Help yer Cap'n out with a Kegging question

[Cap'n Jewbeard]

So I'm currently getting my first brew kegged, and I have a question which may be a problem.

I've racked it, and replaced the lid- however, I haven't been able to get a tight seal on it! (That is, when I invert the keg, some beer comes out...)

Is that a problem? Or will the gas (once it's pressurized) hold the lid in place?

Any help is appreciated, thanks all.

-Jewbeard

 

[Fingers]

Do you have keg lube on the O-ring? If you do, try hitting it with 30 psi to see if the seal will seat. You should also inspect your O-ring if it's not new and replace it if it's not pristine. If the ring does not seat, try rotating it around the lid and shifting the lid around before you pressurize. The moving around may help the lid find its sweet spot.

 

[2nd Street Brewery]

You need to hit it with some CO2 to purge the head space, that will seal it up. Need some keg lube for a good seal.

 

[Sea]

I always leak-test my kegs after filling and pressurizing them. Some Soapy water in a spray-bottle works well, and can then be rinsed off after you're sure there aren't any leaks. Inspect carefully, and give the soap solution a couple of minutes to devolpe bubbles before calling it good.

 

[Bokonon]

The best way I've worked out for insuring a good seal and continual pressure is to start a day or two in advance. After washing, rinsing and thoroughly santizing all the pieces put it all together and put some more sanitizer in. Then hit it with some co2 to seal the lid. A spray bottle of starsan helps verify everything is sealed well. When it gets time to fill the keg, I shake it up to make sure everything is hit by sanitizer then take my liquid out disconnect with a hose attached to my racking cane and hook it up allowing all the sanitizer to exit through the racking cane. Then its just a matter of sticking the racking cane into my carboy (I use a carboy cap to make it easier to siphon) and siphon through the liquid out with the pressure relief locked open.

I'm sure others have their own routine but this has always helped me insure that there is a good seal and no leaks anywhere.

James

 

[Uncle Argyle]

One of my lids was bent enough so that I couldn't get a good seal even with new o-rings and 30psi....I ended up having to buy a new(used) lid at my LHBS for $5.

 

[the_bird]

You need to hit it with some CO2 to purge the head space, that will seal it up. Need some keg lube for a good seal.

I've started to become disenchanted with our local shop. Last time I was there, I asked the guy working (not Roger, nor his son) if they had any keg lube, he just looked at me with a quizzical look on his face and asked what you would use it for... As it stands, I can't find mine.

 

[david_42]

The clamp merely holds the lid in position, it isn't a seal itself. They are designed to seal under pressure, so put about 10 psi on them.

 

[Bokonon]

I've started to become disenchanted with our local shop. Last time I was there, I asked the guy working (not Roger, nor his son) if they had any keg lube, he just looked at me with a quizzical look on his face and asked what you would use it for... As it stands, I can't find mine.

I've seen keg lube (Petro-Gel) at kitchen supply stores, if your not having any luck finding it anywhere else you might want to check there.

 

[Vermicous]

Kitchen supply is right, they use it on meat/cheese cutters.

Even 5 PSI may be enough to seat it. I have a couple problem lids, pressurizing and moving the lid around has worked every time so far.

 

[Funkenjaeger]

one of my kegs seals with like 7psi no problem, the other one will leak until I smack it with 30psi suddenly, and then it's fine until I depressurize it again.