Pacer and Trend model fire hydrants are supplied to open by turning the operating nuts either of two different directions and the threads of the upper operating rod must be ordered to have the correct corresponding right or left-hand threads. The convention is to call these different directions “open-left” and “open-right”.

Open-Left: To open the main valve of the hydrants, the operating nut is turned in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed looking down at the nut from the top of the hydrant.

Open-Right: To open the main valve of the hydrants, the operating nut is turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed looking down at the nut from the top of the hydrant.

Raised Cast Markings: Notice the direction of the arrow and the word “OPEN”, which are raised cast markings found on the front and back of the hydrant top as shown in the drawings.

Traffic style fire hydrants are designed so that the upper standpipe and upper operating rod break-off from the lower standpipe and rod when struck by a vehicle, so the upper standpipe is called a “break-off standpipe”. Traffic style Pacer and Trend model fire hydrants are supplied with various upper standpipe lengths. Replacement rods must be ordered according to the length of the break-off standpipe.

See the drawing for instructions for determining the particular break-off length of the hydrants that are to have the upper rods replaced.

Note that the Trend model uses only two different break-off lengths, while the Pacer models use five different lengths.