Three way tri clamp ball valve source

Brewer's Friend 728
Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
"Easy to clean" can mean different things depending on the setting; In a commercial brewery where regularly disassembling and cleaning valves is part of the job, you could consider either of these "easy to clean":
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/t...y-quick-clamp-fittings-for-food-and-beverage/
https://www.brewershardware.com/tri...5-Tri-Clover-3-Way-Ball-Valve-TC15BALL3W.html
..or the one @sibelman posted above. (I was just about to post another one from Stout; https://conical-fermenter.com/1.5-inch-3-way-ball-valve-304.html?cat=223 )
There's the 'EZ Clean' models, which are more common as 2-way ( https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15_2pbv_ez.htm ), but I have seen 3-way versions on Aliexpress, but can't vouch for the quality of.
What manner of disassembly to you personally consider "easy"?
:mug:
 
If it were me, I'd get the $70 valve from Brewers Hardware.

I have some of the EZ clean ones that Bobby M sells, but (as far as 2-way valves go) I like the Blichmann Linear tri-clamp valves MUCH better. Only two parts to clean. You can't get much easier than that.
 
Ozarks_Mountain_Brew said:
I have 3-3 way valves in my setup and even if i clean everything after a brew day spotless with a spray hose the next brewday I do a 180 degree pbw clean with half full water and its very dirty afterwards, you just can't see it but its there
Click to expand...
When you run a cleaning cycle with hot PBW, turn the 3-way valves to the 45 degree position and that solution will flush the dead zones between the seats. Just make sure you hit them with the rinse in the same way otherwise PBW will be lurking in there just waiting for you to move the valves.
 
McBrewall said:
Who sells the best 3-way tri-clamp ball valves?
Click to expand...
I bought a relatively expensive BrewTools 3-way valve couple years back. It was shite so I sold it on a week later. I couldn’t even open the thing for cleaning. And I’m pretty ‘handy’ generally. Threads were locked solid, probably due to over tightening in the Chinese factory with no QC. Anyway, not sure what you need a 3-way valve for, but I settled for TC T-piece and two Blichmann G2 linear flow valves. Total cost was a little more, but much, much better, imho.
 
Bobby_M said:
When you run a cleaning cycle with hot PBW, turn the 3-way valves to the 45 degree position and that solution will flush the dead zones between the seats. Just make sure you hit them with the rinse in the same way otherwise PBW will be lurking in there just waiting for you to move the valves.
Click to expand...
yes i agree
 
I bought these from bobby years ago and like you might think not very easy to perfectly clean, my next course of action is to make all easy to remove, so far just threaded joints, just showing this picture as a reference, I actually have 4, one "L" on the bottom left

IMG_20240203_123928974 (002).jpg
 
Last edited:
Broken Crow said:
"Easy to clean" can mean different things depending on the setting; In a commercial brewery where regularly disassembling and cleaning valves is part of the job, you could consider either of these "easy to clean":
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/t...y-quick-clamp-fittings-for-food-and-beverage/
https://www.brewershardware.com/tri...5-Tri-Clover-3-Way-Ball-Valve-TC15BALL3W.html
..or the one @sibelman posted above. (I was just about to post another one from Stout; https://conical-fermenter.com/1.5-inch-3-way-ball-valve-304.html?cat=223 )
There's the 'EZ Clean' models, which are more common as 2-way ( https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15_2pbv_ez.htm ), but I have seen 3-way versions on Aliexpress, but can't vouch for the quality of.
What manner of disassembly to you personally consider "easy"?
:mug:
Click to expand...
have the ali link by chance? I couldn't find them
 
Sorry, it was a few years ago and I didn't bother to bookmark or wishlist them... What I remember is I only saw a couple of them with poor pictures from sellers with very poor reviews. I've never seen them anywhere else and I'd be suspicious of them if I did. I just tried looking and can't find them either. Personally, after reading the above posts, if I had to have one I'd probably follow the tee-and 2 regular valve advice.
 
Broken Crow said:
"Easy to clean" can mean different things depending on the setting; In a commercial brewery where regularly disassembling and cleaning valves is part of the job, you could consider either of these "easy to clean":
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/t...y-quick-clamp-fittings-for-food-and-beverage/
https://www.brewershardware.com/tri...5-Tri-Clover-3-Way-Ball-Valve-TC15BALL3W.html
..or the one @sibelman posted above. (I was just about to post another one from Stout; https://conical-fermenter.com/1.5-inch-3-way-ball-valve-304.html?cat=223 )
There's the 'EZ Clean' models, which are more common as 2-way ( https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15_2pbv_ez.htm ), but I have seen 3-way versions on Aliexpress, but can't vouch for the quality of.
What manner of disassembly to you personally consider "easy"?
:mug:
Click to expand...
Yikes.. I already had to sell one kidney to support this hobby, and I know they won't take my liver.. Those McMaster valves are starting at ~379..
 
Thank you everyone for the advice and recommendations. Based on the responses and reviews of three-way valves, I am going to use tees and easy clean tri clamp ball valves and/or Blichmann linear valves. One common theme is that three-way valves are not easy to clean and tend to leak after they are cleaned. Thanks again.
 
McBrewall said:
One common theme is that three-way valves are not easy to clean and tend to leak after they are cleaned.
Click to expand...
While I can't comment on that, as the only TC valves I have are a couple butterlies, I can bring up yet another option;
If part of your requirement for TC fittings is the flow-rate of a larger bore size, then this won't suit you, but if flow-rate isn't a big deal, you can put TC adapters on NPT valves:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15m12npt.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/3wvalvel.htm
I have some of those NPT 3-ways, both from @Bobby_M (T-port), and domestic L-ports.. I've had no problem taking apart and cleaning them and no leakage ever.
:mug:
 
Broken Crow said:
While I can't comment on that, as the only TC valves I have are a couple butterlies, I can bring up yet another option;
If part of your requirement for TC fittings is the flow-rate of a larger bore size, then this won't suit you, but if flow-rate isn't a big deal, you can put TC adapters on NPT valves:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15m12npt.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/3wvalvel.htm
I have some of those NPT 3-ways, both from @Bobby_M (T-port), and domestic L-ports.. I've had no problem taking apart and cleaning them and no leakage ever.
:mug:
Click to expand...
 
Ozarks_Mountain_Brew said:
found a drawing

View attachment 842260
Click to expand...
YAY! Picture time!! I wanted to, but couldn't find one of a 3-way TC assembly, does anyone have one? ..I don't imagine it's too different from an NPT:
three-way1-2291226049.jpg

...a little fiddly, but if you start on a large surface, take your time and lay your parts out in order, it's not hard. Next time I pull apart one of my own, I'll take my own pics.
:mug:
 
Broken Crow said:
YAY! Picture time!! I wanted to, but couldn't find one of a 3-way TC assembly, does anyone have one? ..I don't imagine it's too different from an NPT:
View attachment 842298
...a little fiddly, but if you start on a large surface, take your time and lay your parts out in order, it's not hard. Next time I pull apart one of my own, I'll take my own pics.
:mug:
Click to expand...
Everything I read about ball valves says to be exceptionally careful making sure every seal goes in the same spot it came from. Otherwise you get leaks.
 
McBrewall said:
Thank you everyone for the advice and recommendations. Based on the responses and reviews of three-way valves, I am going to use tees and easy clean tri clamp ball valves and/or Blichmann linear valves. One common theme is that three-way valves are not easy to clean and tend to leak after they are cleaned. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

I have both the EZ clean triclamp ball valves and the Blichmann Linear triclamp valve. I bought both from Bobby and I much prefer the Blichmann.
 
Broken Crow said:
YAY! Picture time!! I wanted to, but couldn't find one of a 3-way TC assembly, does anyone have one? ..I don't imagine it's too different from an NPT:
View attachment 842298
...a little fiddly, but if you start on a large surface, take your time and lay your parts out in order, it's not hard. Next time I pull apart one of my own, I'll take my own pics.
:mug:
Click to expand...
usually #5 is the culprit that doesn't get replaced right, everything else stays in place fine
 

Similar threads

M
Anyone have a Brewer's Hardware "Hybrid" Ball Valve?
Replies
4
Views
286
sibelman
sibelman
pat_carnig
For Sale Parting out 15gal E-HERMS system
Replies
2
Views
350
pat_carnig
pat_carnig
Brushwood Brewing
Alternatives to Worm Gear Hose Clamps?
Replies
34
Views
1K
whoaru99
W
jwill911
Fermzilla Gen 3.0 doing away with the dreaded collection jar
Replies
9
Views
2K
jwill911
jwill911
W
Sanitizing boil kettle bulkhead and ball valve?
Replies
2
Views
290
whoaru99
W

Latest posts

Back
Top