Caps come off too easy

[deafcone]

Never had this issue before but for some reason the bottle caps are pretty easy to pop off the bottles. Don't know if it's the new capper, caps, or bottles. Have used Sierra Nevada bottles in past and this wasn't an issue but don't know if they changed things.
The beer carbonates but just caps pop off really easy. Also seems no co2 bubbles are in beer even though it has good head on it wonder if this is becaus of the cap issue.

 

[ncbrewer]

I have a few Sierra Nevada bottles. Haven't had a problem with them, but I have noticed that they're a little different - they hang up a little in my bench capper. But if you just got a new capper, my money would be on that being the real difference. I had a wing capper that just wasn't quite right - 3 or 4 per case wouldn't seal or would break.

 

[flars]

Three days ago I noticed the same thing, easy to remove caps. Beer was carbonated okay, but seemed to be a little less than usual. That could have been a priming problem though.

I bottled a beer yesterday, gave each bottle cap a little extra pressure after the cap snugged down. It will be two weeks before I check carbonation and cap tightness.

I'll buy a new bell for my bench capper if the caps seem to come off to easy on this latest batch. Bench capper bell is about eight years old anyway.

 

[unionrdr]

The bell in the cappers do indeed wear out over time & usage. I gave my Red Barron wing capper to a member that couldn't afford more than the bell. They're only a couple bucks. Anyway, what seemed to happen, in my case, was that the bell stretched out a bit. This let some of the caps stay just that tiny bit loose. I'd open a bottle, realizing it seemed a hair " too easy"...then that oxidized, damp, moldy basement cardboard smell hit my nose. And, of course, like any intrepid, devil-may-care brewing fool, I had to taste it! GAAAGYERPWREEEEETCH! Oh, my jebuz, that's a taste you'll never forget! It appears to let the Co2 leak out, & at some point, outside air in...with the nasties contained therein. Then it not only looses some amount of carbonation, but you can also get that....yuuuk!...

 

[deafcone]

Bought different caps and tried with the short bottles and also with normal size 12 oz bottles. The normal size bottles were fine, the short bottles still come off too easy so the caps wasn't the issue. Now I need to replace all the short bottles.

 

[RM-MN]

Bought different caps and tried with the short bottles and also with normal size 12 oz bottles. The normal size bottles were fine, the short bottles still come off too easy so the caps wasn't the issue. Now I need to replace all the short bottles.

Before you throw out all the short bottles, check the bell on your capper and see if it is screwed on all the way. You may be able to make some adjustment to the bell to cap these bottles. Mine will cap nearly any beer bottle well.:rockin:

 

[dsaavedra]

Bought different caps and tried with the short bottles and also with normal size 12 oz bottles. The normal size bottles were fine, the short bottles still come off too easy so the caps wasn't the issue. Now I need to replace all the short bottles.

I know everyone swears by Sierra Nevada bottles but I always get a better seal on my regular longneck 12oz bottles. I plan on donating a couple cases of SN bottles I've saved up to the LHBS to give away.

 

[deafcone]

I know everyone swears by Sierra Nevada bottles but I always get a better seal on my regular longneck 12oz bottles. I plan on donating a couple cases of SN bottles I've saved up to the LHBS to give away.

I use to use the short bottles all the time and never had an issue. Been 3 years since I brewed so bought all new equipment. Either they changed the bottles a little or the capper isnt short bottle compatible. I did try screwing the bell on tighter and it didn't move. Going to buy bottles to bottle my next batch but might try picking up a different capper on Craigslist too to see if that makes a difference.

 

[flars]

Might be risky going to Craigslist for a better capper. CL sales may be for poorly performing equipment.

 

[deafcone]

Bought new capper at bed bath and beyond. Works on short and longnecks.

 

[srob18]

Bought different caps and tried with the short bottles and also with normal size 12 oz bottles. The normal size bottles were fine, the short bottles still come off too easy so the caps wasn't the issue. Now I need to replace all the short bottles.

I've had this issue with short bottles, specifically Alaskan Ale Bottles. I notices that when i usually bottle the caps kind of have a slight indent but this didnt happen to these bottles. i moved away from them and haven't had carbing issues since

 

[unionrdr]

Wing cappers tend to be that way with short-neck bottles. I traded them or gave'em away. Got regular long necks & a super agata bench capper. End of problem.

 

[skitter]

On thing I have noticed, on the Sierra Navada Pale Ale bottles they have the standard 1/2" deep rim under the ring used for cap seizure, on the Summerfest bottles the rim is very short, under 1/4", this gave me quite a bit of difficulty using a wing capper to get the caps on all the way as the capper wanted to bottom out before the seal was complete. The capper wasn't able to grip low enough on the bottle to give the right about of leverage.

 

[unionrdr]

Because the shorter neck tapers out quicker. Too wide to close all the way.

 

[flars]

Three days ago I noticed the same thing, easy to remove caps. Beer was carbonated okay, but seemed to be a little less than usual. That could have been a priming problem though.

I bottled a beer yesterday, gave each bottle cap a little extra pressure after the cap snugged down. It will be two weeks before I check carbonation and cap tightness.

I'll buy a new bell for my bench capper if the caps seem to come off to easy on this latest batch. Bench capper bell is about eight years old anyway.

I opened a dry Irish stout yesterday, bottled the end of January. Cap came off very easily. Beer was almost completely flat. Getting the new bell for the bench capper today.

 

[slym2none]

I have an issue using my wing-capper on bottles like DogfishHead & the Boulevard Tank 7 series. It just feels... hinky when I use it, and binds up a little. I feel like I am gonna break one when capping them. I do not use them anymore.

Stubbies like SN and Lagunitas, no problem.

 

[unionrdr]

That's weird. I never had a problem with either of those with both cappers. but I definitely love my super agata bench capper. No problems with it.

 

[ncbrewer]

Three days ago I noticed the same thing, easy to remove caps. Beer was carbonated okay, but seemed to be a little less than usual. That could have been a priming problem though.

I bottled a beer yesterday, gave each bottle cap a little extra pressure after the cap snugged down. It will be two weeks before I check carbonation and cap tightness.

I'll buy a new bell for my bench capper if the caps seem to come off to easy on this latest batch. Bench capper bell is about eight years old anyway.

I just decided the bell (or cup) is responsible for some flat/stale beer I'm getting. I ordered a relplacement cup, but it was really hard to find one. This link is the one I ordered - might help if you're having trouble: http://www.thegrape.net/browse.cfm/crimping-cup-26-mm/4,12841.html

 

[ncbrewer]

flars: I've used my capper on about 45 5-gallon batches - cup seems to be worn out. How many batches has yours been used for? I'm wondering if it's a standard wear item.

 

[beergolf]

It is weird that some are talking about wearing out the bells. I have the original capper that I got when 8 started and have bottled well over 400 cases of beer with it and it works fine.

Also no problem with the Sierra Nevada bottles.

 

[flars]

flars: I've used my capper on about 45 5-gallon batches - cup seems to be worn out. How many batches has yours been used for? I'm wondering if it's a standard wear item.

Not sure how many cases I've bottled since I first bought it. Might be about 300. Very poor notes in the original years. I just feel that all equipment will eventually wear out. I will try a new bell to rule that piece of equipment as a possible problem with carbonation level.

I was given some champagne bottles which have a large lip that sticks inside the bell. I'll use the original bell to cap these bottles and hope they hold.

 

[beergolf]

Not sure how many cases I've bottled since I first bought it. Might be about 300. Very poor notes in the original years. I just feel that all equipment will eventually wear out. I will try a new bell to rule that piece of equipment as a possible problem with carbonation level.

I was given some champagne bottles which have a large lip that sticks inside the bell. I'll use the original bell to cap these bottles and hope they hold.

Yes champagne bottles may have a bigger lip. But usually the caps just won't even fit on them. The necks are larger, so if you have a Red Baron Capper you need to pull the plate that grabs the neck and turn it around to the bigger size. Then there are no issues. I bottle a lot in cappable Belgian bottles and this works with them.

 

[flars]

Yes champagne bottles may have a bigger lip. But usually the caps just won't even fit on them. The necks are larger, so if you have a Red Baron Capper you need to pull the plate that grabs the neck and turn it around to the bigger size. Then there are no issues. I bottle a lot in cappable Belgian bottles and this works with them.

I think these bottles were Corbel. Labels were removed without looking to closely. The 26 mm crown caps do seem to fit. At least no bubbles with well shaken Starsan solution under water. Probably do a pressure test with yeast in a sugar solution before I use them. They would be just for the novelty with a bubbly saison.

edit: I'm using the Super Agata bench capper.

 

[casey012293]

Has anyone tried reusing Cooks bottles? The European caps are definitely way too big but in order to get the Standard size to fit, I almost have to stretch them out over the top first. I'm not sure if there is some between size or what...

 

[unionrdr]

That's why I used the plastic stoppers with the Cook's bottles ages ago when bottling my sparkling apple jack/cider. It tasted & performed about the same as an Asti, so they had to be sealed up tight for the one-year aging they went through.