FastFerment conical fermenter??????

[Flyboypr77]

Yea i can't figure it out either, i know i didn't tighten it too much and i didn't drop or bang it on anything. Sucks..

 

[gusd]

Brews,
Question.... anyone run into this issue? closed valve to clean out CB... cleaned and reinstalled, open valve and nothing drains? any suggestions on how to unclog?

 

[DrWill]

Brews,

Question.... anyone run into this issue? closed valve to clean out CB... cleaned and reinstalled, open valve and nothing drains? any suggestions on how to unclog?

Sounds like you've just got some compacted yeast. Usually a good thwap with the heel of your hand will break it up enough to drain but if more drastic measures are needed you could use a piece of sanitised tubing or a sanitised (plastic) spoon, although I would definitely prefer the former; scratching is still a risk. Just use it to break the clump up a little and you'll be right as rain.

 

[jbb3]

Brews,
Question.... anyone run into this issue? closed valve to clean out CB... cleaned and reinstalled, open valve and nothing drains? any suggestions on how to unclog?

I've had the same situation on a few batches. Give it a few days and the dam will begin to break. All you need is time a gravity. Gravity always wins...

 

[jrodmfish]

Brews,
Question.... anyone run into this issue? closed valve to clean out CB... cleaned and reinstalled, open valve and nothing drains? any suggestions on how to unclog?

I have this problem often. I use WLP007 on quite a few beers and that yeast compacts like crazy every time. I've found that I can drain the compacted yeast quickly and easily by opening the valve without the collection ball attached. Without the collection ball, the yeast starts flowing immediately and extrudes out in plugs.

I collect the yeast into a pitcher until it starts to flow more quickly. Just as soon as it looks like the flood gates are about to open, I quickly shut the valve and attach my collection ball to allow the beer to continue conditioning.

 

[CTS]

How is everyone using the 2 new foam gaskets in the lid? Use one or both at once? Or one with the old silicon gasket.

 

[jbb3]

How is everyone using the 2 new foam gaskets in the lid? Use one or both at once? Or one with the old silicon gasket.

The new gaskets are soft and grippy which makes unscrewing the lid difficult. I place the new soft gasket in the lip first then put the old firm gasket on top of it. Makes unscrewing the lid easier.

 

[Knightmare1]

Just received my conical. I have lid issues like so many on this thread (bad seal). Thought from reading that this had been resolved in Manufacture process. However, I received a rubber gasket that is fairly thick but not a foam one mentioned above. Should I try to get foam gasket. Rubber one wants to fall in the fermenter if not super careful.
I wrapped with tape and went for it, but no action on the vent valve and its been 15 hours at 50 degrees(lager). Could it be that ferment hasn't started? Or Im I dealing with leaky lid syndrome.
I am a newbie, 2nd batch, first lager.
thanks

 

[pshankstar]

Just received my conical. I have lid issues like so many on this thread (bad seal). Thought from reading that this had been resolved in Manufacture process. However, I received a rubber gasket that is fairly thick but not a foam one mentioned above. Should I try to get foam gasket. Rubber one wants to fall in the fermenter if not super careful.
I wrapped with tape and went for it, but no action on the vent valve and its been 15 hours at 50 degrees(lager). Could it be that ferment hasn't started? Or Im I dealing with leaky lid syndrome.
I am a newbie, 2nd batch, first lager.
thanks

I'm not sure where you purchased yours from but I purchased mine from Northern Brewer. I contacted them about my silicone gasket that kept falling into the fermenter when I would take the lid off or try to place it on. They mentioned that there should have been a foam gasket too that is placed between the silicone one and the lid to help keep it in place and not fall out. Once they figured that out they shipped me a few of the foam ones. I have not brewed since then but it definitely seems to hold the silicone one in place a lot better.

With that being said, I would reach out to the place you purchased it from. Or reach out to FastBrewing directly. Good luck!

 

[Knightmare1]

Thanks, pshankstar.
will track down foam gasket and fix prior to next use.

 

[CRZ]

I started a lager in my fast fermenter for the first time 3 days ago. I was starting to get concerned because there was no airlock activity, but I can see the yeast in the collection ball increasing in size. I shook the fermenter up and the lid was in fact leaking. I was thinking what I could use for a gasket and I found this.
Silicone airline tubing used for air pumps in fish tanks. It's very flexible and on the cheap side for the length. Here are the pictures, and I have no lid leaks now.
I cut off a piece 1 inch long and cut out 3/16" down the length to join the 2 ends together. I placed the tubing in the lid and cut the appropriate length so the ends fit tight together from the roundness of the lid. I placed it on top of the original gasket and it fits tight enough against the lid threads to stay in place.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1459188642.915297.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1459188662.066474.jpg

 

[CTS]

The new gaskets are soft and grippy which makes unscrewing the lid difficult. I place the new soft gasket in the lip first then put the old firm gasket on top of it. Makes unscrewing the lid easier.

Thanks very much. Will give this a go tomorrow.

On a side note I had nothing but problem with the original gasket falling in, after complaining through emails they sent me some replacements!

 

[DustyBrew]

That is DIY at its best. Thanks for the tip.
Cheers!

 

[Knightmare1]

I started a lager in my fast fermenter for the first time 3 days ago. I was starting to get concerned because there was no airlock activity, but I can see the yeast in the collection ball increasing in size. I shook the fermenter up and the lid was in fact leaking. I was thinking what I could use for a gasket and I found this.
Silicone airline tubing used for air pumps in fish tanks. It's very flexible and on the cheap side for the length. Here are the pictures, and I have no lid leaks now.
I cut off a piece 1 inch long and cut out 3/16" down the length to join the 2 ends together. I placed the tubing in the lid and cut the appropriate length so the ends fit tight together from the roundness of the lid. I placed it on top of the original gasket and it fits tight enough against the lid threads to stay in place.

View attachment 347470View attachment 347471

Used this idea and think it is working well, but when I opened the lid of the fermenter there is virtually no foam on surface of wort. Doesn't seem to be fermenting, however there is a build up of what appears to be yeast in the ball and above a little. Not sure I had a leak in the lid at all. It appears no fermentation occurring.

 

[jbb3]

Used this idea and think it is working well, but when I opened the lid of the fermenter there is virtually no foam on surface of wort. Doesn't seem to be fermenting, however there is a build up of what appears to be yeast in the ball and above a little. Not sure I had a leak in the lid at all. It appears no fermentation occurring.

The seal on the lid is important. It's there to keep the CO2 in the head-space stable and keep creepy crawlys out. But it should not affect fermentation itself. How long ago did you pitch your yeast? What strain and at what temp?

 

[Knightmare1]

The seal on the lid is important. It's there to keep the CO2 in the head-space stable and keep creepy crawlys out. But it should not affect fermentation itself. How long ago did you pitch your yeast? What strain and at what temp?

WYEAST 2035 American Lager. pitched approx. 65 hours ago as of this AM when I last checked the valve for activity. Still none. Put in you seal fix 12 hours prior to that.

 

[AkBrew907]

Kiddo took forever to go down for the night so didn't end up brewing which I guess is good cause I still needed to mount the Fast Fermenter and get things cleaned up and organized before brewing.

Here it is mounted in my stand up freezer. If I position it correctly I should be able to fit another one on the right side and maybe even one of my big mouths on the bottom if I wanted to do a specialty beer that needed a secondary.

 

[Knightmare1]

52 degrees

 

[jbb3]

WYEAST 2035 American Lager. pitched approx. 65 hours ago as of this AM when I last checked the valve for activity. Still none. Put in you seal fix 12 hours prior to that.

Lager yeast is a bottom fermenting yeast but I'm not a lager guy. I would post your issues in the Fermenting & Yeast forum. Maybe someone there can help??

 

[redwing_al]

anyone using the new fastferment jacket for their fastfermenter? be interested in your feedback.

 

[idiotsinc]

Didn't like the temp set up on my FF and wanted to add a sample port so I ordered a stainless steel faucet that they use on beverage jars from Amazon. It fits right into the spot for the thermo well and has 2 sets of silicone washers, one for the inside, one for the out side. Seals perfectly. Then I bought a 12" probe for an inkbird 1000 and inserted it through the top using a 1/4" ID grommet in a 5/16" hole. Haven't attached the inkbird yet but it will be set up with a heating pad on the FF. Nice being able to sample/test and the stainless steel cleans easily. I have also found the inkbird to be more accurate than any thermometer I've bought in the

 

[ElmCityWobblyPops]

Using mine for the first time. Filled it up, place the top on, seem to be cross threading, pulled it off...no gasket. I am assuming it fell in, but would have thought they would have floated, apparently not. Went to the store to get more, they had to order them, so I took one side of a freezer ziplock bag and placed over the mouth, and screwed the lid on. Seemed to work fine, but never any activity in the air lock.

Store got the new gaskets in fairly quick, so popped off the top and replaced the bag with it, put the top back on, feels like it has sealed, but still no airlock activity.

And of course the lid is now hard as hell to get off.

Mine is new enough that it never came with the foam gasket, not really sure how one would get one now.

Still fermenting away as there is lots of foam on the top.

Good so far, all in one, no racking to do various jobs.

Bad, poor seal on the top, and not able to see when fermentation is finished. Probably just something to get used to, but would be great if they had put a 2" hole in the lid, with a piece of clear plastic you could see through to view if fermentation was complete.

BTW, had the guy at our local shop tell me to use Vaseline on the lid gasket to "keep it fresh". I was thinking it is silicon...doesn't really need to be kept "fresh", but seeing now that maybe the Vaseline would help the seal, and make the lid easier to come off. However don't know if I would want that on the inside of the lid, nearest the wort.

 

[CA_Mouse]

Bad, poor seal on the top, and not able to see when fermentation is finished. Probably just something to get used to, but would be great if they had put a 2" hole in the lid, with a piece of clear plastic you could see through to view if fermentation was complete.

That isn't a solid way of telling if fermentation is finished. Think about all the professional brewers with huge stainless steel conicals, they can't look without opening them up. They rely on gravity readings taken from a sample port.

BTW, had the guy at our local shop tell me to use Vaseline on the lid gasket to "keep it fresh". I was thinking it is silicon...doesn't really need to be kept "fresh", but seeing now that maybe the Vaseline would help the seal, and make the lid easier to come off. However don't know if I would want that on the inside of the lid, nearest the wort.

I wouldn't advise anyone to use Vaseline. If anything, I would use keg lube.

 

[pshankstar]

Using mine for the first time. Filled it up, place the top on, seem to be cross threading, pulled it off...no gasket. I am assuming it fell in, but would have thought they would have floated, apparently not. Went to the store to get more, they had to order them, so I took one side of a freezer ziplock bag and placed over the mouth, and screwed the lid on. Seemed to work fine, but never any activity in the air lock.

This drives me nuts. Every time I need to dry hop my beer the gasket is not in the lid. It doesn't float and I have to sanitize something else to fish it out. If this issue didn't exist I would think it was the best plastic conical out there!!! Also no airlock activity either.

Now my father in-law doesn't have this problem. He too has the silicone gasket. The gasket always stays put and he gets airlock activity which tells me his is sealing better than mine. What gives?

 

[ElmCityWobblyPops]

This drives me nuts. Every time I need to dry hop my beer the gasket is not in the lid. It doesn't float and I have to sanitize something else to fish it out. If this issue didn't exist I would think it was the best plastic conical out there!!! Also no airlock activity either.

Now my father in-law doesn't have this problem. He too has the silicone gasket. The gasket always stays put and he gets airlock activity which tells me his is sealing better than mine. What gives?

Not sure. The foam type ones are no longer available since they have switched to the silicon ones. I can't go any tighter....in fact I tried to get the top off (which I will have to in order to put the dry hops in) and it won't budge either. You would think the seal would be fine.

Not that concerned with it, I remember years ago making the canned kits, and all we ever did was just take a garbage bag over the top of the 5gal bucket, and secure it in place with packing tape over the bag, around the bucket.

They all turned out fine, not spoiled or oxidized. Would I do that now? No, but so long as it is well cleaned and sanitized before you put beer in it, you should be good. The CO2 that comes out around the top cover...not going to loose my mind over it.

 

[ElmCityWobblyPops]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ElmCityWobblyPops View Post
Bad, poor seal on the top, and not able to see when fermentation is finished. Probably just something to get used to, but would be great if they had put a 2" hole in the lid, with a piece of clear plastic you could see through to view if fermentation was complete.

That isn't a solid way of telling if fermentation is finished. Think about all the professional brewers with huge stainless steel conicals, they can't look without opening them up. They rely on gravity readings taken from a sample port.

If there is no longer any activity in the fermenter, the yeast is done. If it wasn't done, it would still be giving off CO2, as of course this is a byproduct of the fermentation process. No CO2 being expelled, yeast is finished working.

Plus seeing as this is the first time using it, not really ready to go drilling holes in it just yet for a sample port.

 

[CA_Mouse]

If there is no longer any activity in the fermenter, the yeast is done. If it wasn't done, it would still be giving off CO2, as of course this is a byproduct of the fermentation process. No CO2 being expelled, yeast is finished working.

Plus seeing as this is the first time using it, not really ready to go drilling holes in it just yet for a sample port.

A lack of airlock activity does not mean that the fermentation is done. The *only* way to know is by taking a gravity reading. Look at secondary fermentation using Brettanomyces, very little to no airlock activity, but that yeast will take a beer from 1.008 to 1.002.

 

[ElmCityWobblyPops]

A lack of airlock activity does not mean that the fermentation is done. The *only* way to know is by taking a gravity reading. Look at secondary fermentation using Brettanomyces, very little to no airlock activity, but that yeast will take a beer from 1.008 to 1.002.

Great, but I am just using regular ole 1056.....when there is no more activity in the airlock, have it has been going for a week, and no krausen left and I am looking at the top of the beer. It is pretty much done.

Will I check the gravity reading, yes, but having used this yeast about 2 dozen times, it does the same thing every time. Ferments for 6-7 days, once it stops bubbling, its done.

Now I just have to get the cover off to put in the dry hops...and with as tight as this silicon ring is gripping the cover, that might be a fight.

 

[idiotsinc]

Forgot to mention I also attached a sheet of very fine sandpaper to a piece of glass with spray adhesive and sanded the top of my FF so the lid seals down better.

 

[idiotsinc]

Sorry about the pictures reposting, couldn't remove them.