Little Giant Chick Fount Waterer Problem. Help!

[lfreem2]

I just got the Little Giant/Miller Chick Fount waterer and for the life of me I can't get it to stop overflowing the bowl. There are no instructions with it and I tried to see if I could find something online, but haven't found a darn thing. How do you adjust it so that the bowl doesn't overflow?

 

[lfreem2]

I've figured out how to take off the bowl and I see the spring that you are able to torque up or down with the little bolt. I've tried it all the way up and all the way down, in the middle and every which way and the darn thing still fills up all the way and overflows. What gives?

 

[blueferral]

Sounds like you have too much water pressure. Go to the garden store/ wally world and get a pressure reducer. They drop the pressure to 20psi.

 

[lfreem2]

I'm using gravity feeding from a 55g barrel, and this waterer is supposed to be able to handle pressure and work between 20-70 psi, which is why I purchased it. You can actually connect it to a garden hose. That is not the reason it is overflowing.

I've tried turning the bolts up and all the way down to adjust it, and still it overflows. I'm wondering if I have a faulty valve perhaps?

 

[Our Roost]

You need to be a little more specific. A regulator is designed to allow the flow of gas, air, or water to a specific pressure or volume through an orifice into whatever it is you are trying to fill or use it for. Disconnect the output side of the regulator. It can be shut off to stop the flow by turning it clockwise until it seats and prevents ( in your case, water, ) from flowing out. Counter-clockwise opens it up. If doing this doesnt stop the water from going through the regulator, then the regulator is faulty. I assume you dont have a needle guage to use for setting the pressure you want to use. Get one! Hope this helps.

 

[lfreem2]

I'm being very specific. Anyone with this waterer would understand what I'm describing. This doesn't involve a regulator. thanks!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Try taking it completely apart and check the valve for trash

It's the same type of valve used to put air in a tire, and it's called a Schrader Valve.

It has to be set so the weight of the water allows the pin in the valve to fully extend, and the spring should be pushing the bowl back up as it empties, which will depress the pin and open the valve

That means turning the adjustment nut clockwise allows more water in the bowl

They make a special tool to remove the valve, and you can buy valves and the tool at any auto parts store for just a couple of dollars

There are pictures on this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/535452/little-giant-automatic-waterer-parts

 

[lfreem2]

I spoke with Miller mftg. and they feel it's a faulty valve. They are mailing me one at no charge--gotta love a company that backs it's products like that.

BearFoot, I'm going to look into your parts as well. Good to know you can get something locally like that for a quick fix!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

You might also want to see if you can rig up some type of filter to keep trash out of the valve.
A screen in the hose fitting with a piece of coffee filter or a piece of a cotton ball on it would stop most any particles

 

[KDK1]

I'm being very specific. Anyone with this waterer would understand what I'm describing. This doesn't involve a regulator. thanks!

I had the same exact problem with mine. Any adjustment I made to the spring didn't work. Miller sent me new valves for it and the problem turned out to be that the original valve was not completely seated into the assembly. After tightening the original valve completely the problem was solved.