I have a 3" Valterra stainless steel gate valve buried 2' down with an arm-sized access pipe between pond and vortex. When I opened it this season I couldn't close it. Then I pumped the handle repeatedly, cursed at it loudly, walked away, came back, repeated process. It closed. Now it won't open.
I have not excavated to reach the valve since I figure it is pointless until I have some clue as to what I am going to do when I get there. (And maybe have a backup valve at the ready.) Valterra boasts about how easy it is to repair their gate valves but I don't see any instructions on how to do that nor do I see any gate valve parts for sale. One of the marketing points is that it can be repaired in situ but I don't understand how that is possible when the 3" pipe is slip both sides.
Any suggestions?