Gas Leak

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MikeAdz

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I have gas leaking from the ball lock disconnect barb connection. What do you guys do to improve the seal? Tape around the barb and then put it on the hose?
 
Personally I use the threaded disconects with with PTFE and John Guest fittings.
Well worth the extra expense.

Snugger fitting pipe and may be a jubilee clip might help you.
 
I have gas leaking from the ball lock disconnect barb connection. What do you guys do to improve the seal? Tape around the barb and then put it on the hose?
Bin your barbs.

JG fittings for me, never had an issue. Would hazard a guess that most people use these, popular for good reason:

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/keg-disconnect-product-out-thread/

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/john-guest-14-ffl-female-to-38-line-adapter/

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/keg-disconnect-gas-in-thread/

Would also recommend these reducers, to work with 3/16" beer line. Less overall length required - which makes properly balancing your keezer/kegerator simple:

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/john-guest-3-8-stem-x-3-16-pushfit-reducer/
 
Bin your barbs.

JG fittings for me, never had an issue. Would hazard a guess that most people use these, popular for good reason:

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/keg-disconnect-product-out-thread/

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/john-guest-14-ffl-female-to-38-line-adapter/

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/keg-disconnect-gas-in-thread/

Would also recommend these reducers, to work with 3/16" beer line. Less overall length required - which makes properly balancing your keezer/kegerator simple:

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/john-guest-3-8-stem-x-3-16-pushfit-reducer/

Only just purchased the barbs :(
 
Only just purchased the barbs :(
Yeah fair enough.

You should get a good enough seal just with just the hose pushed on to the barb. Providing the hose and barb are sized correctly, you should have to apply gentle heat (boiling water or heat gun) to the line to even get it on the barb. If it slipped on no bother cold, there's too much space.

What line are you using and where did you get it from?

These coupled with the correct size barb and tubing would do you well:

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/stainless-stepless-clamps-10-5-12-5mm-od/
 
I personally wouldn't use barbed connectors without a jubilee clip or similar for extra security. The gas pressure could otherwise blow the pipe off and it's good bye to a cylinder of CO2.

But then I use the JG stuff anyway, all good so far. Didn't use PTFE when screwing the JG adaptors onto the disconnect either, they have a sealing washer in there which should provide all the seal you need. If it isn't then the adaptor should be swapped, PTFE is only really like a sticking plaster and not a permanent cure. It should really only need to be used on threaded to threaded connections when there's no other sealing method e.g. radiator tails in your central heating system. If there's a washer, O ring or olive in the joint then you shouldn't need to be adding PTFE to it.
 
Last edited:
Yeah fair enough.

You should get a good enough seal just with just the hose pushed on to the barb. Providing the hose and barb are sized correctly, you should have to apply gentle heat (boiling water or heat gun) to the line to even get it on the barb. If it slipped on no bother cold, there's too much space.

What line are you using and where did you get it from?

These coupled with the correct size barb and tubing would do you well:

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/stainless-stepless-clamps-10-5-12-5mm-od/

Yes, I've used these type of Oetiker clamps on the barbs attached to my Perlic faucets. Used 3/8" stiff plastic beer line and crimped the clamps carefully with a pair of woodwork nail pincers. No leaks in over 4 years! Think these clamps are used for fitting brake pipes so if you have the correct size they should serve you fine.
 

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