passedpawn

Recipes 

Do you have a dip tube going through it? Make sure the dip tube isn't pressed against the bottom of the cooler. Cut the bottom of the tip tube on a slant to keep it from closing off against the bottom of the cooler.

__________________
Now there's some take delight in the carriages a rolling
and others take delight in the hurling and the bowling
but I take delight in the juice of the barley
and courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early

swackattack

Recipes 

Well just made myself a copper manifold. Hope this works!

Squeek

Recipes 

i had issues with the SS false bottom until I figured out it was a vapor lock kind of issue. Before I mash in or do anything I open the valve with no hose connected to 'Purge" the air out of the line. After that I fill the hose and the pump to eliminate all air. Ever since then never had a Problem. It does take about 1-2 gallons before it runs clear enough for me.

I used a manifold before the false bottom but my efficiency is between 80-85% with the FB compared to 70-75% with the manifold.

Brewsit

Recipes 

I have the same issue... open the valve, and nothing comes out. This happens every time. I first tried blowing on it but it seemed to do nothing... until I tried sucking and blowing repeatedly, and it dislodged the grains enough to get it flowing. It usually then takes about a half gallon for me to get clear runnings.

VanDyke

Recipes 

How do you mash in your grains? Dump water and then a bunch of grains or grains and then water?

I usually like to put in a couple inches of grain above the false bottom, then slowly pour some water, then a bit more grains, then the rest of the water, and the rest of the grains. No dough balls and no stuck sparges. Using one of those round SS false bottoms with lots of holes. My last beer had 22oz of flaked oats at the bottom, and it only took about a quart to start running very clear.

__________________
--
VanDyke

CGVT

Recipes 

I put a stainless scrubbing pad under the false bottom where dip tube picks up. I haven't had a problem since I started doing that. Cheap and easy...

__________________
"Filled with mingled cream and amber I will drain that glass again. Such hilarious visions clamber through the chambers of my brain--Quaintest thoughts--queerest fancies come to life and fade away; Who cares how time advances? I am drinking ale today"-Edgar Alan Poe

My Keezer build: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/keezer-i-guess-its-my-turn-340755/

swackattack

Recipes 

Just brewed for the first time with my copper manifold. What a breath of fresh air. Ran clean almost instantly. No more 2 gallon vorlauf and no grains!

Brewsit

Recipes 

Got a picture? Interested to see what you did.

neko

Recipes 

Just keep sucking and blowing and it will flow.

__________________
Ring ding dong. Ring a ding-ding-ding dong

"We have invented the world's largest laser system" -Ahnold

TrubDog

Recipes 

+99 for a manifold. I've got two coolers, one with a copper manifold and one with cpvc. Never had a hint of a slowdown in either.

I would've think twice about changing!