How to fix a leaky keg seal?

[NoNothing]

Hey guys,

I just got a used keg from NB last week. When I got the keg it was pressurized and I cleaned it all up, sanitized, then I went to put some CO2 on it to pressurize it for a week or so while waiting to keg. However it wouldnt seal, so I replaced the main seal (I left all of the other seals as they were holding before). This fixed the issue and it held pressure, yay!

However, I went to keg 2 days ago, get all my Irish Red Stout in the keg, seal it all up, put CO2 on it, and all I hear is WISHHHHHHHHHH and I feel CO2 pouring out of the main seal. I tried to reseat the lid in different ways to get a seal, and nothing.

So being a little under the weather [See Also : ] I took a hammer to the lid opening (lightly) to try to shape it better to fit the damn lid. Well, that helped a LITTLE, but not nearly enough.

So right now my keg is sitting in my fridge, closed, (but not sealed) with a paper towel over it to hopefully be a barrier for nasties, but I still have an air headspace of about 1/3 gallon on the beer making it crap.

Its been 2 days like this, and Im trying to polish off a keg tonight so I can transfer it over to a sealed keg ASAP.

My question is, what should I do about my beer to make sure its good, will it sitting with just air (its probably mostly CO2, but its definitely not pressurized) be horrible for it? My guess is yes, it'll be just like leaving it sitting out (DAMMIT).

Secondly, once I get this keg empty, what should I do to fix it up? Is there anything I can do to fix it up? Or should I just try to be crafty with my hammer s'more and my keg is probably screwed.

Lastly, Im weighing my options with the keg that currently has Oberon in it. It was sanitized, then we opened it up and poured 2 Oberon mini kegs in it. Should I treat this just like any other beer was in it and just fill it right up, or sanitize and THEN transfer my Irish Red.

 

[buzzkill]

I think a hammer will be bad... jump it to good keg now...beer out line to beer out line..

 

[NoNothing]

I think a hammer will be bad... jump it to good keg now...beer out line to beer out line..

I cant pressurize the keg, if I could transfer from the beer line to a new keg, I would just serve from it

 

[boo boo]

Is it deformed that much?
If it just leaking around the main seal, did you try using some keg lube or some foodsafe silicone around the o-ring?

 

[rawg]

I would try some lubri-film on that o-ring and see if that helps to seal it up.

 

[NoNothing]

Is it deformed that much?
If it just leaking around the main seal, did you try using some keg lube or some foodsafe silicone around the o-ring?

Yes, the leak is only around the main seal.

I have not tried keg lube or food safe silicone, Ill give that a go when I get home tonight.

Where is a good place to buy food safe lubricant?

 

[beeton]

Keg lube on o ring, hit it with 30 psi to seal.
If needed you can tap lightly with rubber mallet on lid. Often a pop can be heard.
Sometimes (rarely) a penny may have to be placed under the lid arm, to allow lid tighter fit.
If you have a back pressure check valve in line b4 the gauge, back off co2 to serving
pressure and cool.
If no check valve, remove quick connect, chill wait until it is serving temp, then reset
gas to serving pressure and re-attach in fridge.
Dave.

 

[Mirilis]

Some of my kegs do that... did you try 30lbs of pressure in there? Sometimes more pressure makes mine seal up

 

[NoNothing]

Keg lube on o ring, hit it with 30 psi to seal.
If needed you can tap lightly with rubber mallet on lid. Often a pop can be heard.
Sometimes (rarely) a penny may have to be placed under the lid arm, to allow lid tighter fit.
If you have a back pressure check valve in line b4 the gauge, back off co2 to serving
pressure and cool.
If no check valve, remove quick connect, chill wait until it is serving temp, then reset
gas to serving pressure and re-attach in fridge.
Dave.

Thanks! Ill give this a try when Im home tonight. The lid was sealing pretty easily, the pennies should help a ton! I cant believe I didnt think of that, trying to get that Oberon gone is hurting me (well, not that much )

Some of my kegs do that... did you try 30lbs of pressure in there? Sometimes more pressure makes mine seal up

I would have, but I cant build pressure, it all leaks out, sadly its not a pinhole leak out of the lid, its a pretty significant leak.

 

[Shooter]

Man, penny, what a great idea, but, yes keg lube has been a great cure for my lid leaks.

 

[NoNothing]

Well, that settles it, I need to get keg lube.

I just cant think of a place to buy that locally?

 

[ShadowsDeed]

I bought mine at the LHBS. but if you dont have one close i'm not sure.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

I just use Vaseline but only a tiny, tiny bit (and usually not at all). You just want to very lightly lube the o-ring, no more.

Buy a new tube, no double-dipping.

 

[bja]

I spray starsan on it and it seems to be slippery enough to work.

 

[brrman]

I would not use vaseline on the seal. If you have any KY or Astroglide you can use that.

 

[beeton]

Yeah, forgot about k-y...
I used it years ago for the pool filter o-rings.
Unflavoured, of course.