Picked up my new conical today April 16, and just got it hanging on the wall with pbw in it.
The thermowell seems to me to be a weak point. After reinstalling 3 times with lots of teflon tape each time, it still leaked. Was really nervous tightening it up, because of the plastic threads. After taking it apart yet again, there were ridges of plastic on the outside of the thermowell orifice, which wasnt allowing the thermowell to tighten properly. After sanding down the ridges, and cranking down yet again, finally got it to seal
Seems to be a quality control issue. It is one of the older ones, because doesnt have the newer silicone gasket. Will hopefully put a brew in it by midweek to check seal on top lid. Have already sanded the top down to get rid of the ridges. So, everyone, check the thermowell orifice on the outside for smoothness,before inserting thermowell. Removing and tightening this thermowell I think might be an issue for some people. Was wincing every time I tightened it "just a little more".
Barney
Update:April 17
Left it overnight, and checked this morning "SOB", it is still weeping very slightly. Tried tightening as much as i dare, no go. (I was a commercial transport mechanic for 35 years, so I know how **** like this works). So, I am thinking, what this needs is some kind of gasket/O ring on the thermowell. so I stretched a keg post rubber "O" ring over the themowell, and tightened it in, (i didnt use teflon tape, cause just wanted to see if the O ring would help some). 2 hours later, still good.
So I am thinking that what kind of fix might help this,is, there maybe should be some type of "land" where a rubber O ring would sit nicely in the orifice, and then the thermowell tightened down on it. I am sure it would prevent any type of leak from happening. The instructions say to "remove thermowell every 6 months to clean". I aint gonna go through this **** every time I wanna clean it.
If the rubber O ring continues to hold, I am not going to remove it to add teflon tape. That SOB is gonna stay in there.
Will update tomorrow to confirm if still holding.
I bought 2 fermenters, and have not tested the other one yet, but the thermowell orifice looks much cleaner than the one I am having problems with.
I really like the idea of this, so I am gonna make this work one way or another.
Barney
Update:April 18
Thermowell still holding with keg post O ring
Installed the second fermenter yesterday, and didnt even bother trying the teflon tape on the thermowell and just put another keg post O ring on, and it is still holding 24 hrs later. Happy with the way things worked out, not just gotta get some brew in it.
The first fermenter's lid sealed fine, the second one I had to do a little sanding to get it to seal.
Barney