Big Mouth Bubbler - Lid Fix

[Mike123]

I've had trouble with my Big Mouth Bubbler lid coming off when wet. Stays on fine when dry. I got tired of using duct tape, and I mentioned to a friend of mine, who owns a 3D printer, that I was having this problem and he made this for me. Works great. I showed him some pics of what others have done, and provided dimensions of my bubbler, and he knocked this out. Had to reposition the holes for the screws, but that was an easy mod.

poste haste.

 

[mongoose33]

Something else you can do is reverse the gasket, i.e., put it on the lid upside-down. That worked well for me.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Reverse the gasket or take up 3d printing as a new hobby?

hmmm.... probably just reverse the gasket.
​

Reverse the gasket or take up 3d printing a new hobby with new equipment and 100s of practical uses around the house?

hmmm...​

 

[Mike123]

Reverse the gasket or take up 3d printing as a new hobby?

hmmm.... probably just reverse the gasket.
​

Reverse the gasket or take up 3d printing a new hobby with new equipment and 100s of practical uses around the house?

hmmm...​

If I had enough applications to justify a 3D printer I might do that, but I don't....so far. Maybe if I had one I would end up using it for a lot because it would be an available resource/tool. For now, my buddy that owns one seems interested in challenges like this one, and enjoys the problem solving.

 

[GrowleyMonster]

I did it Redneck Style, Deluxe, i.e. no duck tape. I placed a big zip tie around the neck of the BMB. Then I took another one and passed it underneath that one, across the mouth of the BMB, under the first zip tie on the opposite side, and back to the ratchety end. I then zipped the one around the neck good and tight and cut off the end. Stuck the lid on and pressed it home, and positioned both sides of the looped over the top one over the lid, to either side of the stopper hole, and zipped that one tight enough to hold the lid down, but still barely loose enough to work it out to the sides and remove the lid. If you accidentally zip it too tight you can reach inside and trip the little ratchet pawl with a scratch awl or something, and release it.

I do like the 3D printed one above, though. I might make myself one some day. Right now my printer is in a state of neglect and disrepair and I have other more pressing projects. But the zip ties are at least better than duck tape. Meanwhile it would be a pretty quick and simple thing to just make a neck band out of steel with a couple of nuts welded to the sides, and a hold-down bar across the top with a central hole for the airlock access and holes for bolts to run into the nuts on the neck band. Thumbscrews actually. I have also been thinking about a steel neck band with handles on it for moving the BMB around, and maybe a custom dolly for underneath.

Aluminum would be nice instead of steel but I don't have what I need for welding aluminum. Or stainless steel.

Another way to do just hold the lid on would be to pass a ratchet strap under the bottom and over the top and tighten it just enough to keep the lid secure without squashing the BMB down. You would have to be careful not to dislodge it while moving it around. Or just don't move it around.

I am sort of disappointed in the design, though, that it doesn't have any molded-in deadeyes that could be used for lashing the lid down or attaching handles. I guess they figured it would never have any pressure under it and they are well, almost always right on that account. There are so many things I like about it, I guess, that the flaws are more irritating than if it just plain sucked.

If you get one of those web belt contraptions for the BMB with the carry straps on it, you could lash over the lid from that, too.

 

[Mike123]

If you get one of those web belt contraptions for the BMB with the carry straps on it, you could lash over the lid from that, too.[/QUOTE]
I did have one of those web belt contraptions, but after two years it broke. Fortunately not when it was full of beer. Now I am afraid to use one of those again.

 

[GrowleyMonster]

If you get one of those web belt contraptions for the BMB with the carry straps on it, you could lash over the lid from that, too.

I did have one of those web belt contraptions, but after two years it broke. Fortunately not when it was full of beer. Now I am afraid to use one of those again.[/QUOTE]
Hmmmm... glad I didn't get one, then.

 

[Dr_Jeff]

Thinking outside the box, how about a barbell weight, the kind you slide on a barbell, say a five or ten pound weight.

 

[Mike123]

Thinking outside the box, how about a barbell weight, the kind you slide on a barbell, say a five or ten pound weight.

That would work, and it has a hole so a blow off tube would fit through it. But I have this gadget already so I'm good to go. Thanks for the outside the box idea Dr_Jeff.

 

[Calder]

I have not had a problem. Yes, if I push the lid down when wet it will pop back up. What I do is; as I put the lid on I turn it, even when it is fully seated I make it turn a little. It takes a little effort, but it stays in place. No duct tape, no clamps, no weights. I have heard about reversing the seal before, but not had reason to try it - Seems like a simple solution if you are having a problem.

 

[Yooper]

I got fed up with the lid too so I created these.

I got fed up with spam so I deleted these.

 

[Chuckbergman]

I tried the gasket flipping trick this weekend and it worked like a charm. I have an aggressive fermentation going right now and the lid has stayed in place.