Pressure leak! What are my options

[Merry]

I barrelled my Milestone Black Pearl stout 8 days ago, priming with 80g of glucose powder but it looks very much like I didn't get a good enough seal on the cap :shock:

I'm considering my options -

Should I remove cap, check washer and apply fresh Vaseline and replace then use CO2 bulb for pressure (will the budget barrel stand the pressure when full of ale)

or -

Remove & fix cap then add more sugar to prime again and hope the leak is gone

or -

Stuff the barrel, rack it back to the FV and prime again then bottle it.

Is there any reason why I shouldn't prime it again. I shouldn't imagine the another 80g of sugar would affect the taste and can't see any harm that could be caused, but then again - I'm no expert!

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

 

[hairybiker]

First thing you need to find is where the leak is coming from. Is it the cap seal, the injector seal, or the pressure release seal?

You will need a "sacrificial" bulb/s of co2 to test, along with a glass/mug of water with some washing up liquid in it and a brush to apply said to all the parts one at time while applying the bulb. (This is why I prefer the S30 canister easier to add a small amount of gas)
Once you find and fix the leak then re-prime and all should be fine. (After you find one leak check the rest or you may be just heading for the same problem)

I have just fitted a pressure gauge to my barrel as it to was leaking from a seal (mine was the gas in one) so that I can see immediately if I have a leak in the future rather than being disappointed when I go to pour my latest beer.

:drink:

 

[Merry]

Good tip on the washing up liquid :thumb: Fortunately there was a little bit of pressure and I could hear it escaping. I had a hunch it was the cap seal, and sure enough I could see it plain as day. After a bit of investigation it looks like the cap washer had become twisted. I must pay more attention when fitting it next time. Luckily I had a spare so no problems there.

The main question I have is because it is 8 days since it was primed and all the co2 has now escaped, should I prime again or just use a bulb? Bearing in mind that there is the best part of 23 litres of stout in the barrel

 

[luckyeddie]

I'd use a bulb, leave it for a few seconds then just crack the top a touch to let a tiny bit of the gas out. CO2 is heavier than air and so when you crack open the top, the air will be flushed out first (it will sit on top of the CO2).

 

[hairybiker]

OK since it was the cap seal, re prime and leave for another week or so. Then drink it :thumb:
It shouldn't have had any issues being left "open" for a week, I open ferment all the time and the last one that leaked was fine after re-priming.

Or you could bottle - tooooooo much hassle for me :whistle:

 

[Merry]

OK since it was the cap seal, re prime and leave for another week or so. Then drink it :thumb:
It shouldn't have had any issues being left "open" for a week, I open ferment all the time and the last one that leaked was fine after re-priming.

Or you could bottle - tooooooo much hassle for me :whistle:

Just what I wanted to hear. I'm looking forward to this after a few weeks, it tastes fantastic already.

Thanks for the advice :

 

[heftyporker]

I had the same problem yesterday. King Keg valve not working properly. I now only have a very tiny leak - insulation tape has sorted it out for now, until I start a new brew.
Didn't re-prime though - just injected another bulb...Maybe I should reprime too?

This is what I did
http://www.brew-it-yourself.co.uk/forum ... cceebc0b3c


:thumb:

 

[MikeB]

Get a Corny. Sorry but placcy barrels are a waste of time in my experience. I think they're a load of rubbish so I've moved over to a proper dispensing system that barely costs any more :)

 

[hairybiker]

Corny's are fine in there place. I have 2 but I also have 5 plastic HB Beer Spheres. My main issue with them is the small size 19l (vs 23/4l) and the high cost of the bits needed. (Gas in/dispense/gas reg etc)

If I could get a hold of a CO2 supplier and a regulator at a reasonable price locally then I would/may switch to them more, but at the mo I am thinking about ditching them as I don't really use them.