Operating A Keezer Makes Me Feel Stupid

When I had the idea to build a keezer and drink draft beer I thought it was going to be super, super, simple ... build the keezer, buy the keg, coupler, CO2 tank, air line, beer line ... connect everything, turn on the gas, pull the tap, drink beer ....

I still think it's simple, but it sure is making me feel stupid

This is my secondary regulator: http://www.kegworks.com/product.php?productid=16652&source=nextopia

This is my air line: http://www.kegworks.com/product.php?productid=16538&cat=394&page=1

Regulator outside diameter is 6/16ths, air line inside diameter is 5/16ths ... first things first, are these sizes appropriate for eachother? It is a major pain in the butt to get a hose on the nipple and then screw clamp it ... so much so that I can only get the air hose like a 1/2 inch on the nipple of my mounted regulator ...

2nd issue ... this is ( more or less ) my primary regulator: http://www.kegworks.com/product.php?productid=174121&source=nextopia ... I have that attached to my 5# CO2 tank, a 5/16ths air hose connected to the secondary regulator, and a 5/16ths air hose connected from that to my keg ... throw the levers down parallel to the air hoses, turn the CO2 tap counter clock wise, screw the regulator screws clockwise ... no pressure readings ... uncouple the primary regulator and can hear gas escape ... brand new CO2 tank ... do I have to throw open the other 2 unused levers on my secondary regulator? This could be an air leak, especially with my hose issues, but I feel maybe I'm doing something else really stupid ( I don't hear any air leaks )

I had my setup working fine with just my primary regulator to the keg, then I ran out of CO2 and my secondary regulator came in ... I haven't tinkered too much as I was already frustrated enough getting the air hoses on

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

 

show us some pics if you can. i'm a visual person and do much better if i can see a problem.

 

Yeah, pics. Also, if you haven't tried it yet, soak your airline in really hot water for a couple of minutes. That will make it pliable and should stretch enough to fit on the barb.

 

Thanks guys ... if it wasn't obvious already, this is really my first time using most of this equipment ...

 

Everything looks good. It's good to have the hose ID 1/16th smaller. Like above, heat a pan of water ( put it on 10) then hold the hose in there for 20-30 seconds if even that and it'll slide right over the bard. When it cools it shrinks tight over the barb, Hose clamp is really optional at that point.

 

The hot water trick worked great ... I messed around with the regulator nuts and bolts and have pressure now ... thanks everyone!