Thanks so much for posting this. Showed me how to take apart. I had exactly the same breakage too. Managed to fix it with superglue and baking soda, reinforcing with a short length of 1mm wire. Saved me a heap of money and time. Now much stronger than the original. Thanks again.
Thank you for posting this! Two landscapers were ready to replace our controller, but I wanted to get to the bottom of the issue. Like many others here have commented, I found THE EXACT SAME pieces that had "broken" off in my dial mechanism. The scenarios are much too similar to prompt me to think this is just age-related failing of equipment (our box is only 5 years old). The fact that the pieces are the same in all reports to me strongly suggests that this is a failure point that Hunter designed on purpose. I'll try the fixes suggested in the comments below, but if I end up replacing the controller, I will make absolutely sure Hunter doesn't get my business.
Thanks for this video. My dial plastic snapped and won't turn at all, this helped save me the trouble of tearing apart the unit just to find Hunter isn't using a real potentiometer or selector dial. Poor part choice on a controller that isn't cheap, won't be getting Hunter again.
Same issue with mine as well. I was able to repair it with a tiny bit of crazy glue and after it set used JB Weld on both sides making sure the repairs were never higher than the tiny little spacer dots on each side of the rotating plastic. Thanks for sharing you saved me some money.
My husband and I stripped our controller, only to find that the plastic dial had broken. Snapped into, the self same pieces as yours. So sad that we need to replace the entire box, with all its sophisticated electronics that still work, because of, what should have been an inexpensive fix! Will most certainly put me off purchasing any Hunter products again!
Had the same problem last week with a similar indoor unit. Cut off two pieces plastic of used credit card, glued from top and bottom to hold the copper jumper. So far works for the time being. Also tried to 3D print the part, looks ok, haven't tried it yet
Thanks for the video. I had the exact same broken plastic part. I was able to repair it. Built a jig with some sticky putty - tacked the plastic and contact parts in place with a dab of Gorilla Glue - trimmed the excess glue after it dried - filled one side of the repair at a time with baking soda and soaked the baking soda with Super Glue (RU-vid trick) (note: sets up fast) - trimmed any excess with a razor blade and file. Only turning the dial clock wise, dragging the contact prongs instead of pushing them, from now on may prolong it’s life too.
Thank you very much for uploading this video and the contributions in the comments. I had the exact problem and I was able to solve it by rebuilding the piece with baking soda and cyanoacrylate.
Thank you for this video! Just took mine apart to find the same broken disc. Going to try the super glue/epoxy route to keep it going for now. Need to upgrade to a new unit with more zones in the future, but not really wanting to drop the cash yet.
Thanks for your video ... it's hard to find this info on Hunter's official videos. Incredible how a global American company has not thought about this stupid replacement! I threw the Xcore into the trash and managed the irrigation with a Siemens LOGO! 8 industrial PLC
US here, thanks for this video, it really helped. I am amazed how poorly the contact on the dial is made. My broken pieces are shaped exactly like yours. I am currently trying to find out if there is a replacement part? For now, just got a used parts unit off the internet auction site. I guess one has to be aware of someone trying to sell a control unit with this problem. I am wondering, if only turning the dial >one way only< will help. Right now, trying to figure out a way to rig the broken piece to hold the contact.
Here with exactly the same problem. A dodgy dial wasn't changing modes correctly then fully jammed up. Broken dial inside in exactly the same place as in the video and many other seem to be reporting. Looks like a design issue given that they all brake identically, which is annoying because otherwise it has worked seamlessly for years.
first of all thanks for great video, i have the same problem myself and i had it fix with a little epoxy putty, dont know how long it will last so far so good finger cross!!
Thanks for this video! Mine is 5 years old, and the dial is blocking at some positions, turning opens other menues as supposed. i'm quite sure, this is the same problem. A shame they don't offer spare parts. Will see, if I can get it fixed somehow.
Same dumb issue on mine, except I slightly forced my to spin and seized the whole thing! Have emailed Hunter to see if there is any option for me..... if nkt. Im off to Bunnings for a new one!! Cheers for the video man!
Hunter will not send you a new piece or repair the unit, so you end up needing to throw away an otherwise good timer. I also looked to see if I could find a used timer that had some other problem and could not find one. Do not buy a x core or any other hunter timer as in 10 years or less you will likely be replacing it. Buy a irritrol rain dial as they last very long and can be repaired at the end of their life.
Yep not happy. Dial in off position over winter. Just got my water bill !! Seems it was still on. I have noticed same issue on several of my customers controllers. The previous version has a much smoother dial
my mode selector just went south. quoted almost $500 to have a new controller installed ( labor and materials) If I could figure out how to turn off the power I'd try to take it apart. Is it ok to take it apart with power on? I am a total rookie.
I don't know if you noticed a set of burnt electrolytic capacitors on the same side (upper left) as the dial. They may still kind of work, but it is worth replacing them if you intend to keep this unit in service. I usually find some caps with the same farads rating, but the next level up on voltage that still fit in the PCB layout.
Same problem with mine I’ve just found out, exactly the same pieces. Anybody managed to find a replacement part (Australia)? Otherwise, how did you fix, any pictures?
I had one fail yrs ago before this video was released. I got sick of manually working the dial bk and fwds to try and free it up to manually force a sprinkler cycle and snapped it off in frustration. I went back to the retic store to purchase another one thinking it was just a random thing. The person behing the counter carried on like it was the first he heard of it which i highly doubt. How could a big name retic manufacturer design such a piece of rubbish? Here i am going through it all again working the dial bk and fwds like and idiot. I wont be buying hunter anymore.
