Water Rocket Forum

Hello everyone !
I ask myself a question : is that normal that when I put the rocket on a gardena connector the water go into the pipe to my pump ( and sometimes into my pump ...) ?
Thanks for all your answer, I hope that I can solve this problem ..
PetitSioux

Hello There,

Yes this can be an issue with many launchers, and I use a Gardena Launcher and water does flow back down the hose....

A way to solve this is to put a simple Non-Return valve into the launcher.

Some expensive compressors come with Check Valves which is another way of saying Non return Valve and this is what I am currently investigating.

However if you are using a simple Gardena Launcher you can incorporate this simple yet clever system which allows you to abort a launch and has a inbuilt Non return valve, here is the link:


Hope that helps!

Jamie B
JSB Rocketry

Sorry that link is faulty, here it is!

Thanks for your help, I'll try this option this week !

PetitSioux wrote:Hello everyone !
I ask myself a question : is that normal that when I put the rocket on a gardena connector the water go into the pipe to my pump ( and sometimes into my pump ...) ?
Thanks for all your answer, I hope that I can solve this problem ..
PetitSioux

You could fix this a few ways.

You can raise your pump high above the water level in the rocket.

You can add a launch tube or even a piece of flexible hose to the gardena to raise the air inlet level to a point higher inside the water rocket that is higher than the water line.

You could construct a full-bore launcher with a PVC launch tube and o-ring seal like this: http://www.uswaterrockets.com/construct ... torial.htm