Spike Conical- observations and best practices

[cozmogeek]

Has anybody tried pinching the gasket in place by bending the lip on the lid?

 

[cozmogeek]

I ran into this, too, and had the same frustrated, send it back reaction. Then when I dumped my yeast the first time, transferred the beer under pressure without a racking cane and siphon, and cleaned up the stainless steel instead of scrubbing plastic buckets, everything about the gasket was forgotten. Until my second batch, when I had the same frustration.

I found that cleaning the lid and gasket well, then drying them off, and then seating the gasket dry was the ticket. I then spray it all down well with a spray bottle of star san. It holds in place without problem that way.

I'm back to hearting my conical 100%.

Thanks for talking me down.

 

[Blazinlow86]

Not that it helps people having issues with the gasket but fwiw mine sits pretty tightly. Possibly some have a slightly larger gap the gadget sits in and can be bent slightly to tighten it up? Cheers

 

[itsnotrequired]

i've also seems some complaints about the gasket but (maybe) knock on wood, no issues here. i can put it in and shake the lid with the gasket facing down, no issues. if you have issues, contract spike, they have been super responsive/accommodating in my experience.

 

[cozmogeek]

Not that it helps people having issues with the gasket but fwiw mine sits pretty tightly. Possibly some have a slightly larger gap the gadget sits in and can be bent slightly to tighten it up? Cheers

I just tried squeezing it tighter in a few places around the lid. It seems like it may help, but of course the lid and gasket are dry now so it's hard to say if it actually did anything.

 

[PowerSchlitz]

My CF 5 in a Kenmore upright freezer using an Inbird 308 external thermostat. I also use a small space heater and a computer fan for increased air flow. Other than having to bypass the internal thermostat, my system works perfectly for me.

 

[Sbe2]

My wife ordered a CF5 for me. Can’t wait to use it.

Any tips/tricks for first time users?

 

[itsnotrequired]

Any tips/tricks for first time users?

make sure the butterfly valves are closed before you start filling it

 

[Blazinlow86]

My wife ordered a CF5 for me. Can’t wait to use it.

Any tips/tricks for first time users?

Don't attempt to use the lower dump valve without a hose of some sort or your gonna have a spectacular mess. I have a 3/8 diameter barbed tri clamp I use with the silicon brew hose to direct it into a container

 

[cozmogeek]

My wife ordered a CF5 for me. Can’t wait to use it.

Any tips/tricks for first time users?

I got a 2" to 1.5" Tri clamp adapter so that I can use my regular hose that has 1.5" connections on it on that bottom valve too. It is handy for sanitizing. I put the 2" drain outlet into my pump and the output of my pump into the CIP ball and let it run for a few minutes.

 

[Blazinlow86]

I got a 2" to 1.5" Tri clamp adapter so that I can use my regular hose that has 1.5" connections on it on that bottom valve too. It is handy for sanitizing. I put the 2" drain outlet into my pump and the output of my pump into the CIP ball and let it run for a few minutes.

That's a good idea too. I don't use the cip as I have the spike cf15 with the removable top so it's not worth the extra work to clean it that way. Just remove the lid and hand clean it just like a kitchen pot. I also have a hand sprayer I use to sanitize. If you have a ss unitank with the small top opening or your process only allowed glycol chilling the cip is more useful I think. Cheers

 

[cozmogeek]

That's a good idea too. I don't use the cip as I have the spike cf15 with the removable top so it's not worth the extra work to clean it that way. Just remove the lid and hand clean it just like a kitchen pot. I also have a hand sprayer I use to sanitize. If you have a ss unitank with the small top opening or your process only allowed glycol chilling the cip is more useful I think. Cheers

I have the CF15 too. I just figured it'd be easier to pump star san through it for a minute than to try to sanitize the whole thing. You should've seen the foam lol. I might not do that again.

 

[mongoose33]

Just to offer another idea on the gasket coming off the lid. Had that issue too. I spread some keg lube around the gasket channel. At least the lube I have is pretty sticky. I did that and put the gasket in and it holds sort of like glue. Works for me.

 

[jturman35]

I haven’t had any problems with the gasket on my CF5. Make sure to do dump yeast/trub before racking.

 

[Blazinlow86]

the gasket on mine fits snugly and definitely wouldn't call out on its own. I'd contact spike and maybe they can send a new one.
Possible they have some that came out to thin for whatever reason. It would irritate me having to fiddle with that each time I took the lid off. Cheers

 

[Sbe2]

So when do you all do a yeast dump?


My plan right now is to swap the the barbed 90 for the gas manifold. Hook up gas to it, Dump the yeast, then dry hop.

I’m on day 2 of Fermentation right now on a NEIPA.

 

[Blazinlow86]

So when do you all do a yeast dump?


My plan right now is to swap the the barbed 90 for the gas manifold. Hook up gas to it, Dump the yeast, then dry hop.

I’m on day 2 of Fermentation right now on a NEIPA.

I only dump once after I've cold crashed.i then add the carb stone for 24 hours and then rack to kegs. I tried doing it early a few times but ended up mostly just wasting clear beer. I don't bother harvesting yeast anymore as I find it easier to just overbuild my starters saving abit for the next starter. and just to clarify you're not going to try to do a dump without some sort of barbed connection on the lower output with a hose to direct correct? Otherwise your gonna have a fantastic mess on your hands. Cheers

 

[jdr01]

I am dumping yeast after the cold crash as well. As Blazinlow86 said I was wasting clear beer.

Has anyone had trouble with the valves leaking? The 1.5" was dripping when new. Spike sent me a new one. Now that one drips along with the 2" valve. Both of these drip without additional pressure.
I have been putting caps on the valves to be safe.

 

[itsnotrequired]

i also dump after crash but really just enough to get all the 'stuff' below the racking port. it is a bit of a guessing game but for 'regular' beer with no dry hopping, i dump a very small amount. some dry hopped monster? i dump a lot more. i do closed transfers so also dump a bit from the racking valve, to clear out anything that settled in there. not the end of the world if just yeast but getting bits of hops into the keg posts is annoying as hell.

regarding leaks, my 1.5" butterfly leaked a bit when i was doing some testing with cold water. i kept the protective plastic cap on there during the first fermentation and nothing collected in it (no leak). i left it off for future brews and haven't had any leaking issues since. 2" never leaked.

 

[Sbe2]

I normally overbuild my starters, but for my inaugural brew in the conical I opened up a new smack pack and pitched.

Would it be possible to harvest without temperature control? I am brewing a NEIPA and am starting to think it may not be possible to harvest “clean” yeast. I may have to bite the bullet on this yeast pack.

I will probably dump before I rack to a keg with co2 connected to the gas manifold mainting positive pressure.

 

[Carlscan26]

I am dumping yeast after the cold crash as well. As Blazinlow86 said I was wasting clear beer.

Has anyone had trouble with the valves leaking? The 1.5" was dripping when new. Spike sent me a new one. Now that one drips along with the 2" valve. Both of these drip without additional pressure.
I have been putting caps on the valves to be safe.

I’ve had the same problem on 3 out of 3 batches with the racking valve. I need to contact Spike about it.

 

[jturman35]

My valves work fine. When dumping yeast/trub I have been doing this with no fitting and quickly closing the valve before beer rushes out. Does using a fitting work better? I would think the yeast would clog the smaller opening?

 

[tll77]

I've had no issues with valves once installed on my cf10. One of the butterfly valves and the sight glass had a loose bolt or two on arrival but I disassembled everything for a thorough cleaning before first use and used keg lube on all the seals as I put it back together.

As far as using a fitting when dumping, I do use a fitting, I use a 2"TCx1/2mpt. I find it slows the dump a little as though it's providing flow restriction the outflow. The more compacted trub layer at the bottom moves kinda slowly at first and as it speeds up I close the butterfly valve to slow it.

 

[NeoBrew]

I was debating spike vs SS. Which is why I subscribed to this thread. I went with an SS Unitank about 6 brews ago.

I’ve had none of these problems with mine. All valves and fittings have worked right out of the box. Just an FYI

 

[mongoose33]

I was debating spike vs SS. Which is why I subscribed to this thread. I went with an SS Unitank about 6 brews ago.

I’ve had none of these problems with mine. All valves and fittings have worked right out of the box. Just an FYI

I've had a little dripping from the racking valve of my Spike. It worked right out of the box, too, for probably 16 brews.

 

[Blazinlow86]

My valves work fine. When dumping yeast/trub I have been doing this with no fitting and quickly closing the valve before beer rushes out. Does using a fitting work better? I would think the yeast would clog the smaller opening?

Ive also been fortunate with no leaks so far. The fitting definitely workes better however when I do the dump the fermentor is pressurized to 12psi typically. the key is only opening the valve the tiniest bit in my case not even to the first detent and going as slow and gently as possible. Otherwise you will just blow a hole in the yeast/sediment and then your back to mostly clear beer coming thru. If done correctly you will have a thick creamy kinda peanut butter consiscy with no beer. Once you see clear beer your done and ready to add the carb stone. now if you don't have the prv setup and are using gravity it might plug but honestly I'm not sure I've ever tried without being pressurized. I'm pretty sure it wasn't designed to just dump wide open as there's no real gentle way of doing it. Cheers

 

[Blazinlow86]

I was debating spike vs SS. Which is why I subscribed to this thread. I went with an SS Unitank about 6 brews ago.

I’ve had none of these problems with mine. All valves and fittings have worked right out of the box. Just an FYI

Pretty sure they use the same Chinese made butterfly valves for what it's worth. I wouldn't choose a different vessel for this reason alone. Cheers

 

[jdr01]

i use a 5/8" fitting on the dump valve. It works fine. I had a mess the couple times I did not reduce it.

 

[crooow]

I'm deciding between a CF10 and CF15. I mostly do 10 gallon batches, but I may occasionally do a 15. Anyone doing 10 gallon fermentations in their CF15? Encounter any problems?

 

[CodeSection]

@crooow, I was in your position and I ended up buying the CF10. I chose the CF10 over the CF15 as the CF10 in my situation was easier to lift (when empty), move around and clean. I have it resting on a bar. With that said, I am planning on buying another CF10 later this year. That will allow me to do back-to-back brewing on a weekend.

Go with what makes sense for you. Just realize the CF15 is slightly heavier and 4" taller. I'm sure you will be happy with either one!