mash tun problems

So I'm working on building my first mash tun and I ran into a small problem.

I installed the ball valve and fittings and everything and it's water tight. However, it's not secured, I can easily rotate it. Not sure if this is a big deal or not.

My thoughts are just adding a layer of liquid nails to the outside of the ball valve to help secure it. I figure the outside will mean it doesn't touch the liquid, so it doesn't matter if it is food safe.

Does that sound like a good plan, or does someone have something better?

Thanks

I would leave it as is if its water tight.

You can add another SS washer to the mix and it will tighten it up. Just make sure you don't overtighten it and crack something.

BargainFittings said:

I would leave it as is if its water tight.

Click to expand...

+1
if it doesn't leak, not sure i would mess with it. if it realy bothers you add the extra washer.

What kind of Mash Tun is it?

I made mine out of a chest cooler. My ball valve also was loose and would move around.

Turns out the threaded nipple I was using was too long. I got a shorter one and now everything is nice and snug.

Maybe you're dealing with something different but that really did the trick on mine.

Thanks for the help guys.

It's a Gatorade 5-gallon cooler (well the Lowe's version of it). I think the problem is the nipple, but I got the smallest one they had. I'll just go with the extra washer to play it safe. I'm afraid it is always "loose" then I won't know if something is wrong in the future and could lose a batch. Plus I'm not sure what (if any) affect there would be on the filter screen inside if it has a batch sitting on it and then the ball valve starts rotating.

Mine spins. No leaks. No worries.

^ What he said.

Like the others have said: If it's not leaking, leave it alone. I would strongly discourage using any type of adhesive; someday you may want to take it apart to clean or service it and the adhesive will make it a PITA. Mine rotates slightly, but it doesn't leak, and it's not really a load bearing part. Good luck!

FWIW, I have a 10 gallon cooler and the valve seems loose on that as well. But it's never leaked. I wouldn't mess with it if I were you.
Remember that you're attaching a big metal valve onto a relatively thin piece of plastic. Because of that, it'll never be completely solid.

Much easier to take apart and clean without the glue.