Corny keg question

[Colin Slater]

Firstly, brilliant resource this - have been brewing for a long time but only in the last year have done a lot more all grain. Up till now i have been bottling but i decided to start kegging.

I acquired a Corny keg which, on inspection seemed to be in good nick. I've got a reg and sodastream converter and got that all hooked up and leak free. However when the quick fit is on th keg there is very faint leak,  when i pop the connector off the small bit in the middle of the keg post is leaking. If it tap it with a scredriver it seals again so I am thinking it needs replaced. There is beer in the keg now and it is holding pressure but can anyone point me to where i can get corny keg parts and a post remover (or borrow one for a couple of days once i have finished 19 litres of Bitter !). I'm going to buy another keg and now have a kegerator woo hoo.

Cheers

[Stu H]

Hey Colin,

I got a replacement poppet valve (the bit I'm pretty sure is leaking) for my leaky keg from www.brewerscoop.co.nz. As to a "post remover" I just use a wrench, can't remember what size though.

[Tilt]

You might just be able to replace the poppet o-ring.  Have a look to see if its damaged and if so swap it out for a few cents.  Make sure you use some food grade lube too.  I use a 23mm deep socket to remove my keg posts.  Take your keg into a Supercheap auto and try them until you get one that fits.  About $10 IIRC and a handy tool to have kicking about.

[Hugh Grierson]

Sometimes stuff gets in the valve, hop gunk is common if your corny has been used by a brewer. Even FOB kegs that have only had cola in them need a clean and reset. But it's worth having a poppet valve or two spare anyway. Its a bad buzz when the out valve leaks, beer on the floor make you cry.

[Kelly Milligan]

You can also grab a new set of poppets on TM from here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/home-living/food-beverage/other-beverages/... - I had a similar issue with my used keg, but my sexy-as-hell new ones are perfect!

[Colin Slater]

Brilliant thanks for all the feedback and help. Have ordered some poppets so will replace them. Do you reckon I'll be able to do it with a batch in i.e. purge the Co2, swap the poppets and then regas it without trashing the beer ?

[Kelly Milligan]

Yea I imagine that shouldn't be an issue. People will often whip off the beer-out post and swap out diptubes without issue :) E.g. might have a shortened dip tube so that you can use Gelatin to fine in the keg, then pull beer out from the middle rather than the very bottom, before swapping back to a full length one once the beer level gets too low. As long as you're careful with your sanitation!

[Colin Slater]

Yeah i looked at doing that as well. Next step is to try and track down a bigger Co2 bottle & another Corny although the soda bottles are -30% for refills at briscoes which is handy as I sort this system out. I pulled a sneaky jug off last night and it was fantastic.

[Kelly Milligan]

Cool man! I got a 5.5kg converted fire extinguisher for $160 filled from Brewcarft Mt Eden! Bargain

[Colin Slater]

Anyone know where I can get one tomorrow in Wellington ? Soda bottles are a PITA !