Intertap beer faucets

[UndeadFred]

https://www.williamsbrewing.com/mobile/INTERTAP-SEAL-KIT-P4057.aspx Well, duh. Can someone tell me where the hard nylon plastic seals go?

 

[skatz]

https://www.williamsbrewing.com/mobile/INTERTAP-SEAL-KIT-P4057.aspx Well, duh. Can someone tell me where the hard nylon plastic seals go?

The my go around the ball joint of the handle. One top and one bottom.

 

[millstone]

As a replacement washer/O ring, would these work?

http://www.theoringstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2203_98_102&products_id=4472

thanks

tom

 

[indolent]

https://www.williamsbrewing.com/mobile/INTERTAP-SEAL-KIT-P4057.aspx Well, duh. Can someone tell me where the hard nylon plastic seals go?

Skatz answered your question, but the pdf's with cross section views of the faucets on this page may be helpful as well:

http://www.intertap.beer/products/

As a replacement washer/O ring, would these work?

http://www.theoringstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2203_98_102&products_id=4472

thanks

tom

I think it should. It just depends on how much compression the faucets put on the seal. Those 1/16" thick washers or orings just aren't as thick as the original ones. There's a chance the nozzle could bottom out on the shoulder at the base of the threads before it compresses the seal.

If you're placing an order from there, I'd probably tack on a couple of the 3/32" thick washers as well.

http://www.theoringstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2203_98_101&products_id=4409

 

[UndeadFred]

Skatz answered your question, but the pdf's with cross section views of the faucets on this page may be helpful as well:

http://www.intertap.beer/products/

Ah, so that is a quite a bit different design than the plastic and metal bearing cups on the Perlicks. I was thinking in terms of Perlick. I saw that diagram before but it didn't occur to me that the pieces are nylon and there were two of them under the bonnet. It probably will be a good idea to put in a small Williams Brewing order to have at least one rebuild set on hand for five years down the road then, likely...

Again, it will be a lot more obvious to me once I get one in my hot little hands. Thanks for the discussion again, I didn't initially set out to have it become an obsession.

Edited to say that it appears the faucet is 230 miles away now.. so it should be soon. (In Chicago).. I've been following VentMatic for a long time and was about to pull the trigger (late) and I am glad I didn't, but I still am very curious about these faucets... if you can't tell...

 

[WI_Wino]

I found my intertap flow control faucets sitting in my mail box. ~8 days after I ordered from aliexpress. Should have checked the mail on Friday.

Initial impressions are favorable. Hefty, feels solid. Outside finish is nice and shiny. They screw right on to the shanks I bought from ritebrew. Tap handles were included and feel nice in my hand (for a cheap plastic handle anyway).

Two questions as these are my first faucets other than some junky ones I inherited from my grandfather's kegging setup from the '60s.

- When I open and close the faucet, it slides decent but there is some resistance. Not as silky smooth as the bolt action on my deer rifle. Normal? Am I expecting too much?

- The flow control adjustment handle rotates fairly smoothly. It does have some side to side play though. I can pull it out a hair and then there are more degrees of rotation available. If I push it back in, rotates maybe half as much. Again, normal?

 

[indolent]

- When I open and close the faucet, it slides decent but there is some resistance. Not as silky smooth as the bolt action on my deer rifle. Normal? Am I expecting too much?

I don't have a flow control faucet, but I would guess it should be pretty smooth like the regular ones.

You can try loosening the Bonnet (Part No. 6 in this pdf; http://www.intertap.beer/Downloads/Intertap 8473.pdf) a quarter to a half a turn. I found that helped the sliding action on one of my faucets. Intertap's youtube channel has a video saying this is a normal thing you need to do when using the auto close spring, but it should help with the smoothness whether you have the spring or not. It starts around 10:40 in this video:

On my other faucet, I couldn't get a smooth sliding action no matter what I adjusted. They offered to send me a new one. They're pretty responsive if you send them a message saying you have an issue with an order.

 

[cuda6pak]

Hmm, trying to decide between the Intertap and new CMB V2G or V3 faucets.

 

[UndeadFred]

I found my intertap flow control faucets sitting in my mail box. ~8 days after I ordered from aliexpress. Should have checked the mail on Friday.

Initial impressions are favorable.
- When I open and close the faucet, it slides decent but there is some resistance. Not as silky smooth as the bolt action on my deer rifle. Normal? Am I expecting too much?

Well it couldn't be as bad as my Mosin Nagant was when I first got it! It's smooth now. I suspect a little fluff and buff could be carefully done on these taps as well.

- The flow control adjustment handle rotates fairly smoothly. It does have some side to side play though. I can pull it out a hair and then there are more degrees of rotation available. If I push it back in, rotates maybe half as much. Again, normal?

Please update us in a few weeks with what you think of the FC version of this. I do eventually want one (out of four on my setup) FC and with the 650SS issues, I'm thinking the Intertap is the way to go. Pictures if you can!

 

[WI_Wino]

I'll see what I can do. The kids are going on vacation to the grandparents this upcoming week. I hope to drill some holes and get the system flowing. Right now I have a picnic tap setup and a pile of parts on the table next to it.

 

[UndeadFred]

Got it. Out of the box the lever movement was "gritty kitty". Actually pretty bad. I hit the shuttle with wet 1000 grit a few times and a little keg lube. It's fine now... As good as a Perlick. What is a little weird about it is the travel of the lever is noticeably shorter than a Perlick Perl but despite this the seal actually seems to be much better. I will post a pour probably tomorrow. If anything I will go off and buy the stout spout and it was worth my money just for that. I intend on calipering all of the O-rings too and posting the dimensions in English and Metric. It is certainly at least okay for $31.09.

View attachment 1463788926572.jpg

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[UndeadFred]

Bat# 1601 if anyone is interested, by the way.

 

[UndeadFred]

Amazingly enough, even though loose a standard 109 keg O-ring appears to seal the tap. So that size but thicker is the desired forward seal for us Americans.

 

[UndeadFred]

Here is a picture of the shuttle with a #109 silicone O-ring on it. I suspect a thicker O-ring would be better but in a pinch these seem to seal.

View attachment 1463791056983.jpg

 

[UndeadFred]

The spout washer works fine with a Perlick 525 bonnet washer. It is a #014 washer. A #204 silicon worked but you can't seal the faucet all the way does. I will need to look in between these sizes but I see no need for a flat O-ring here. Pictured is the 014 washer versus the original flat and it in the spout connection.

View attachment 1463791869442.jpg

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[UndeadFred]

Now the bonnet washers/O-rings, particularly the top one seem to be critical. My guess on these will be that a McMaster order might be needed if the O-ring kits become unavailable.

 

[UndeadFred]

Last comment for now. The Intertaps don't mix well with the Perls but I suspect that is Perlicks fault. The handle is back when off on the Perlicks but straight up on the Intertaps. Pouring the Intertap is forward and the Perls are straight up. I will correct that in my setup by modifing the tap handles but it is what it is. Which one pours better? Without a doubt the Intertap. Better than the 630PC and 525SS hands down. Which one is better build quality? Perlick hands down. You can get the Intertap there with very little work though.

View attachment 1463793991432.jpg

 

[day_trippr]

lol. ok.

anyway, how did you metricize "pours better"?

Cheers!

 

[UndeadFred]

The Intertap is on a Stout that has been on tap for quite awhile. It had a 630PC on the shank before I switched it out. In my not so humble opinion it has a much more laminar flow than the ball of the Perls do. I suspect that was the "invention" in the ultraflow faucets. Because of this it actually pours better which I think is the point of this faucet or a Ventmatic over the Perlick.

 

[PeteNMA]

I just ordered two regular SS intertaps from aliexpress this morning along with a growler filler and two stout spouts. A little bit cheaper than ordering from brewpump, the biggest difference is the shipping charge for each separate line item. I'll post back when they arrive

I'm looking forward to trying the stout spouts. That was one of the things which I wanted to try with the ventmatics but it never materialised

 

[millstone]

Looks like aliexpress has changed there shipping cost on multiples. If you add more than one faucet the shipping goes from $$6.19 each to $10.21 for two. Also if you add an additional item like a growler filler, that shipping goes down as well.

tom

 

[ebrooker007]

I looked into ordering the intertap faucets but it says free shipping but when I add it to the cart it adds shipping. I have attached a picture to show all the items show free shipping but they don't show up that way in the cart. I have never used aliexpress so I may be doing something wrong. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1463965922.088891.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1463965935.007168.jpg

 

[okiedog]

Can you call them? Aliexpress should have a phone number to call for questions about orders/shipping.

 

[WI_Wino]

I had a heck of a time trying to use their mobile version of their website. I finally quit and used a computer to place my order.

 

[indolent]

Can you call them? Aliexpress should have a phone number to call for questions about orders/shipping.

They're in China, so I'm not sure how easy calling them would be.

Prior to ordering, I tried sending them a message or two through the site, and never had a response. They were quick to respond to an issue I had after receiving my order, but for some reason they just don't seem to reply to regular questions.

 

[okiedog]

You'd think they would have a number for International customers outside of China. I guess they just aren't set up for that.

 

[indolent]

I wasn't worried about a number so much. I was thinking the time difference as well as I wouldn't think many of the vendors selling on aliexpress even have dedicated phone support staff.

 

[ebrooker007]

They didn't reply to my inquiry. I was going to order 6 with some other parts with the free shipping but when it added 60+ dollars for shipping I decided to go another route. I decided to order 1 flow control Perlick and some other stuff to get the 5 dollars off shipping from ritebrew and am going to see if I like them. Shipping worked out to .49 cents. If I like it I will probably just go with the perlicks. At least I know they will be around for parts. If they respond I will let you all know.

 

[lawless317]

I am debating on ordering these
I liked vent matic but that's a dead end street
I am intrigued by the spouts coming out
I don't even know what an English sparkler spout is. But the counter pressure filler spout with a gas connection sounds cool
My order from Ali express would total 196 for 6 faucets two broker fillers and two stout spouts
I'll decide next week I guess

 

[UndeadFred]

I decided to pick up the Stout Spout, self-closing spring (to have it) and the Growler filler today. If you use a computer and add stuff to your cart, the shipping does start to go down. It was $17 and change for those three items shipped. I suspect if you order 6 of them like the poster above did, it gets you above the customs limit and duty is added. ePackets are meant for small orders under the duty limit in the US. You might be better off breaking the order up if you are going to go off and order more than one at a time.

Overall I like the tap. It is a better design for sure than the Perlick, the build quality isn't as good and it is just slightly better on the number of drips 30-60s after the pour. I'd say I get 5 drops out of my 525SS's, 3 out of the 630PC's and one to two out of the Intertap. The Intertap is definitely more "free flowing" than the Perlicks. Which can be good or bad depending on the style. I'm kind of glad I have both and I can switch back and forth.

As for an English Sparkler Spout... It's a type of tap that is used on Real Ales (look them up, they are pumped with air so the keg has to go fast) but apparently only in the North of England.... I don't think they are actually available yet, they are being planned by Keg King. I've heard rumors of things like counter pressure fillers, etc. for these faucets in the future.