In-side dip tube question

[DVCNick]

So every now and then my batches come out to just barely over 5 gallons, not enough to bother getting out the bottling equipment, but I'm tempted (and have) filled kegs up to the tip top. (I've not measured to see EXACTLY how much that is in the keg, but I'm guessing slightly over 5 gal)

My first couple times doing this I wasn't careful enough about making sure the "in" pressure ALWAYS stayed at least as high as the keg pressure, and got a little beer pushed back into the gas line (not back to the regulator; just settled in the bottom loop of the gas line. Not a huge deal to take apart and clean, but a mild annoyance none the less.

My question is this; why is the gas-in dip tube so long? Can I cut the bottom inch or so off and have a full(er) keg without he risk of beer getting back into the gas line? Just want to make sure there is not some important dip tube function I'm overlooking...

Of course it is not an issue once a couple pints are drank off, it is just an issue when the keg is absolutely full and carbing up while I'm messing with the pressure.

 

[jekeane]

I cut all my gas dip tubes so they are flush with the inside of the keg. There are many who do this to help with a full liquid purge of the keg. The added benefit is you get an extra inch of beer. I use a small pipe tubing wheel cutter I got at lowes or home depot.

 

[day_trippr]

I have no solid idea why cornelius style kegs have such long oem gas tubes but I suspect it had something to do with the original usage model for the keg.

In any case I long ago cut all of my gas tubes down to under a 1/2" length - some are closer to 3/8". They only need to be long enough to reliably hold onto the small O-ring. I used a Dremel with a virgin fiber cutoff wheel (so no embedded metal bits) and clamped the dip tube between a pair of soft pine scraps...

Cheers!

 

[Robert65]

I have no solid idea why cornelius style kegs have such long oem gas tubes but I suspect it had something to do with the original usage model for the keg.

I bought a used Corny keg that had come from Canada. It had a ridiculously long gas tube like I'd never seen. That gas tube was marked to indicate that it was sized to 4 Imperial gallons. Apparently the tubes were originally meant to reach or approach the customers' intended fill level. Not sure how or why that worked but it suggests your suspicion is on track.

 

[day_trippr]

I didn't want to get into it earlier because I have no actual information to support my hypothesis: the kegs were sealed up and filled with syrup through the Out port with an exhaust line snapped on the Gas port. As soon as syrup started blowing out the exhaust line the keg was full and the filling stopped.

Could be waaay off base with that but there it is

Cheers!

 

[Robert65]

I didn't want to get into it earlier because I have no actual information to support my hypothesis: the kegs were sealed up and filled with syrup through the Out port with an exhaust line snapped on the Gas port. As soon as syrup started blowing out the exhaust line the keg was full and the filling stopped.

Could be waaay off base with that but there it is

Cheers!

I'll buy that. Cheers!

 

[homebrewfinds]

Yep, you can trim these!

 

[DVCNick]

Thanks all!