Auto Siphon

[stansoid]

I have identified a part of my process that is hurting my final product.

I can never seem to get a good seal on my auto siphon where is connects to the tubing. Every time I use it I get a bit of air into the line as its running.

Are there any tricks for sealing that up? I have debated caulking it with silicone, but that seems extreme.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Firewalker11]

Food safe lube works wonders!

 

[dammBrewer]

Spring clamp on the end of your hose....If you can't find a spring clamp that fits (don't know your size tubing) you can always use an Oeitker clamp (1 or 2 ear will work). Of course, this is more of a permanent solution unless you figure out how it can be "removed" and "reused".

Good luck and happy brewing

 

[ArcLight]

I have identified a part of my process that is hurting my final product.

I can never seem to get a good seal on my auto siphon where is connects to the tubing. Every time I use it I get a bit of air into the line as its running.

Are there any tricks for sealing that up? I have debated caulking it with silicone, but that seems extreme.

Thanks for any help!

1 - heat up the tubing by running it under very hot water. Do not expose the auto-siphon to very hot water. The tubing will more easily fit over the elbow.

2 - check to make sure you don't have a hair line crack in the wall of the auto siphon.

 

[govner1]

1 - heat up the tubing by running it under very hot water. Do not expose the auto-siphon to very hot water. The tubing will more easily fit over the elbow.

2 - check to make sure you don't have a hair line crack in the wall of the auto siphon.

^^^^This, although I think you'll be fine if you get the tubing on an inch or so. Also, should you need to replace the tubing, cut it off rather than trying to pull it off. Otherwise you'll break off the auto siphon cane.

 

[flars]

The best way to get a good seal is to use tubing that is one-sixteenth inch less, inside diameter, than the size of the auto siphon. A three-eighths inch auto siphon would use five-sixteenths inch, inside diameter, tubing.

The tubing can also become oval with use. Occasionally cutting one inch off the end will fix a leak problem.

 

[aprichman]

I had the same problem with my autosiphon. Tiny bubbles would form in the tubing even when the tip was completely submerged in liquid. It ended up my hose wasn't on far enough. I fixed the problem by removing the vinyl tubing and dipping it in ~200F water for 3-4 seconds and jammed it on as far as I could. The hose is probably 3/4" up the autosiphon. No more bubbles. I've left my vinyl tubing on since I got that good mount, it's probably been 7 months and about time to replace everything!

 

[Bobby_M]

flars has the right answer.

 

[desabat]

Interesting suggestion about the smaller sized tubing I'll have to try it next time i replace my tubing.

I've had good results using clamps and playing with the position of the siphon. Keep the siphon straight and make sure the entire tubing is filled with beer. Usually if you let the siphon sit in the fermenter while its sucking up beer it will be tilted forward and youll notice the siphon delivering beer through the tubing unevenly. You want your siphon straight maybe even tilted a little bit backwards, just until the entire tubing is filled with beer being transferred. Once the tube is full I see no bubbles.

 

[ntculenuf]

I had this problem and noticed a small crack in the cane by the bend, barely noticeable

 

[ncbrewer]

A cable tie over the tube connection will stop the leak - I pull it tight with pliers. You can cut this off when finished and remove the tube for cleaning.