low profile sankey to ball locks

[sniperd]

Hey guys!
I'm trying to get a solution together to use a sankey keg with my ball lock corny setup. I've been reading and looking at posts here (and everywhere!) and have found some parts lists, but most are so old that the links don't work. So as of right now I have some parts but can't quite get what I want to work! The idea being I want to use my ball lock disconnects for my home brew kegs, and just be able to pop them onto a sankey keg, but I have a pretty low height restriction so I can't just use a regular sankey tap with these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7VKJWJ/
So, what I have now in my possession is:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZQXRLQY/
Which has screw in barbed ends. Using this post I ordered the parts listed and have them in hand:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/thread...-sankey-tap-to-ball-lock.385478/#post-6185350but the elbows from mcmaster are too small for the MRBrew Coupler I have. Do I simply need a different coupler?

So, what I'm looking for help with, has somebody built one of these recently and still have their complete part list? Thank you guys in advance!

-Dave

 

[dirkomatic]

Couldn't you just get two of these:
NPT Male, 1/4'' to Keg Post Adapter 19/32'' -18 Thread

One of these:
Gas Side Ball Lock Keg Post (19/32''-18) with Universal Poppet

and one of these:
Liquid Side Ball Lock Keg Post (19/32'' - 18 thread) with Universal Poppet
?

I'm not sure what the thread of the barbs is on that low profile coupler

 

[sniperd]

I've got those parts coming, I guess the tricky part is the threads on the low profile coupler. I don't know how I can tell what the threads are. My last resort is there is a plumbing store about 40 minutes from me, you know the kind, a few old guys, and parts are in mason jars with handwritten labels, I suspect if I just go there they can make it all happen, but it has been hit and miss. I'm hoping somebody has built one of these though and I just can order what I need.

 

[twd000]

if you already have Evabarrier beer and gas lines, you could disconnect the John Guest fittings and use this: KegLand Type D Duotight Stainless Sankey With Relief Valve
Looks to be the same height as the original Sanke coupler

 

[dirkomatic]

I've got those parts coming, I guess the tricky part is the threads on the low profile coupler. I don't know how I can tell what the threads are. My last resort is there is a plumbing store about 40 minutes from me, you know the kind, a few old guys, and parts are in mason jars with handwritten labels, I suspect if I just go there they can make it all happen, but it has been hit and miss. I'm hoping somebody has built one of these though and I just can order what I need.

My guess is either 1/4 or 1/8 MPT

 

[DuncB]

I use these very successfully and they are reasonably low. Also you can have a floating dip tube and don't need to worry about taking the spear in and out to clean and the fiddling with the non return valves for closed transfer.

https://www.kegland.com.au/ball-lock-tapping-head-to-2inch-tri-clover-commercial-keg-adaptor.html

 

[NTBeer]

+1 for @DuncB solution. I use this to use sankey kegs as fermenters. Think I bought mine through Ebay or perhaps Aliexpress though. Cheapest SS, pressure capable fermenter solution over 5 gallons I've found.

 

[dirkomatic]

I was under the impression that the OP wanted to serve commercial beer without removing his ball lock disconnects.

 

[DuncB]

Ahh

I was under the impression that the OP wanted to serve commercial beer without removing his ball lock disconnects.

Then mine is not the solution.

 

[DuncB]

+1 for @DuncB solution. I use this to use sankey kegs as fermenters. Think I bought mine through Ebay or perhaps Aliexpress though. Cheapest SS, pressure capable fermenter solution over 5 gallons I've found.

You'll find my posts Room with a brew with this solution even cheaper for a pressure fermenter and you can watch your brew!

 

[Ki-ri-n]

I've got those parts coming, I guess the tricky part is the threads on the low profile coupler. I don't know how I can tell what the threads are. My last resort is there is a plumbing store about 40 minutes from me, you know the kind, a few old guys, and parts are in mason jars with handwritten labels, I suspect if I just go there they can make it all happen, but it has been hit and miss. I'm hoping somebody has built one of these though and I just can order what I need.

You quoted my post! My guess too is that the Mr brew threads are 1/4 and/or 1/8 npt. You would just need the npt to flare fitting if you have everything else.

I haven't built another one since that very first one. I had noticed the links were now outdated but never went back to try and update it with the latest info. Seems like that changes way too often and fast.

 

[sniperd]

You quoted my post! My guess too is that the Mr brew threads are 1/4 and/or 1/8 npt. You would just need the npt to flare fitting if you have everything else.

I haven't built another one since that very first one. I had noticed the links were now outdated but never went back to try and update it with the latest info. Seems like that changes way too often and fast.

Excellent! So pretend I'm a 5 year old. Could you link me to the parts I'm missing? I'm a pretty good brewer but as soon as it comes to threads and such I'm lost. About 10 years ago when I got all my kegging stuff setup I knew it all, but a lot of time (and beer) has come since then. What exactly are the npt to flare fittings I may need?

 

[BBBF]

I've built a few of these. You can get by with 1/8NPT x 1/4Male Flare to 1/4Female Flare x 9/32-18 keg post adapter to 9/32-18 keg posts. Don't forget the flare washer. It'll be a really tight fit on some sanke kegs and the plastic corny fittings will be resting on the sanky handles.

https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/flarem18xmnpt14.htmhttps://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/flaregasket.htmhttps://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/ffltogaspost.htmhttps://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/ballpostliquid1932.htm
It would be ideal to use a 1/8NPT X 1/4 Street elbow to 1/4NPT x 9/32-18 keg post adapter to 9/32-18 keg posts. Then you can angle the keg posts so the plastic clears the sanke keg, but the street elbow is more expensive and harder to find.

https://www.amazon.com/Parker-Stainless-Fitting-Degree-Street/dp/B000FMYB7Q?th=1https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/npt14tokegpost.htmhttps://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/ballpostliquid1932.htm

 

[Knightshade]

Is it accurate that a sankey adapter w/something like this won't work then? This is the solution I use for commercial kegs so that I don't have to change out ball lock fittings in the kegerator.

https://www.amazon.com/Keg-Coupler-Profile-Elbow-Bend/dp/B074DBCRKX/

 

[dirkomatic]

Ok... Might be a little crazy of a solution, but take sections of tubing and run them from the existing coupler. Then on the tubing from the gas in use these:

1/4 Male Flare to 3/8 barb
Flare gasket
1/4 Female flare to keg post
19/32 gas ball lock post

Then, the same concept on the beer side with a 1/4 MFL to 5/16 barb and a liquid keg post.

It would look a little funny, but should work. Not sure how much foaming would be an issue, though.

 

[dirkomatic]

Or better yet.... Just buy two of these:
Carbonator cap with barb
and attach with short pieces of tubing...

 

[sniperd]

Or better yet.... Just buy two of these:
Carbonator cap with barb
and attach with short pieces of tubing...

Lots of great ideas in here, but Whoa.. I like this a lot. No with height at all then. Easy!

 

[dirkomatic]

Lots of great ideas in here, but Whoa.. I like this a lot. No with height at all then. Easy!

If you go with that, please post back with the results. I'd be curious how it works out for you.

 

[sniperd]

If you go with that, please post back with the results. I'd be curious how it works out for you.

And it looks great!

My part list is:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N8CJ6D1/ - Kegco Keg Coupler, D System, Nickel (low profile) it says nickel but the parts touching beer are stainless steel

Stainless Ball Lock Soda Bottle Carbonator / Carbonation Cap with Interior BARB - STAINLESS BALL LOCK SODA BOTTLE CARBONATOR / CARBONATION CAP WITH INTERIOR BARB - two of these, note that the caps are the same, either can be used with liquid or gas. Neat, this is the key component. I put a picture up of it. It is basically the same as: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7VKJWJ/ - FERRODAY Ball Lock Keg Coupler Adapter - Sankey to Ball Lock Quick Disconnect Conversion Kit Fits to A D S G Type Keg Coupler FPT 5/8 Thread Stainless Steel Gas & Liquid Post for Homebew, but has a little barb screw in.

liquid tubing - from LHBS

gas tubing - from LHBS

worm clamps (4) - from LHBS

Now I just need a sankey keg

 

[sniperd]

And there was much rejoicing!

 

[dirkomatic]

Nice! Simple solutions are the best!