Scyntherei
Member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2015
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 2
So I decided to try the shiny (new-ish) Catalyst fermentation system. I now as of yesterday have a 1 year old daughter so over the past year finding time to spend most of a day just brewing beer was difficult.
Solution: Better, more time efficient equipment. (Conical fermenter, propane burner, kettle with a valve and a kegging system)
Unfortunately, in my excitement of kickstarting this hobby... ehhem... returning to the homebrewing lifestyle I assembled the Catalyst fermenter incorrectly. I installed the ring with the butterfly valve upside down! I drained my wort from my kettle into it, aerated it, pitched the yeast and set it away to ferment. I was still able to open and close the valve, but it wasn't until I went to dump the trub that I realized it was upside down. The jar was harder to remove than it should've been, but oh well. It was working.
Fast forward to kegging day.. I put on the bottling funnel opened the valve to drain into the keg and it's mostly working... only beer is also leaking out the side of the funnel. Close the valve, crank it on as tight as I can... still leaking. Close it again, dry it off and apply duct tape. Great no more leaking!
The problem now is that I can't for the life of me get the funnel attachment back off of the valve housing. I've tried about everything I can thing of short of using an oil filter wrench or dremeling funnel off (that wouldn't do a whole lot of good if I can't find a replacement, though.)
Attempted:
Just cranking on it with my hands.
Trying to lubricate the threads with water/silicone based lubricants.
Using rubber gloves to get a better grip on it.
Disassembling the housing to screw it to the basement wall to get more leverage on it.
Sticking it in the freezer attempting to cause the materials to contract.
Sticking the housing part in hot water to get it to expand.
Contacting Craft-a-Brew explaining that I'm an idiot (apparently) and messed up. (Still waiting for a response on this one.)
So yeah; This is where I'm at. Any Suggestions?
Solution: Better, more time efficient equipment. (Conical fermenter, propane burner, kettle with a valve and a kegging system)
Unfortunately, in my excitement of kickstarting this hobby... ehhem... returning to the homebrewing lifestyle I assembled the Catalyst fermenter incorrectly. I installed the ring with the butterfly valve upside down! I drained my wort from my kettle into it, aerated it, pitched the yeast and set it away to ferment. I was still able to open and close the valve, but it wasn't until I went to dump the trub that I realized it was upside down. The jar was harder to remove than it should've been, but oh well. It was working.
Fast forward to kegging day.. I put on the bottling funnel opened the valve to drain into the keg and it's mostly working... only beer is also leaking out the side of the funnel. Close the valve, crank it on as tight as I can... still leaking. Close it again, dry it off and apply duct tape. Great no more leaking!
The problem now is that I can't for the life of me get the funnel attachment back off of the valve housing. I've tried about everything I can thing of short of using an oil filter wrench or dremeling funnel off (that wouldn't do a whole lot of good if I can't find a replacement, though.)
Attempted:
Just cranking on it with my hands.
Trying to lubricate the threads with water/silicone based lubricants.
Using rubber gloves to get a better grip on it.
Disassembling the housing to screw it to the basement wall to get more leverage on it.
Sticking it in the freezer attempting to cause the materials to contract.
Sticking the housing part in hot water to get it to expand.
Contacting Craft-a-Brew explaining that I'm an idiot (apparently) and messed up. (Still waiting for a response on this one.)
So yeah; This is where I'm at. Any Suggestions?