Loosening up a camlock

[user 64661]

Just got my package from bargain fittings. gee these camlocks are stiff!

Will a 1/2" silicon o-ring be enough to seal these with hot liquid flowing through them? I was thinking of replacing the existing gasket as I can barely get the thing clasped.

Thanks

Txinga

 

[StainlessBrewing]

I think BobbyM has a video on Youtube about changing it to an o ring. Have you done a batch with them yet to see if maybe they seat better once heated and cooled? Personally I have not used them. I'm sure someone will chime in.

 

[Hammy71]

If it comes with the black rubber gasket, you'll want to replace it with a silicone ring anyway. I had to trash a brew because, once the hot liquids hit that rubber, the taste was transfered to the beer.

 

[StainlessBrewing]

Right about 7 min he starts talking about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7VQ...DvjVQa1PpcFPx3gt_9r9SfP2-uyHjBQgF1J9EC8Cjreg=

 

[StainlessBrewing]

If it comes with the black rubber gasket, you'll want to replace it with a silicone ring anyway. I had to trash a brew because, once the hot liquids hit that rubber, the taste was transfered to the beer.

Are you sure it was the gasket? Buna N (assuming that was the material) is normally food grade and ok for beer.

 

[user 64661]

These have the white silicon gasket in them. Kinda thick. I can see how one of those red silicon o rings like they put on the weld less bulkheads would make things easier. Hopefully it'll still seal enough.

 

[Deric]

Several of mine loosened up quite a bit after a couple of brew sessions. The ones that didn't got an o-ring swapped for the gasket - they're better but still tight. I guess some are tighter than others.

 

[cobolstinks]

i actually don't mind that they are tight, sure it might take more effort to close them, but boiling liquid is passing through it so i'd rather be too tight than lose.

 

[Bobby_M]

Some pairs are a little stiffer than others and I'll just chalk it up to the tolerance of Chinese factories. A thinner gasket would definitely work but leaving them clamped for a few days should make it easier.

 

[Markd27]

....so i'd rather be too tight than lose.

Too easy?

 

[wyzazz]

I bought mine before everyone was replacing the black gaskets with the silicone ones, so I bought a bunch of silicone o-rings and replaced mine myself. They've held up for 30+ brew sessions so far and are a cinch to close with one hand.

 

[milldoggy]

The red silicon orings definitly loosen them up, but out of my 14, one is still real stiff.

 

[Hammy71]

Are you sure it was the gasket? Buna N (assuming that was the material) is normally food grade and ok for beer.

I got mine a little over a year ago, and they came with a thick black rubber gasket. They are in a ziploc out in the garage now, and they still reak of rubber. The ones I recently purchased from BobbyM have the thick silicone gasket and they work great.

 

[BargainFittings]

The translucent / white silicone gaskets have been shipping with these for awhile now and are a bit softer than the black buna-n ones that originally came with the camlocks.

I have a mix of the o-rings and the silicone gaskets on my own rig and they all cinch down fine. The flat gaskets will compress a bit easier after they have been brewed with.

If you get a female with tight cams, then the o-rings are a good way to loosen it up but still get a tight seal.

 

[mpcluever]

If you get a female with tight cams

giggity

 

[milldoggy]

giggity

Giggity giggity goooooooo