Grainfather Counterflow Chiller

[redrocker652002]

OK, so I was going to give it a quick cleaning before my next brew and found that the silicone hose that connects to the pump has broken off. I am wondering if anybody has done any modification to make this an easier process the clean? I saw the Youtube video with the quick disconnects, but had trouble following it. Would anybody have a parts list for a weekend warrior to buy and install this stuff? Also, for now, would high temp silicone hose work? I need to check the ID of the hose but want to see what the pro's advise.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Broken Crow]

OK, so I was going to give it a quick cleaning before my next brew and found that the silicone hose that connects to the pump has broken off. I am wondering if anybody has done any modification to make this an easier process the clean? I saw the Youtube video with the quick disconnects, but had trouble following it. Would anybody have a parts list for a weekend warrior to buy and install this stuff? Also, for now, would high temp silicone hose work? I need to check the ID of the hose but want to see what the pro's advise.

Thanks in advance.

Can you post a picture? ...My understanding is that it uses 1/4" BSP... is that male or female?

 

[redrocker652002]

I will do so in a bit. I am running some cleaner thru it now and wanted to make sure the repair I did isn't going to leak. So far so good. I think I need the female quick disconnect to fit on the male end of the chiller hose.

 

[phbern]

FWIW, I found that the GF counterflow chiller was more trouble than it's worth. I can cool faster with an immersion chiller and it's far easier to maintain!

 

[Whisky River]

FWIW, I found that the GF counterflow chiller was more trouble than it's worth. I can cool faster with an immersion chiller and it's far easier to maintain!

Wow that’s impressive. I can one pass chill into the fermenter with the GF CFC. How much faster is your immersion chiller? And how do you clean all the hops and break material off of it and from in between the little wires that keep the coils spaced apart? That was always the tedious part for me. With the CFC I just add it to the recirculation path when I’m running PBW through the system and then reverse flush with tap water for a few seconds. What else were you doing?

 

[Snuffy]

FWIW, I found that the GF counterflow chiller was more trouble than it's worth. I can cool faster with an immersion chiller and it's far easier to maintain!

I have both and I think my IC is on a shelf somewhere with cobwebs on it.

 

[playhouse]

I have both as well and recently switched back to a 15" high IC (with no wires between the coils). Although the CFC cools a little bit faster (but not much really), I was always annoyed by the bits of debris that would come out at the beginning of each use even with anal cleaning procedures after each brew. Cleaning the IC is so much easier and you can see the result immediately. Also, my particular GF CFC leaks water at the clamps, and although I tried replacing the clamps (difficult to do given the design and limited space), it still leaks.

 

[Snuffy]

I have both as well and recently switched back to a 15" high IC (with no wires between the coils). Although the CFC cools a little bit faster (but not much really), I was always annoyed by the bits of debris that would come out at the beginning of each use even with anal cleaning procedures after each brew. Cleaning the IC is so much easier and you can see the result immediately. Also, my particular GF CFC leaks water at the clamps, and although I tried replacing the clamps (difficult to do given the design and limited space), it still leaks.

When I fire up the CFC, I catch the first couple of ounces of wort outflow in a pyrex measuring cup and toss it to get rid of any traces of leftover stuff from the last cleaning. It's usually pretty clear tho. I run 3 gal of hot PBW thru it for half an our after use and then follow with 3 gal of Starsan for half an hour. Usually gets all the bits out of the pump and chiller. The temp drop across my CFC is so much quicker I can't make myself use the IC any more.

 

[redrocker652002]

I have both as well and recently switched back to a 15" high IC (with no wires between the coils). Although the CFC cools a little bit faster (but not much really), I was always annoyed by the bits of debris that would come out at the beginning of each use even with anal cleaning procedures after each brew. Cleaning the IC is so much easier and you can see the result immediately. Also, my particular GF CFC leaks water at the clamps, and although I tried replacing the clamps (difficult to do given the design and limited space), it still leaks.

On mine the hose broke that clamps into the chiller. I think it is a 3/8 ID hose but cannot be sure. And yes, you are right, the connections are a PITA to get to and get a wrench on. I am going to take one of the hoses off I think and bring it to my LBS and see if they can help me. I was kinda half expecting them to break to be honest. They are pretty discolored from use and feel pretty thin. I would love to put some sort of easier disconnect set up on it so I can take the hoses off and give them a good cleaning as well.

 

[Whisky River]

On mine the hose broke that clamps into the chiller. I think it is a 3/8 ID hose but cannot be sure. And yes, you are right, the connections are a PITA to get to and get a wrench on. I am going to take one of the hoses off I think and bring it to my LBS and see if they can help me. I was kinda half expecting them to break to be honest. They are pretty discolored from use and feel pretty thin. I would love to put some sort of easier disconnect set up on it so I can take the hoses off and give them a good cleaning as well.

I might be remembering wrong or we might have different generations of the GF CFC (I have the early one) but I’m pretty sure the hose connections to the CFC are some sort of compression fittings. If I remember right when one of mine looked like it was coming loose, I just unscrewed the ferrule, pulled off the hose, cut it back 1/2 inch and reassembled the fitting. I was actually kind of impressed at how simple and elegant the fitting was.

 

[redrocker652002]

I might be remembering wrong or we might have different generations of the GF CFC (I have the early one) but I’m pretty sure the hose connections to the CFC are some sort of compression fittings. If I remember right when one of mine looked like it was coming loose, I just unscrewed the ferrule, pulled off the hose, cut it back 1/2 inch and reassembled the fitting. I was actually kind of impressed at how simple and elegant the fitting was.

That is exactly what I did this time. But, thinking ahead I can see where these hoses are going to get old and brittle. Also, cleaning might be a bit easier if I can remove the hoses using some sort of quick disconnect setup. But, for now, that is exactly what I did and it worked out ok.

 

[redrocker652002]

For anyone who is interested I got a response from Grainfather. According to them the clear tubing is 10mm ID (which is 3/8 inch) and the OD is 11.5 to 12.5. So, when I hit my LHB I am going to see what they have. Amazon has pretty cheap prices, but I hate giving them business that I can give to a local shop.