FastFerment conical fermenter??????

[barneyfife]

I CANNOT get my thermowell to seal. I have taken it off, put seal tape on in a clockwise direction, and put it back in like 5 times now. I still get water dripping out. Any advise, or should I just return this thing and try to get a new one?

I had mine leak before also. What i did is stretch a keg post "O" ring over the thermowell and tighten her up. Hasnt leaked in a year.

barney

PS: put the tape on the thermowell threads counter clockwise

 

[Brewmegoodbeer]

I will try to keg post O ring and see what happens! Im assuming you put it to where it seals on the outside of the vessel? Per the fastferment videos, and info on how to use thread tape, I think clockwise is the direction you wrap because you are tightening the fitting clockwise when screwing it on. Thanks!

 

[barneyfife]

I will try to keg post O ring and see what happens! Im assuming you put it to where it seals on the outside of the vessel? Per the fastferment videos, and info on how to use thread tape, I think clockwise is the direction you wrap because you are tightening the fitting clockwise when screwing it on. Thanks!

Yes, you put it on the outside of the vessel. If you wind the tape on clockwise, then thread it in clockwise, it will have a tendency to unravel the tape off of the thermowell. If put on counter clockwise, it will stay on the thermowell and will not unravel.

Might not be explaining myself properly, but give it a try

Also, i remember i had to do a little sanding on the outside where the thermowell is. It was a little rough around the edges.

Barney

 

[TorMag]

Ok, went to dump my trub today and found I have over tightened my collection ball. Anybody got any good ideas for helping to get it off?

Thanks

 

[barneyfife]

Ok, went to dump my trub today and found I have over tightened my collection ball. Anybody got any good ideas for helping to get it off?

Thanks

Open valve, then loosen,tighten valve. If not, water pump pliers, carefully

 

[Fast_Rack]

Hello Brewmegoodbeer - have you got everything you need sorted? If not, hit us up at [email protected] with any questions.
Have a great weekend!
Jes

 

[CA_Mouse]

Ok, went to dump my trub today and found I have over tightened my collection ball. Anybody got any good ideas for helping to get it off?

Thanks

I had one get stuck and used a strap wrench that I got from Harbor Freight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-pc-rubber-strap-wrench-set-69373.html

 

[Brewmegoodbeer]

Hello Brewmegoodbeer - have you got everything you need sorted? If not, hit us up at [email protected] with any questions.
Have a great weekend!
Jes

Hey Jes,

I have actually been talking to you via email regarding the thermowell leak. Thank you for your wonderful customer service! I am looking forward to hearing back from you soon.

Caleb Hendershott

 

[TorMag]

I had one get stuck and used a strap wrench that I got from Harbor Freight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-pc-rubber-strap-wrench-set-69373.html

That is exactly what I did, came off easily with the strap wrench.

 

[M0KCE]

That is exactly what I did, came off easily with the strap wrench.

I'm relived now, I was worried that you may never get your ball off.

 

[TorMag]

I'm relived now, I was worried that you may never get your ball off.

That's what she said.

 

[pocketmon]

Is everyone happy with the collection ball?

It's good to have it for yeast collection, but it together with the valve adds too much length.

I am thinking about using a 1" elbow fitting to make it fit in my mini fridge. Like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XEKQK8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

How do you think? Any reason it won't work?

 

[CA_Mouse]

Is everyone happy with the collection ball?

It's good to have it for yeast collection, but it together with the valve adds too much length.

I am thinking about using a 1" elbow fitting to make it fit in my mini fridge. Like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XEKQK8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

How do you think? Any reason it won't work?

Are you not interested in yeast collection? If not, I would guess that would be acceptable to work around it.

 

[pocketmon]

Are you not interested in yeast collection? If not, I would guess that would be acceptable to work around it.

The collection ball definitely makes yeast collection easier, but yeast collection should be possible with the valve, like most conical fermenter.

I forget to mention that I am inspired by this setup. not FF though.
http://www.beerborg.com/index/2015/07/brewdemon-big-demon-conical-fermenter-first-impressions/

 

[M0KCE]

I'm just speculating here, but I think that 90 degree elbow is going to be the pinch point and your collection ball won't do much for you.

 

[ATLbeerdude]

My only complaint with the ball is when you take it off, if there is yeast or trub in the vessel that hasn't settled in to the ball, it oozes out and gets on the valve and has to be cleaned. I boiled some water, let it cool and submerged the valve in and out of the water until it looked clean. After that, I wiped it with a paper towel, sprayed it with some star san and reattached the ball. Anyone else experience this? Is there a better way to do it? Granted, I should probably do a better job of filtering when transferring to the vessel but it is what it is.

I had the same thing happen with taking the ball off. I opened the valve a little bit, loosened the ball a half turn, closed the valve and the ball was easily removed.

 

[ElmCityWobblyPops]

Have never had an issue with the ball at all. Collecting yeast, putting it on, or taking it off. Been through probably 8-10 batches with it, and completely happy with it.

 

[kaffeenjunkie]

My only complaint with the ball is when you take it off, if there is yeast or trub in the vessel that hasn't settled in to the ball, it oozes out and gets on the valve and has to be cleaned. I boiled some water, let it cool and submerged the valve in and out of the water until it looked clean. After that, I wiped it with a paper towel, sprayed it with some star san and reattached the ball. Anyone else experience this? Is there a better way to do it? Granted, I should probably do a better job of filtering when transferring to the vessel but it is what it is.

I had the same thing happen with taking the ball off. I opened the valve a little bit, loosened the ball a half turn, closed the valve and the ball was easily removed.

I remove the ball at about ten days, empty, reattach and open the valve. This seems dislodge most everything left in the fermenter and it moves down into the collection ball. I understand that the second batch of yeast that falls into the collection ball is the one you want to save. I could care less about collecting yeast, I make large starters and reserve from there.

For cleaning the ball valve: You can dis-assemble the ball valve by removing the red handle and using the raised red squares in the corresponding holes on the bottom.

 

[ElmCityWobblyPops]

My only complaint with the ball is when you take it off, if there is yeast or trub in the vessel that hasn't settled in to the ball, it oozes out and gets on the valve and has to be cleaned.

How would it ooze out if the valve is closed? I suppose the small space from the valve to the ball, but there isn't much space there. I have had trub over fill the ball and get stuck up in the fermentor. Empty the ball, blow the air back up through, and while it is conditioning in secondary either to clear, or dry hop, the rest of it falls down into the ball. Never had anything ooze out.

I always put a plastic plate under the ball anyway, just in case there area any leaks.

As far as cleaning it, I clean the FF with Oxyclean. Scoop of oxy, fill up the FF with hot water and let it sit over night. Before dumping the oxy solution out of it, I work the valve back and forth about a dozen times....have never needed to take the valve off or take it apart and clean it.

Rinse well with water when done, ready for the next brew.

 

[kaffeenjunkie]

How would it ooze out if the valve is closed?.

I think he is referring to the small amount of trub that might be below the ball, after it is closed. I just wipe with a paper towel and spray it with starsan before attaching the ball again.

I use the the same oxy method for cleaning or I put it on my keg cleaner. Letting it soak overnight works really well. I never use more than my hand to "scrub" with and that is pretty minimal.

I take my valve apart about every ten batches just for my own peace of mind. At about the one year mark, I completely took i everything off cleaned and reassembled.

 

[pocketmon]

I'm just speculating here, but I think that 90 degree elbow is going to be the pinch point and your collection ball won't do much for you.

I found a cheap freezer on CL, so the elbow plan is canceled. After all, the collection ball is one of the biggest selling points of FF.
have to make it fermenting chamber while waiting for the stainless thermowell.
Can't wait to using it!

 

[Brewmegoodbeer]

What size is the thermowell?? I am interested in getting a stainless thermowell, but don't want to buy the wrong size (I think the brass one is 5/8"?) Anyone find a decent thermowell online that worked?

 

[Brewmegoodbeer]

Another question about the thermowell. How tight do you have to screw it in? Is hand tight sufficient to make a seal, or do you have to take a wrench to it and get every thread into the wall of the fermenter?

 

[pshankstar]

Hand tight on the thermowell. Never had any issues except when it didn't put it in straight. But I was lucky I didn't strip the treads.

 

[augiedoggy]

I found a cheap freezer on CL, so the elbow plan is canceled. After all, the collection ball is one of the biggest selling points of FF.
have to make it fermenting chamber while waiting for the stainless thermowell.
Can't wait to using it!

I use 2 elbows on my stainless conicals with a jaybird canning jar collection jar ot move it offset out past the ledge it sits on.... yeast finds its way down there without issues...

On my FF the yeast tends to stick to the sidewalls and not drop as it is so I only use it when my other 3 conicals are full. I did add stainless camlocks though along with a stainless valve when the cheap plastic one cracked on me after first use.
I also works to to remove the collection ball and easily add a drain line for keg filling.

 

[Dfitz]

The problem I've had with my FF is that trub settles and clogs the ball. I empty it a couple times and by the time I crash cool the trub gathers on the walls and won't knock loose to settle into the ball. I've tried shaking it down, tapping the fermenter walls with a screwdriver handle and nothing seems to work. When I Try to drain the fermenter, now matter how slow I drain the trub drains into the keg.

I use sankes but I bought a couple ball locks to use as bright tanks to try to elevate the problem.

 

[pocketmon]

What size is the thermowell?? I am interested in getting a stainless thermowell, but don't want to buy the wrong size (I think the brass one is 5/8"?) Anyone find a decent thermowell online that worked?

Not yet receiving the theermowell. It is 1/2" NPT.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=478906&page=41

I confirmed it by checking the brass one.

 

[pocketmon]

I use 2 elbows on my stainless conicals with a jaybird canning jar collection jar ot move it offset out past the ledge it sits on.... yeast finds its way down there without issues...

On my FF the yeast tends to stick to the sidewalls and not drop as it is so I only use it when my other 3 conicals are full. I did add stainless camlocks though along with a stainless valve when the cheap plastic one cracked on me after first use.
I also works to to remove the collection ball and easily add a drain line for keg filling.

One concern that I had about using elbow is that it rise the probability to hit the extended arm and crack the plastic neck. Even the weight of the collection ball with wort in it might generate a force toward the neck because of leverage. I believe FF team has considered this to design current FF.

 

[Brewmegoodbeer]

Just bought a stainless steel thermowell on Ebay for $4.49 with free shipping! Here is the link
http://www.ebay.com/p/stainless-ste...27458779&ul_noapp=true,true&chn=ps&lpid=82,82

 

[TorMag]

Nevermind