Tight liquid post removal

Applesnmore · Nov 25, 2024

After some advice please. Have a keg, which is Italian made, ex soft drink. Can remove the gas post but the liquid side is solid. Have tried a 22mm spanner and a box spanner but can't get any movement, difficult to hold keg and apply purchase.

For a stuck nut usually spray wd40 as a penetrating fluid. What food safe materials do folk use to ease stubborn posts and are there any tips to removing stubborn posts?

Many thanks.

JockyBrewer · Nov 25, 2024

A few options:

A little bit of warmth might help soften up any gunk that might be holding - and I mean 60C hot water, not a blow torch that will melt all the o-rings. Put the water in a bucket and dunk the top of the keg in it.

Alternatively if you have a 22mm spanner with a ring end, you can hook something else through the ring end to create a longer lever to use.

An impact wrench is ideal if you can borrow one.

It also helps if you get someone else to hold the keg while you do the wrenching.

Its 6pm somewhere · Nov 25, 2024

Had this before, ended up laying it on the ground between a wall and a lawnmower on the path outside my house, tyre iron slid through the handles to stop it rolling and then stood on the wrench like you would taking out a wheel nut and it opened in one go.

Applesnmore · Nov 25, 2024

Thank you, I suspect it's been attached with an impact wrench. All my sockets are just for nuts rather than accommodating the length of the post.
Shall try the hot water trick later.

Larse · Nov 25, 2024

Applesnmore said:
Thank you, I suspect it's been attached with an impact wrench. All my sockets are just for nuts rather than accommodating the length of the post.
Shall try the hot water trick later.

A hair dryer might be a less messy way of heating it gently.

Laner · Nov 25, 2024

Soak it in cheap cola.. upside down in a bucket for 24hrs

LeeH · Nov 25, 2024

Sit on it long ways down and wack the ring spanner with a hammer

Larse · Nov 25, 2024

LeeH said:
Sit on it long ways down and wack the ring spanner with a hammer

I wouldn't do that. Lots of accidents just waiting to happen in that scenario. Better to add a long bar to the spanner for extra leverage. But warming it would be the best option. The post is probably bound on to the rubber, so softening it should release it.

LeeH · Nov 25, 2024

Where’s the danger? It’s not a propane bottle.

How do you think us spanner monkeys get nuts off? Good luck holding the keg with a 1m extension on.

MashBag · Nov 25, 2024

JockyBrewer said:
An impact wrench is ideal if you can borrow one.

Even just impact socket on a breaker bar. Because they are true hex.

MashBag · Nov 25, 2024

Larse said:
I wouldn't do that. Lots of accidents just waiting to happen in that scenario. Better to add a long bar to the spanner for extra leverage. But warming it would be the best option. The post is probably bound on to the rubber, so softening it should release it.

Where is your sense of adventure, most things are improved with a mark 1 persuader.

Larse · Nov 25, 2024

LeeH said:
Where’s the danger? It’s not a propane bottle.

How do you think us spanner monkeys get nuts off? Good luck holding the keg with a 1m extension on.

I'm the original hammer mechanic, so have seen all the things that can go wrong. There are old hammer mechanics and there are bold hammer mechanics, but there are no old, bold hammer mechanics.

Things that can go wrong include striking the spanner at an angle and it flying off in any direction. Murphy's law states that this direction will almost always be towards the hammer mechanic.

I wouldn't use a 1m extension, a foot should be enough, easily double the length of the spanner. Also as described above, a bar through the handles will hold it. A knee on the keg will add further bracing.

Just on the socket options, you'd have to have a deeper socket than standard, the post is too tall for a normal socket to reach the actual nut. I know, have tried this.

MashBag · Nov 25, 2024

Man up buttercup

Larse · Nov 25, 2024

MashBag said:
Man up buttercup

I assume you're the author of "DIY tools and home surgery"?

MashBag · Nov 25, 2024

And other bestsellers...

"Home glazing repair"

"Spanners I have known and never seen again"

Larse · Nov 25, 2024

MashBag said:
And other bestsellers...

"Home glazing repair"

"Spanners I have known and never seen again"

There are plenty of spanners I've known and never want to see again. asad.

Leon103 · Nov 25, 2024

I had a similar problem. Luckily I could buy a 22mm long socket and then used a tyre wrench.

Applesnmore · Nov 25, 2024

LeeH said:
Put the water in a bucket and dunk the top of the keg in it.

Did that, multiple twists to get ring spanner over the post, laid on side and it shifted easily. Thank you.
Stood the kept upright dealt with the dip tube, reassembled. Put some food lube on the threads so hopefully will behave next time.
Now to fill with Brewferm Belgian Wit

Twostage · Nov 25, 2024

When I saw the post title I thought it was something to do with couriers refusing to to take packages that contained liquids :doh:

Graz · Nov 26, 2024

I've had some tight ones on some of my kegs. My Makita impact driver made quick work of them with a deep hex socket and the relevant adapters. This was just the sort of impact driver that you'd use for putting in wood screws and so on but with a set of these you can attach sockets: Socket Adapter Fine for light duty tasks.

Tight liquid post removal

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