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Checking the Operation of the Fleck 3/4" Meter Cover
meter cover

The "meter cover" , part # 14038 can be the reason your Fleck Econominder is not regenerating automatically.
Once you have determined the timer motor is functioning properly, the meter is the next part to check.
1) Is the cable securely connected at the valve head side? This connection is inside the back of the timer control head.
* Cable can be removed by pulling it out of the timer or meter cover. Sometimes you have to pull hard. Installation - push in hard.
2) With the valve in By Pass or the water off, remove the meter cover. Four screws hold it in place. Note how it is installed so you can replace it the same way it came out.
You need to check for debris or build up around the impeller,
part # 13509 ( looks like a paddle wheel ) in the meter body.
3) With the cable disconnected from the meter cover,
does the cable move the program wheel ( the dial on the front of your timer head ) freely by hand?
4) The way to test the meter cover portion, is to remove it. With the cable connected to the meter cover, turn the cable with your hand. You should be able to cause the white gears inside the meter cover to spin ( looking from the underside of the meter cover ) . They should continue to spin for a second after you stop twisting the cable by hand. If it is very very hard to move, or stops as soon as you stop applying pressure, then you need a new meter cover.
NOTE: When reinstalling the meter cover make sure you put it back on right. There is a "dimple" near the center cable connection that should be pointing towards the outlet side of your valve. This is to the left if you are standing in front of the valve. Take a look at the Meter Module Black Standard - # 3460086 listed below.

Checking Fleck Econominder Meter Operations

* Detailed 20 minute Video ( specific to Fleck 9000 / 9100 / 9500 timers,

The setting ( each digit equals 100 gallons ) on the 5600 meter determines how much water is used before regeneration is run.
It does not regenerate every night, only as water usage dictates the need.

To compute the proper setting of the program meter wheel ( dial on the front of control ), you must know your hardness ( & iron level, if any ).
You also must know the capacity of your resin tank.
The average size resin tank is 9" x 48" and holds one cubic foot of resin. Resin has a maximum capacity of 32,000 grains removal ( when regenerated with about 18 lbs. of salt ).
Softeners should be sized and set to work at 75% capacity ( which requires half as much salt ).
With the capacity and the hardness level known ( add 3 grains hardness for each ppm of iron present in the water ), you are ready to set your program wheel.

Computing Gallon Setting
Take the grains capacity of your resin tank times 75% ( 0.75 ) divided by hardness ( in grains ),
then subtract 75 gallons per person using the water as a reserve.

Example: 32,000 grains x .75 = 24,000 divide by 20 grains hardness = 1,200 gallons - 150 ( 2 people ) = 1,050 setting.

You set the gallons by lifting the clear portion of the program wheel, and align the white dot with the number of gallons you wish the unit to use prior to initiating a regenerate ( the night following the meter reaching Zero ).

Also the salt setting should be 9 lbs. per cu. ft. of resins ( 32,000 grains ).
You can find this adjustment on the "Brine Cam" gear inside the back of your control head. It is a small halve moon shaped piece that it held on to the Brine Cam with one screw. It has a small pointer which indicates the pounds of salt to be used per regeneration.

If you do not know your resin tank capacity, send us the tank's height and diameter, and we will let you know how much resin is normally used in your size tank. We will also do the rest of the math for you, if provide the hardness & iron levels ( note: most "city" water does not contain iron ). Also, you might need to know that 17.1 ppm of hardness = 1 grain of hardness.



How To Move Program Wheel To Set Gallons:

1 ) The "locking" teeth are under the part that says ( x100 ), so this is the critical area that must lift.
2 ) It is VERY HELPFUL ( maybe NECESSARY ) if you hold the Black Gear "down" while pulling up on the Clear portion.
3 ) Turn the Clear Portion counter clockwise, and Black Gear Clockwise
4 ) Line up "white" dot with the gallon setting you've computed.

The entire program wheel should be moving in relationship to the ARROW as your water is used.
Once the ARROW is pointing to ZERO, the unit will regenerate at 2 a.m.

If you are having a problem with the WHITE dot moving from the Number it is set to, then you'll need to replace the program wheel because it is broken.
The clear portion is "locked" into the black portion by 3 small "teeth" that can break.

Click Link to SEE Video : How To Move Program Wheel Video
Program Wheel Fleck 5600, old PN 14039, New PN 60405

***
OTHER ( less common ) reason Metered valve not automatically regenerating:

1 ) Water not actually flowing through the Valve,
( a BY PASS valve is OPEN in the plumbing, allowing the water to go around the softener instead of through it ).

2 ) Cable not engaged with the Pinion, Clutch, Spring, and all held together with meter clip,
reference:
Meter_Cable_Clip_Fleck_14253

3 ) Water flow too low ( meter can only accurately measure FLOW that is 1/4 GPM or higher ).

4 ) Impeller is missing or "jammed" by debris ( preventing it from speeding freely ).
reference:
Impeller PN 13509


If the meter cover is working ( counting the water used ).

What SHOULD Happen,
Once it reaches ZERO gallons,
That night at 2 a.m. it should START and RUN a complete regeneration.
This will reset the program wheel to start position ( White Dot ) gallons.

There are 3 things that can cause a FAILURE to RUN and RESET.

1 ) Your timer motor is not working ( running and keeping time of day ).

2 ) The program wheel is "broken" at the 3 locking teeth.
Reference:
image.png

OR 
3 ) the Cycle Actuator Gear ( behind the front control and time dials ) is BROKEN,
see:

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