Chugger pump clogging?

[jodell]

Here is a problem I have faced that I am not sure exactly what is going on..

I have had my chugger pump clog the last 2 (maybe 3) brews I have used it on. I have read everywhere that a chugger should not clog very easily, especially with hop matter, so I am not totally sure what's going on, but I thought I would ask and see if there is anybody who might know.

Let's cover a few bases though:

-I have a Spike 20 gallon kettle, with side dip tube.
-Chugger SS center inlet (I use to have the plastic on, and aside from it being harder to prime, I never had a problem with it)
-For whirlpool hop's, I dump in the hops, kill the heat, wait about 2-3 minutes to give the WPhops a chance to break up, then start recirculating
-I go from kettle, to pump, to CFC, back to kettle for a whirlpool. I know the CFC isn't clogging because I flush it with water with Minimal hop debris coming out.
-I took my chugger pump head off, opened it up, and it was caked with hops.

-Here is the kicker, these are not hop bombs. Yesterday was a pale ale with 6oz total for 12 gallons, 1oz at flameout. the previous one was a scotch ale with 3oz, all at 60 minutes.
- it is not clogging flow 100%, but slowing down flow pretty hard.
-I have used a spider in the past and hate it. Not interested in using it again. I don't like to bag hops up either.
I have used all of this equipment with no problems previously, and if this just happened once I wouldn't frett about it. But twice in a row I wanted to ask

 

[jodell]

Anybody?

 

[ScrewyBrewer]

When cleaning try flushing your CFC and pump with PBRW at 140F for 20 minutes, dump and then flush with clean 140F water twice. I use the same setup as you with a CCFC and Chugger, the only time the impeller ever stuck was when I let wort sit in it a week before using it again.

I do however use a HS with pellets hops, which tend to feel and act like wet sand.

 

[jodell]

I flush it with pbw and water after I use it everytime. When I took it apart yesterday it was just gunked with hop debris

 

[Morrey]

I became frustrated as you have become and went on a mission to resolve this issue w/o a significant loss of hop efficiency. I am bound to lose some hop utilization potential, but the minor loss is worth it to me to prevent clogging issues with my center inlet, top discharge Chugger pump.

1-I began using CTZ CO2 hop extracts for bittering. I can usually add 2 or 3 mL of extract to get 15 - 20 IBU's of bittering potential w/o any vegetal matter. And this extract is amazingly smooth...great stuff.

2-I bought an Arbor Fab 400 micron screen mesh basket that is 8" x 14". I use this for hops and the bigger screen does allow some trub to filter into the wort, but it contains around 75% of the hop material. I place the strainer so the whirlpool jet shoots right into the side of basket. I look into the basket and see the hops spinning in a vortex since proving that the hops are being "stirred". 400 um screen is key...not 300 um.

Since I began this process...not one single trub issue since. My NE IPA's have lots of hops in the kettle so I am very pleased with my results.

 

[jodell]

My issue is that most everybody suggest no hop filter. Spikes website says dump them In, every thread I've read says dump them in. I really hate using filters...i this k they are frustrating to clean, annoying to deal with, and I don't want to use them. If these were pounds of hops and getting clogged i.wouldnt have even bothered asking, but 3 ounces? Shouldn't be an issue

 

[mirthfuldragon]

There has to be something up with your system that is causing the hop matter to concentrate at the pick-up point. You mentioned the side dip tube, so I presume you are pulling in from there and then where is the return line going?

My last batch was a clone of Pliny the Elder - 9 ounces of hops in the boil, with 3.5 ounces at flameout. I had zero issues recirculating. I use a 15g keggle, with the short 1/2 copper pickup tube and a side whirlpool return. There was over an inch of hop sludge left in the kettle after moving it to the fermentor after whirlpool.

 

[jodell]

This is my kettle. Both the diptube and the whirlpool port have the standard spike side diptube

 

[Konadog]

Are you restricting the output of the pump? Is it possible that you are restricting it to much and the clog starts at the valve and backs up into the pump?

 

[mirthfuldragon]

This is my kettle. Both the diptube and the whirlpool port have the standard spike side diptube

So I presume the diptube pickup is from near the middle of the kettle? Then the whirlpool would concentrate all the hop sludge in the middle, about where the pickup would be, so it all gets sucked back in to the pump. That's my thought process anyway. For three ounces of hops to clog a chugger, that's probably almost all the hop matter in the kettle getting sucked in the pump.

Maybe try pulling the pickup tube out entirely for the next batch and see how it goes.

 

[jodell]

I don't restrict it.. I Just start the whirlpool.

I think I am going to add water and a handful of grain as a test and see what happens

 

[jodell]

So I presume the diptube pickup is from near the middle of the kettle? Then the whirlpool would concentrate all the hop sludge in the middle, about where the pickup would be, so it all gets sucked back in to the pump. That's my thought process anyway. For three ounces of hops to clog a chugger, that's probably almost all the hop matter in the kettle getting sucked in the pump.

Maybe try pulling the pickup tube out entirely for the next batch and see how it goes.

Spikes diptubes actually draw the wort from the side. I'll snag a picture of it later

 

[bigdawg86]

Have you considered taking apart your pump head? Its incredibly easy and is really the only way to guarantee there isn't a buildup of gunk. I take mine apart after every brew. Mine clogged the first time I used it (coffee stout with course ground beans) and back flushing helped some, but when I took it apart there was more than expected present. Just my 2 cents.

 

[johnwpowell]

Why don't you open the pump up just to clean and confirm there isn't a dead roach in there or something

 

[jodell]

I have taken apart the pump multiple times

 

[glick]

You said that it's only happened the last two times?... What are you doing differently?

 

[jodell]

Only thing I can think of is I just moved...didnt have the problem before the move.

 

[Bobby_M]

Are you sure it's clogging? You may be losing prime due to cavitation if you're trying to pump unrestricted near boiling temps. You need to put a little backpressure on the pump. If the pump is physically stopping, motor and all, you have a head alignment problem (which would make sense since it started after you moved). You probably bumped the head.

 

[Dcpcooks]

I don't restrict it.. I Just start the whirlpool.

I think I am going to add water and a handful of grain as a test and see what happens

This may be your issue. If your running your pump full sped and then dumping the hops your literally pulling the hops right into your pump.


Try a valve on the pump outlet and slow the flow down. You really only need a little circulation.

I usually add my hops for the last 30 seconds of the boil to break them up. Then I kill the heat connect my hoses and whirlpool. After my whirlpool time is up I drop in a chiller and knock the temp down to 170. Then I push the beer through a plate chiller to the fermentor.

A second thing to check is the location and direction of the whirlpool arm. You can orient it so it pushes trub and hops away from your pick up tube.

 

[jodell]

Are you sure it's clogging? You may be losing prime due to cavitation if you're trying to pump unrestricted near boiling temps. You need to put a little backpressure on the pump. If the pump is physically stopping, motor and all, you have a head alignment problem (which would make sense since it started after you moved). You probably bumped the head.

That makes since. It does not fully stop just slows down alot. I'll give that a go and see how it goes