Disconnect trouble!

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Hey guys!

I have just bought some stainless steel disconnects, and I've noticed they have three balls underneath, as opposed to the plastic ones that have four.

Am I right in thinking that the stainless ones won't fit the stainless carbonation caps on the fermzilla? They only seem to fit on the 'proper' style keg posts that I have on my fermenter king juniors.

Also, regarding the black plastic disconnects, all of a sudden they are jamming and won't fit of any of the liquid sides on my kegs / fermzillas. The gas ones are ok, it's just the black beer ones. I've changed the o-rings on the carbonation caps in case it was that, but it's still the same. What's going on? It's a massive fight every time we want to get one on or off. I've ordered some new ones in desperation, as don't know what else to do!

Yes I'm putting them on the correct side, in case anyone is wondering.

Can anyone help please?

 

[Rodcx500z]

Hi Tess, i use a smear of vasaline on mine, i don't know 100% if that's right but it works

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

So does the same thing happen to you Rod when you don't use the vaseline?

 

[phildo79]

Have you changed the o rings on the posts? Whenever this happens to me, that is nearly always the remedy. If you have done this and it still isn't going on smooth, try a little bit of lube around the post and inside the disconnect.

But the issue could come back if you are using cheap disconnects. They are not all made the same. Check the inside for shrink marks. The problem you are having kept happening to me. I threw away my non branded disconnects and replaced them with kegland ones.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Have you changed the o rings on the posts? Whenever this happens to me, that is nearly always the remedy. If you have done this and it still isn't going on smooth, try a little bit of lube around the post and inside the disconnect.

But the issue could come back if you are using cheap disconnects. They are not all made the same. Check the inside for shrink marks. The problem you are having kept happening to me. I threw away my non branded disconnects and replaced them with kegland ones.

Yes I've changed the O-rings, as I mentioned above.

I've ordered the 'premium' ones at £7 each from TMM - hopefully they'll be better then. Thanks Phil

 

[The Baron]

Hi Tess the black beer outlet get gummed up with beer so rinse them under the tap and pull back the clip to get the beer out of the ball bearing area, I then use a food grade lube or KY jelly on the posts and they should be as good as new

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Hi Tess the black beer outlet get gummed up with beer so rinse them under the tap and pull back the clip to get the beer out of the ball bearing area, I then use a food grade lube or KY jelly on the posts and they should be as good as new

I mean they get soaked in PBW and then hot water after each use so I was assuming that would be enough cleaning wise - I take your point though that there may be some sticky **** lurking somewhere.

I wanted to get rid of them all and use stainless steel but the damn things don't fit. Also you don't need a screwdriver to take them apart.

 

[The Baron]

Just put some lube on them Tess, vaseline will do at a push and only a slight smear

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Thank you I'll go try the hot water tap thing and then some vaseline and report back.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Done those two things - it's going on a little further than before but still not fully on. Feel like I'm just damaging my new o-rings.

Will get the husband to have a go when he comes home.

 

[The Baron]

you know the collars that comes back pull it back and rotate/turn it at the same time to dislodge any sticky goo, you will feel the collar going back further as it frees the dried on beer residue

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Ok I'll try that.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Baron you are a genius! Thank you! I was trying to connect my tap to my pressure bottle so I could flush it out with sanitiser.

 

[The Baron]

You are welcome now you have done it will happen more frequently especially if you leave it attached for some time but now you have the knack

 

[phildo79]

Strange that the SS disconnects won't fit on the fermzilla posts, which I assume are universal posts?

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Strange that the SS disconnects won't fit on the fermzilla posts, which I assume are universal posts?

I thought it strange too. They won't even go halfway on. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong?

The different ball bearing setup underneath is throwing me off as well. Perhaps someone has experience of fitting these and can let me know.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

A plastic one, and a stainless one here to compare.

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/stainless-ball-lock-disconnect-liquid/
This is what I bought.

 

[phildo79]

It really shouldn't make a difference with annular shapes. I can only assume that there is something about the uni posts that they don't like. Bit of a long shot but what is the depth of the inside of both sets of disconnects and also the depth of the grooves on the standard posts Vs the uni posts?

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

I've no idea - will it be etched somewhere?

Should I get my tape measure out or go take some pictures?

 

[phildo79]

Use some form of measuring tool