Did I keg my beer right?

[doug293cz]

Also, are most of u filling the keg to the absolute top so it is just about overflowing? I am always concerned about the co2 tank taking in water when pressurizing. Just curious how high is too high? Or doesnt it matter?

There are two things that limit the amount of beer you should put in a keg:

1. Keep the beer level below the gas dip tube to avoid any possibility of beer getting pushed back into the regulator, which can happen if the pressure in the keg ever exceeds the pressure set by the regulator. A properly functioning check valve can also prevent this from happening, but check valves can get stuck open, or otherwise malfunction. You can shorten the gas dip tubes if you wish.
   
2. Keep the beer level at or below the top of the cylindrical portion of the keg. If the beer level gets up into the curved top, then you will affect (slow down) the rate of carbonation, since the rate depends on the exposed surface area of the beer.

Brew on

 

[Robert65]

I fill the purged keg through the liquid side, with a picnic tap (or other blowoff arrangement to bleed pressure) on the gas side (which tube is trimmed as noted earlier.) When beer starts to exit the gas port, I tilt the keg to also expel the bit of gas trapped under the dome of the lid, at which point the keg is absolutely filled, and I stop the fill. Then I put gas on the gas side, and dispense a pint or so in the normal way through the liquid side. This way I know the keg contains nothing but beer and CO2, and I know exactly how much headspace I have.

 

[IslandLizard]

Also, are most of u filling the keg to the absolute top so it is just about overflowing? I am always concerned about the co2 tank taking in water when pressurizing. Just curious how high is too high? Or doesnt it matter?

You mean when filling it with water or Starsan to prepurge?
Yes, in a similar way as @Robert65 described when filling with beer, tilting at the end. If you don't push the Starsan from another keg, there are other ways to fill those last few ounces.

I also push out a pint and purge that small headspace a few times before pushing out the rest. Just in case it wasn't filled quite full, and some air was trapped in the headspace. Much easier and better to purge a pint than anything larger.

 

[sbsmann]

You mean when filling it with water or Starsan to prepurge?
Yes, in a similar way as @Robert65 described when filling with beer, tilting at the end. If you don't push the Starsan from another keg, there are other ways to fill those last few ounces.

I also push out a pint and purge that small headspace a few times before pushing out the rest. Just in case it wasn't filled quite full, and some air was trapped in the headspace. Much easier and better to purge a pint than anything larger.

Yes, when filling the keg with starsan to purge. I assume the goal is to fill the keg 100%, but I would think when u hook up the co2 the water could come back into the regulator when the keg is 100% full (even with cut-off co2 tubes)?

 

[IslandLizard]

Yes, when filling the keg with starsan to purge. I assume the goal is to fill the keg 100%, but I would think when u hook up the co2 the water could come back into the regulator when the keg is 100% full (even with cut-off co2 tubes)?

It should not if there's pressure on the gas QD before you attach it. You may hear a little bubbling from CO2 pushing in, especially if there is a little air pocket left. The domed lid is difficult to fill from underneath. Even pulling the PRV when pushing in the last few ounces does not totally eliminate air, as the bottom of the PRV is below the top of the lid. Tilting, rocking seems to help. But, that's why I purge 5x at 30 psi after pushing the first pint out.

 

[william_shakes_beer]

To the OP:

Your process sounds solid. A couple things you left out, but I assume you did:

1. Apply Keg lube to all the rubber seals
2. Verify the poppet insert and spring are in place (don't ask me how I know this)

FYI, I don't do nearly as much to clean and fill my kegs as the bretheren above. When I have a bucket of starsan available (say on brew day) I'll rinse out an empty keg and close it up with a shot of co2 to pressurize the seals. I try to do this within a couple weeks of kicking the keg. On kegging day I'll completely disassemble the keg, running a brush through the dip tubes and rinsing all the parts off with starsan. Apply keg lube to all the rubber seals, then fill, pressurize and store until I have a slot in the kegerator to begin carbing with co2. On fill day I siphon, close the lid, apply co2 and purge the headspace a couple times.