Gas tube too big?

[thirstymug]

Hi guys. So... I'm rebuilding a firestone IV keg I got and well it had a plastic gas dip tube that was pretty well worn, so when I ordered the new gaskets and poppets I got a new stainless gas tube. Well the dang thing is too big to fit in the keg. ( I know, thats what she said). Its just barley bigger than the old one.

I'm thinking of just drilling out the keg so the new stainless tube fits. Hell I really didnt see any other styles of gas tube available so I guess I dont have another option. Any thoughts on this? I really dont like the looks of the old tube.

Also I guess it was the guy I bought the keg from but it seems like he cut the beer out tube so its not about 2 1/2 inches off the bottom. Its a straight style tube and it seems like it will leave a ton of beer behind. I will probably get a new tube the next time I order a kit but I hate to have to spend 20 bucks just to get a few more inches ( I know, I know) I'm thinking of slipping on a piece of the line tubing to make up the difference till I get a replacement. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks guys.

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

So, I too have some of the Firestone Challenger VIs that I purchased from Keg Connection. Some of them do have a shorter out dip tube, and many times that tube is straight rather than angled toward the center. Also, the plastic gas tubes are available from CHI Company (they can be found on their website under the keg parts section), I have yet to order them, but hey are on my needed list.

I have drilled out one of my kegs that had the plastic tube, and replaced it with a SS tube, but it still isn't quite right (it works, but I am not satisfied with it), so I wouldn't recommend drilling it out.

I have heard that you can take a standard SS gas tube, and just shorten it with a pipe cutter to the point that it fits flush.

Personally, I am going to just purchase a good quantity of the plastic tubes from CHI Co. they are only a couple bucks each, and if yours are the red or orange colored plastic type like mine, who knows how long they have been in there (many years I suppose). I'm sure that a new plastic dip tube will last many years with proper care and maintenance. The $2+ bucks they cost will save me some grief, and having to clean the metal shavings, and cutting oil out of my kegs.

Cheers!

 

[thirstymug]

So, I too have some of the Firestone Challenger VIs that I purchased from Keg Connection. Some of them do have a shorter out dip tube, and many times that tube is straight rather than angled toward the center. Also, the plastic gas tubes are available from CHI Company (they can be found on their website under the keg parts section), I have yet to order them, but hey are on my needed list.

I have drilled out one of my kegs that had the plastic tube, and replaced it with a SS tube, but it still isn't quite right (it works, but I am not satisfied with it), so I wouldn't recommend drilling it out.

I have heard that you can take a standard SS gas tube, and just shorten it with a pipe cutter to the point that it fits flush.

Personally, I am going to just purchase a good quantity of the plastic tubes from CHI Co. they are only a couple bucks each, and if yours are the red or orange colored plastic type like mine, who knows how long they have been in there (many years I suppose). I'm sure that a new plastic dip tube will last many years with proper care and maintenance. The $2+ bucks they cost will save me some grief, and having to clean the metal shavings, and cutting oil out of my kegs.

Cheers!

Thanks for the tip! Man I couldnt find them for the life of me.

 

[DeafSmith]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/where-find-those-orange-plastic-gas-tubes-cornies-319519/

 

[Houdini]

I have the same type of keg with the same issue. After doing much research I decided against drilling the hole bigger (people who did it said they'd never go through that again).

So my options were to either buy another plastic dip tube or simply buy a normal SS one and cut it down with a pipe cutter (both mentioned above). I decided to buy and cut a SS tube and I've been quite happy with the results. Works perfectly and I will never have to worry about replacing it again.