Kegerator issue

[c_k_2_k]

Hello Everyone. Bought a used kegerator, fairly old but fridge is still very cold. I bought all new beer lines and CO2 line. Also a installed a tower cooler. 10' of 3/16" ID brand new beer line. Cleaned and sanitized. Set everything up with a 1/6 keg, let sit for 48 hours to settle and checked all connections for leaking. Poured straight foam, adjusted pressure to get it right and never got it quite right. This morning I checked on it to find the beer was coming out like a fountain from the sanke. So much that it was pouring out of the fridge all over the floor. Shut everything off and cleaned up the mess, detached everything to check what happened and I think I have either a bad regulator and/or coupler. Has anyone tried updating an older kegerator and had issues like this? If so, how did you remedy the situation? Thanks!

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Beer never comes out of a sanke...ever.You have an issue with your keg not your kegerator.Is the keg a store bought beer or homebrew keg? Did you open the keg at all? What was the pressure set to? Theres a safety release on the coupler not the keg.If you popped the safety release you have an issue with the pressure(regulator issue) If its leaking from the keg you have an issue with the keg.(seal issue) Theres a rubber gasket on the inside of the keg that seals it and that would be where I would look.Thers also the chance you didn't connect the coupler to the keg correctly

 

[c_k_2_k]

What exactly would make beer shoot out of the Sanke. I'm brand new to kegerators so just looking for some direction.

 

[Pratzie]

What setting do you have the regulator set to?

 

[c_k_2_k]

I had it set at 10psi at first. Because it got foamy I turned off the CO2 and I pulled the pressure relief on the sanke and reset it lower at 8psi.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I had it set at 10psi at first. Because it got foamy I turned off the CO2 and I pulled the pressure relief on the sanke and reset it lower at 8psi.

10 psi will not make beer foamy.You have other issues.Most likey from the leak.First figure out the leaky keg then worry about the foam.I'd bet they are related

 

[c_k_2_k]

10 psi will not make beer foamy.You have other issues.Most likey from the leak.First figure out the leaky keg then worry about the foam.I'd bet they are related

In your experience, would you change the sanke, the co2 regulator or both? What could make it leak that way?

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I wouldn't change anything until I figured out the problem.Where EXACTLY did the beer come shooting out.The keg, safety release,line connection? I'll assume this is homebrew and you opened the keg.You could drain pressure in with the safety release and o2 tank closed. open the keg and inspect the rubber washer.Theres going to still be pressure and some beer shooting out so do it outside.An easy way I use to get the remaining pressure out is a large open end wrench like 3/4 inch or similar.Put one end of the wrench under one of the little lips on the keg and press down with the outside(round part) of the wrench on the ball.It works really well.

 

[c_k_2_k]

I'll assume this is homebrew and you opened the keg.

I'm sorry I could have put that info in here. I'm waiting for my homebrew to be done fermenting before I put it in THAT keg. I bought a 1/6 keg of a commercial beer, and was using an older Sanke coupler. It was pouring out of the top of the keg where the coupler goes in. I guess what I can't figure out is if the regulator was bad and pushing way to much CO2 in. Even though I had it at 10psi, if it's not working properly could it possibly push more CO2 in than what the regulator says? Or maybe the coupler malfunctioned and didn't seat properly?

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I'm sorry I could have put that info in here. I'm waiting for my homebrew to be done fermenting before I put it in THAT keg. I bought a 1/6 keg of a commercial beer, and was using an older Sanke coupler. It was pouring out of the top of the keg where the coupler goes in. I guess what I can't figure out is if the regulator was bad and pushing way to much CO2 in. Even though I had it at 10psi, if it's not working properly could it possibly push more CO2 in than what the regulator says? Or maybe the coupler malfunctioned and didn't seat properly?

This is the info needed.The keg is fine the reg is fine and your issue is the coupler or how you connected it.
Force carbing your homebrew will be at 30 psi for 2 days so don't worry about the pressure being to high.I don't know what psi the safety release will blow but your not there

 

[c_k_2_k]

This is the info needed.The keg is fine the reg is fine and your issue is the coupler or how you connected it.

Thanks! This is where I'll start to hopefully correct the problem.

 

[pantherburn]

Can you post a picture of your coupler? Is it the correct style coupler for your keg? What brand of beer is it? Sounds like you are not connecting it correctly. Make sure handle is up, line up ears with keg, turn coupler clockwise until engaged, lower and lock handle. This is assuming you have a sanke coupler with a handle that raises and lowers the center part/liquid post of the coupler. This depresses the ball bearing on the keg allowing liquid to flow out and CO2 in.

 

[c_k_2_k]

This is the info needed.The keg is fine the reg is fine and your issue is the coupler or how you connected it.
Force carbing your homebrew will be at 30 psi for 2 days so don't worry about the pressure being to high.I don't know what psi the safety release will blow but your not there

I bought a new coupler and o-rings yesterday and put everything back together. Checked for leaks, co2 line was leaking a bit so tightened it. Everything seems to be fine, I believe it was the coupler. Thanks for the help!

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I bought a new coupler and o-rings yesterday and put everything back together. Checked for leaks, co2 line was leaking a bit so tightened it. Everything seems to be fine, I believe it was the coupler. Thanks for the help!

Awesome,glad it worked out for you