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SS_Brewing_Co · 09-12-2012, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilserbrewer

Been doing it for years without a "keg tool" without issue...small sharp screwdriver for removal, small pliers or channel locks for installation.

That's great. I also use a small screw driver and pliers. I just ran across that the other day and thought it was a neat little tool.

**JuanMoore** · 09-12-2012, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS_Brewing_Co

St pats has a specialty "keg tool". It looks pretty look but it's almost 100 bucks

I made one of those since I'm too cheap to spend $100 for something like that. I rarely use it though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by akthor

Hmmmm I had read that the first few ounces are trub then it runs clear using the spear and the CO2? This is a 10 gallon batch of blackberry wheat with 5lbs of picked then frozen and pureed and poured into the primary after about 2 weeks of primary fermentation. SO will it work or will trub be a problem? I don't have a racking cane that long (yet).

I use the standard spear without any issues, but I've also never tried it with that much fruit. I do have two spears that I trimmed a little, but have found that even with the full length spear there's hardly any trub past the first couple ounces. Just transferred 14 gal of apfelwein out of a 1/2bbl sankey the other day, and the yeast cake was so compact after cold crashing that I didn't suck up any trub at all.

**wilserbrewer** · 09-13-2012, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuanMoore

I made one of those since I'm too cheap to spend $100 for something like that. I rarely use it though.

I use the standard spear without any issues, but I've also never tried it with that much fruit. I do have two spears that I trimmed a little, but have found that even with the full length spear there's hardly any trub past the first couple ounces. Just transferred 14 gal of apfelwein out of a 1/2bbl sankey the other day, and the yeast cake was so compact after cold crashing that I didn't suck up any trub at all.

Apfelwine has almost zero yeast cake and no trub at all...I hate to think of what is at the bottom of that keg w/ 5 lbs of blackberries OMG...rack carefully young man or keep a few diapers handy for the first gallon or so...cheers!

**bwarbiany** · 09-13-2012, 11:46 PM

Obviously it adds to cost, but I use this:

http://www.brewershardware.com/American-Sanke-Keg-Fermenter-Kit-with-Thermowell.html

I can transfer under pressure by keeping an MFL fitting on the end of my blowoff tube that connects to a CO2 line, and then can set the height of the racking cane just about trub level for a clean transfer.

**SweetSounds** · 09-14-2012, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwarbiany

Obviously it adds to cost, but I use this:

http://www.brewershardware.com/American-Sanke-Keg-Fermenter-Kit-with-Thermowell.html

I can transfer under pressure by keeping an MFL fitting on the end of my blowoff tube that connects to a CO2 line, and then can set the height of the racking cane just about trub level for a clean transfer.

So do I - I LOVE it.
It almost feels like cheating.

However, a racking cane through the carboy cap tube will effectively serve the same purpose.

Lower the racking cane into the fermenter and start the transfer under very little pressure. Lower the racking cane until you see the beer line go cloudy - Then raise about 1/8" or so. You'll get clear beer till the end.

akthor · 09-20-2012, 05:37 AM

For those of you that can easily get that spring do dad back in to hold the spear all I can is HOW? WTF! I tried and tried but couldn't do it

grrrr so I finally just gave up and used the old syphon. Wasn't too bad. Amazingly it was easier than I thought to clean it out after.

Gonna have to get a racking cane and try it with the carbon cap for next time.

**JuanMoore** · 09-20-2012, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akthor

For those of you that can easily get that spring do dad back in to hold the spear all I can is HOW? WTF! I tried and tried but couldn't do it

grrrr so I finally just gave up and used the old syphon. Wasn't too bad. Amazingly it was easier than I thought to clean it out after.

Gonna have to get a racking cane and try it with the carbon cap for next time.

Spread the spiral ring apart and get the tail end started by hand, you should be able to get the bottom half in place easily. Once the spiral starts overlapping itself you'll need to start squeezing it in place with a pair of pliers, one jaw on the spiral ring, and one jaw on the outside of the neck. Work your way around until it's fully seated. I'm not sure how else to explain it. Maybe I can try taking a picture for you.

Edit: here's a decent video showing how it's done-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZPfZ_AL380

akthor · 09-20-2012, 09:27 AM

I tried it just like that but it kept slipping out maybe I bent it getting it out in the first place? Either way it's more of a PITA than its worth. Thanks for all the help tho.

**wilserbrewer** · 09-20-2012, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akthor

I tried it just like that but it kept slipping out maybe I bent it getting it out in the first place? Either way it's more of a PITA than its worth. Thanks for all the help tho.

If you bent the spiral ring, reinstallation can be near impossible.

**Catmandu** · 09-20-2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akthor

For those of you that can easily get that spring do dad back in to hold the spear all I can is HOW? WTF! I tried and tried but couldn't do it

grrrr so I finally just gave up and used the old syphon. Wasn't too bad. Amazingly it was easier than I thought to clean it out after.

Gonna have to get a racking cane and try it with the carbon cap for next time.

If it's any consolation, I, too, cannot seem to figure out how to replace the spiral ring. I've read the techniques and watched the videos, but still cannot get the ring in place.