Keg Issues

[Banjacksed]

Hi all
Had a few issues with my kegs recently, bought a new one the other week and it wasn't holding any pressure. Unfortunately didn't relise this until the beer had been sitting in it for a while. I think it's because the top is not very round and every time I tighten the lid it takes the seal out. Are there any superior kegs out there to be recommend?

 

[Fil]

keg lube or vasaline thinly smeared on the oring and cap thread should allow u to seal without over-tightening and deforming the o-ring

if your quick with the lid u can use laundry oxy to pressure test. fill the keg almost to the top with warm water and drop in a couple of laundry oxy scoops and quickly screw the lid on. the oxy will effervess and release gas (o2?) which should build up pressure if u have a seal or hiss out if u dont..

 

[GavH]

keg lube or vasaline thinly smeared on the oring and cap thread should allow u to seal without over-tightening and deforming the o-ring

if your quick with the lid u can use laundry oxy to pressure test. fill the keg almost to the top with warm water and drop in a couple of laundry oxy scoops and quickly screw the lid on. the oxy will effervess and release gas (o2?) which should build up pressure if u have a seal or hiss out if u dont..

Wish I'd read a tip like this before I used my new King Keg for the first time recently. The beer in it (Razorback IPA) looked amazing when it came out the FV and went straight into the keg, but I've spent the last four weeks wondering if it will have any carbonation when I open the tap on it for the very first time.

Lubed the cap threads lightly and the o ring a bit more heavily. Tightened hand tight and then used a cap spanner to give it a fraction of a turn more to ensure I wasn't being a big girl, but reading some of the posts on here, it is fair to say that confusion reigns supreme when it comes to the rights and wrongs of kegging.

 

[Runwell-Steve]

Kegging and being airtight is really quite simple, you just need to understand the basics of where the seal occurs.

A few key points.

1, Vaseline is not airtight and will not make a bad seal airtight. The more you apply the less chance you have of a good seal.
2, The seal is not in the threads, adding vaseline here really does nothing except make it harder work cleaning your keg between brews.
3, The seal occurs between the top face of the keg and both faces of the rubber washer in the lid.

What you are trying to achieve when you put the cap on is to tighten the lid such that the rubber washer sits neatly between the cap lid and the of of the keg, it is the rubber washer that makes the seal, nothing else.

A very small bit of lubricant on the rubber washer to allow it to sit neatly in place is all that is required, and the lid only needs to be put on hand tight, any tighter and you risk deforming the washer.

 

[johnnyboy1965]

+1 on the above post...Another good tip with a KK top tap is if you brew to 25li, this will cover the tap inlet and it is easier to find where/if there is a leak.

 

[Banjacksed]

Thanks guys. I think I am guilty over tightening. Profiled myself a spanner to tighten it up. Next time I'm only gunna used it to remove the cap. :thumb:

 

[dr_rob]

So, once deformed from over tightening, do you need a new o-ring, or will it go back to normal once the cap is loosened?

Just wondering as I may have inadvertently done this and need to know if I should have a spare o-ring to hand when i go to investigate! :?

 

[The Ostrich]

Soak it in boiling or hot water, this should get it back in shape.

D