How to Make Rotors Turn on Lawn Sprinklers

Insert a sprinkler key or needle-nose pliers into the slot on the top of the sprinkler head. Pull up on the head to expose the nozzle and the supply tube.

Hold the tube in place with one hand and unscrew the nozzle assembly counterclockwise until it pulls free from the supply tube. If desired, place a spring-loaded clamp over the supply tube to hold it up so you can work on the nozzle with two hands.

Inspect the nozzle assembly for signs of obstructions. Pull out any large pieces of dirt or debris. Vigorously scrub the front of the nozzle with a nylon brush or old toothbrush to remove smaller bits of dirt that may clog the nozzle.

Set the nozzle assembly aside and pull out the small plastic filter from inside the supply tube on the sprinkler. Brush the outside of the filter with the brush or toothbrush until clean and run the filter under cold water for 30 seconds to clear away any dirt.

Place the filter screen back inside the supply tube and set the nozzle assembly on top. Turn the nozzle assembly clockwise until tight.

Set the sprinkler timer to the "test" position to run each zone for about 2 minutes. Check the function of each rotating sprinkler head and repeat the cleaning process if any sprinklers have slow running water or do not fully rotate.