Corny keg won’t seal....

[Dellboy78lfc]

Just bought a reconditioned corny keg from the homebrew company, and I can’t get the lid to seal shut at anything less than 15psi. They weren’t much help when I emailed them, their argument being that it was tested and sent out under pressure. That’s fair enough but the time it took to decompress, it must have been sent out at about 40psi! I don’t know what to do now, I have a beer to keg but don’t want to risk using this corny if there’s a chance it’s going to cause me problems down the road as soon as the pressure drops too low....

Hence I am looking for guidance here! Help!

 

[The Baron]

Hi Delboy that is not unusual you do need a hit of Co2 at a higher pressure usually to seat the seal properly and usually after it has seated you can drop the pressure once carbed up for serving etc. So keg as normal then purge the oxygen out at say 30 psi this should also hopefully seat the seal and then carb to your preferred pressure. If you are still having problem with the seal seating you can buy a replacement seal set for about £3/4 pounds or also you can buy softer or thicker seals to help with the problem as some of the older seals do go hard and don't seal as easy

 

[Dads_Ale]

I had the same issue a few years back when buying one of their used kegs. Ended up buying a new lid.
You can also get different thickness seals as some are very thin.

This might help a bit as well:
https://www.cornykeg.com/resources/corny-keg-tips/seal-lid/

 

[Dellboy78lfc]

Hi Delboy that is not unusual you do need a hit of Co2 at a higher pressure usually to seat the seal properly and usually after it has seated you can drop the pressure once carbed up for serving etc. So keg as normal then purge the oxygen out at say 30 psi this should also hopefully seat the seal and then carb to your preferred pressure. If you are still having problem with the seal seating you can buy a replacement seal set for about £3/4 pounds or also you can buy softer or thicker seals to help with the problem as some of the older seals do go hard and don't seal as easy

Hi, thanks for the quick response. I did seal it at 30psi and left it for a bit, but as soon as I released the pressure down to 10-15psi it started leaking again. I think there is a new seal on it as it is supposed to be fully reconditioned but if there are different types of seal like you say then maybe I can look at that in the future..

 

[Dellboy78lfc]

I had the same issue a few years back when buying one of their used kegs. Ended up buying a new lid.
You can also get different thickness seals as some are very thin.

This might help a bit as well:
https://www.cornykeg.com/resources/corny-keg-tips/seal-lid/

The lid certainly doesn’t seem to take a lot of force to close. My other keg you almost have to snap it down to lock it shut and I’ve not had a problem with.

 

[The Baron]

Also try sealing it with the lid the other way around as sometimes they seal better one way (lids can go in both ways around ) also when put the lid in before putting the lid handle down to seal it lift it up with the lid handle as this helps it to seal better Ps put some water in it to add weight to the corny so when you lift it up it seats the seal as well then put the handle over after putting down but keep the weight on it if you know what I mean then lock the handle whilst it still has tension on it

 

[The Baron]

If you are still having problems look on Fleabay and search for thick corny keg seals I think you can get a fullset of seals X 3 for £7.99 approx that way you will have some spares as well

 

[Dellboy78lfc]

Also try sealing it with the lid the other way around as sometimes they seal better one way (lids can go in both ways around ) also when put the lid in before putting the lid handle down to seal it lift it up with the lid handle as this helps it to seal better Ps put some water in it to add weight to the corny so when you lift it up it seats the seal as well then put the handle over after putting down but keep the weight on it if you know what I mean then lock the handle whilst it still has tension on it

I have got it full of starsan at the moment and have tried what you suggest many times! 2 days I’ve been trying to get it to shut now.
I did try turning the lid round but the handle covers the gas and liquid posts the other way round so I cant get the disconnects on.

 

[Dellboy78lfc]

I think new thick seals are the way forward! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[The Baron]

It could also be the feet on the handle that are wearing thin and not putting enough pressure on the handle when locked down in that case you can buy them too or I believe that you can put a penny or something thinner and similar under the feet to give a tighter seal

 

[Dellboy78lfc]

It could also be then feet on the handle that are wearing thin and not putting enough pressure on the handle when locked down in that case you can buy them too or I believe that you can put a penny or something thinner and similar under the feet to give a tighter seal

Good idea!

 

[peebee]

I've had that problem (many have). I use these thicker ones (and serve at 1-2PSI): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321915194712

Make sure they are lightly lubricated to help them form to irregularities. Beware the "soft" silicon ones. They aren't really softer, just feel that way (rated 70 just like the standard ones).

 

[The Baron]

They are the ones I use not the silicon ones as PeeBee says. I think the penny trick may help until you get some

 

[Dellboy78lfc]

Thanks guys, I have ordered those thick rings and some keg lube. I tried putting penny washers under the feet on the lid, but even with a stack of 3 on each side the bloody thing still leaks! :-(

 

[The Baron]

Wow thats seems quite a lot of pennies. Worst scenario is ordering a new lid if the new rings don't work. I got one from china last time or maybe bending the handle arms a little to make a tighter seal I am sure somebody on here will have done that before

 

[HarryFlatters]

Maybe a dab of keg lube (Vaseline) around the seal might help?

 

[The Baron]

yes Try some lube as Harry says Vaseline or KY I sometimes use KY

 

[Ghillie]

Keg lube (basically expensive Vaseline) will likely help.

 

[peebee]

Keg lube (basically expensive Vaseline) will likely help.

It's also good smeared on bird feeder poles to keep the squirrels off.

Typical squirrels though, they soon figure out chucking enough squirrels at the problem will wipe the Vaseline off.

Ghillie will be thinking "why be beastly to squirrels" 'cos he doesn't have the wrong coloured ones up there.

 

[the_quick]

The issue I think, is that keg was sold not being fir for purpose and seller will not accept it. I've bough 2 kegs recently, 1 reconditioned - after seeing how wear out it is, I have bought a brand new one (for mere £20 more).
Is it the usual risk with the cornies?