehicle impact
• Damage to the underground fitting
• Additional seal and riser wear

Because the impact head had both stopped rotating and remained stuck up after cleaning, replacement was the dependable repair.

Hunter PGP Ultra upgrade

Hunter HydroTech replaced the failing Maxi-Paw with a Hunter PGP Ultra, our preferred residential rotor for open lawn areas.

• Gear-driven rotation
• Adjustable arc
• Adjustable distance
• Quieter operation
• Modern nozzle options
• Dependable residential performance

Final testing in Clawson

After the upgrades, Hunter HydroTech ran the complete system and confirmed:

• All six Rain Bird 1804 bodies rose correctly
• The spray patterns cleared the surrounding turf
• The nozzles provided useful overlap
• The new Hunter PGP Ultra rotated correctly
• The rotor arc and distance matched the lawn
• The rotor retracted after shutdown
• No body or underground leaks were visible

The finished system had consistent spray-head height, better coverage near the curb, and a dependable modern rotor in place of the failing Maxi-Paw.

Hunter HydroTech provides Rain Bird spray-head installation, Hunter PGP Ultra replacement, Maxi-Paw upgrades, curbside sprinkler relocation, coverage adjustment, and sprinkler repair throughout Clawson and Southeast Michigan.