Intertap beer faucets

[Jawbox0]

So, I got a note from Williams today asking for a review on my Intertaps. It looks like they are back in stock again!
https://www.williamsbrewing.com/INTERTAP-FORWARD-SEAL-PLATED-FAUCET-P4031.aspx

 

[passedpawn]

So, I got a note from Williams today asking for a review on my Intertaps. It looks like they are back in stock again!
https://www.williamsbrewing.com/INTERTAP-FORWARD-SEAL-PLATED-FAUCET-P4031.aspx

Note: those are plated brass. The SS faucets are still not in stock (site says 3July). No comment on the suitability of plated, but I like to keep everything SS.

 

[gromitdj]

So, I got a note from Williams today asking for a review on my Intertaps. It looks like they are back in stock again!
https://www.williamsbrewing.com/INTERTAP-FORWARD-SEAL-PLATED-FAUCET-P4031.aspx

Also interesting that the U.S. Patents they list in the description are all the patents currently held by Vent-Matic. I wonder if there has been an agreement reached?

 

[skatz]

One of mine leaked badly and went unnoticed. Check out what I saw today.

 

[day_trippr]

 

[Littlestan]

One of mine leaked badly and went unnoticed. Check out what I saw today.

Whoa... I just ordered 4 of these taps from OBK. Is there something I should be checking to prevent this from happening?

 

[skatz]

Look back in the thread and you will find a retrofit that a member put together. I emailed Keg King and will post their reply.

 

[skatz]

Keg King is blaming the washer at the top of the handle. I question this as that would only affect the outside seal and not the inner. Part in question is number 9 in the diagram.

http://www.intertap.beer/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Intertap-8633.pdf

And I just noticed that two of my faucets do not have part 13 at all.

And there is rust in one of the bodies.

I'm starting to get pissed.

 

[cod3ck]

... I just ordered 3 flow controls from brewpump... Should I be worried?!

 

[skatz]

I don't know. So far Keg King is putting the responsibility on OBK (brewpump). I'm going to give it another day before I start talking with them.

 

[Dolomieu]

That is the same issue I have with the two (apparently knocked off) vent matic taps from chi company.

 

[skatz]

That is the same issue I have with the two (apparently knocked off) vent matic taps from chi company.

I don't think those are knockoffs. From what I know, and I can certainly be mistaken, ChiCo licensed the IP and ran into all sorts of production issues. I don't know if they ever got a good run out.

 

[cuda6pak]

... I just ordered 3 flow controls from brewpump... Should I be worried?!

Seems like we all should be.

I received my 6 from BrewPump but haven't taken them apart yet to see what is or is not missing. I did notice two of them came in a different style box

 

[mintyice]

Am I the only one with decent flow controls from brewpump? Seriously, no problems.

 

[skatz]

OBK offered to send me a return label and refund as they do not have an ETA on replacement nor do they have replacement seal kits. I told them I'd like to give Keg King a chance to resolve before I opt for the return.

Inspected my washers a bit further and one of the three is more stiff. I don't know if that washer came from the leaky faucets or not.

Looking at Aussiehomebrew.com and others are having issues there as well.

Minty - how much keg lube are you using?

 

[mintyice]

Minty - how much keg lube are you using?

I didn't do anything to them besides give them a little clean out of the box.

 

[skatz]

I rebuilt one faucet and was sure to use the stiff washer. I was able to really tighten down on the bonnet stiffening the lever action by a significant amount. I'm curious if this soft versus stiff washer is part of the issue.

 

[Dolomieu]

I don't think those are knockoffs. From what I know, and I can certainly be mistaken, ChiCo licensed the IP and ran into all sorts of production issues. I don't know if they ever got a good run out.

Well, what ever they are, that's the issue. They leak under the bonnet area.

 

[imasickboy]

I bought three back in January from Williams, (non-flow control stainless version), and have been using them daily since then. Not one single issue has been encountered. No leaks, no rust, no problems.

I just want to make sure that people understand that not all of these faucets are having problems. People will always tell someone if they have a bad experience with a product or service, but most never speak up when a product or service does exactly what it was intended to do.

My sympathies to those who are experiencing issues. I hope you get them resolved quickly and completely.

 

[skatz]

I did hear back from Keg King and they admit that I got bad washers and that there was a mistake in two of the FC seat washers missing. Obviously they have issues with their manufacturing partners.

They still want me to resolve with the retailer which I think is not ok. The retailer I bought these from is out of stock with no idea on when more will arrive and does not not carry the FC seal set or the bonnet washer on its own. Why should a retailer need to resolve a defect?

My gripe is if they knew there were issues, why blame it on a "worn" washer on a new faucet. They should have a bucket of these ready to mail out when somebody brings it up.

I promoted the hell out of these faucets in the past and promoted buying from authorized sources to ensure that Keg King got their fair share. I feel that I have been completly fair in detailing my experience.

I want to like these faucets, but I have just had too many issues too soon and too quickly that I don't feel that I can rely on them.

EDIT - sorry if this reads as defensive. I'm just frustrated as hell that I spent a good chunk of my brew budget on items that don't work out of the box.

 

[YeastMode]

@skatz I think you position is totally reasonable. FWIW, after reading through your headache and decided to order Perlick 630ss. I liked the idea of the changeable spout on the Intertap, but the general uncertainty over (1) genuine vs knock off, (2) quality control, (3) availability and (4) post sale customer service, I decided to go with the tried and true and wait until these issues are sorted if I decide to buy one at all.

So at least your issues have save me from the potential headache you are having. I owe you a beer.

 

[lawless317]

I agree with yeast mode
I was ready to order 6 but I won't be now

 

[skatz]

I'm not ready to swear them off completely. I just want functional faucets without a delay of unknown length. If I switch to Perlick, I can have faucets here in a day or two, but I won't have the spouts and might have the low pH sulfur issue. If I keep the Intertaps, I won't know when they will be fixed and don't know if they will be reliable.

I do find it interesting that the issue here is identical to the ChiCo ventmatics. Maybe the reason the last incarnation of VentMatics were so expensive was due to the tight tolerances.

 

[YeastMode]

My understanding is that the Perlick sulfur issues are limited to the 650ss (flow control). I have 2 630ss and they have been great. So I decoded to order 2 more.

 

[skatz]

My understanding is that the Perlick sulfur issues are limited to the 650ss (flow control). I have 2 630ss and they have been great. So I decoded to order 2 more.

Right, and I want flow control.

The intertaps didn't ever show sulfer and I had a cider on for about 5 weeks. On the non-leaky faucet.

 

[YeastMode]

Ahh I see your delema now. Just a bummer that neither option is optimal.

 

[maazak]

Are the washers some special shape? Why don't you just replace them with another that fits better ? They should come with the correct one but if it's a cheap part then finding a replacement should be doable

 

[skatz]

Couldn't find one in that size and I have no idea how to tell how stiff one is over the Internet.

Keg King said they will send me washers, but they don't have any of the other ring I am missing available. Waiting on them to let me know the ETA on the out of stock ring.

The rebuilt faucet with the stiff ring seems to be holding up well with a keg of sanitizer. I should have something on to test this weekend. I left the ferrule off so I can keep a better eye on the cup where the leak was happening.

 

[lawless317]

What about those cmb forward seal faucets ?

 

[UndeadFred]

So far my Intertap (from China) has been holding up well. Maybe I am lucky but with it working I like it much better than the 630PC's and 525SS's I have and was about to buy another one. You guys have me holding off that now.

Seeing that Williams Brewing is going to carry them again, and yes the US patents listed did recently appear and appear to be "Ventmatics" patents, maybe the solution would be for someone to contact William's Brewing and strongly advise having spare washers and O-rings available, even if that source is from McMaster Carr initially?

I don't mind really having to occasionally replace O-rings. I certainly have done it more than once on the Perlicks. And yes, I've had leaks on both of their styles too. The weakness of forward seal is the bonnet/handle leak. Still for our uses that is a good tradeoff. But I understand that is why the rear seal was developed in the first place.

The other option would be to get a group buy of some sort going for the metric washers and O-rings to do the conversion listed here. It seems to me (but I'm an electrical/software engineer, so what do I know?) to be a little overkill but it certainly is probably a permanent fix.

I wouldn't write these off yet by any means. I think KegKing will likely need to get their Chinese manufacturer to improve the machining a bit, get the seal issues resolved and probably price it for a few dollars less in the US, anyway, than the Perlick for it to be really a hit here.. but the potential is still there. I like the way the one I have pours and I really like the stout spout.