Ball keg stuck - what do I do?

[Danika]

I've been brewing for a few years, but just starting kegging, and am on my third keg. I was setting it up tonight in the fridge, and as I connected the beer line onto the keg, the ball lock got stuck - it won't go all the way down, or come off. The gas ball lock connected fine.

Now, while reassembling the keg after putting new o-rings on it, I asked my boyfriend which port was the input and which was the output, as he had taken it apart, and he said there's no way it would matter. Does it matter?

Either way, how do I get the ball lock either on or off? Especially in a way that won't compromise my chocolate coffee porter that I am very excited to try.

 

[Yooper]

Oh, it matters! They are actually different, and while sometimes a "wrong" one will fit, it'll be a bitch getting it off!

The gas post is the one with the "notches" on the bottom. Look carefully, so you can see which is which and not make the same mistake again. When you clean the kegs, be extra careful not to mix them up. I usually keep the diptube with the posts and poppits, and the long one is on the left with all its parts, while the short one is on the right with its parts. Trust me, I learned the hard way, too!

As for getting it off, the only thing that will work is brute strength. Get a pliers to grab it with, and a hammer to smack the pliers with and pull for all you're worth. It'll come off but it wont' be easy.

 

[Danika]

Alright, thanks.

So, after I remove this ball lock with my huge muscles, then I have to remove and swap the two ball locks, and everything should be fine?

 

[Yooper]

Alright, thanks.

So, after I remove this ball lock with my huge muscles, then I have to remove and swap the two ball locks, and everything should be fine?

I assume that you only took apart one keg at a time, so that should work. The post with the notches is the "gas" post, and the gray disconnect fits it. It's marked "in" on the keg. The other one is the liquid post and the black disconnect fits it.

To make it simple in my mind, Gray= Gas and Black = Beer. The notched post is always the gas post.