Moving to CO2 bottles and kegs, question

[Earendil]

Yesterday I picked up some used CO2 bottles, regulators, and kegs. Some of the stuff is beautiful, but I still plan to refurbish what I can.

The question is, how do people usually screw this up? What mistakes are common?

Thank you for sharing your hard earned advice and warning!

(pictures attached for fun)

 

[Rob2010SS]

The first things I'd do is get some new o-rings for all the posts and the lids. Disassemble the posts to clean/check them out.

Make sure the tanks are not expired. My LHBS won't fill the tanks if the date on the tanks is expired.

Maybe check the pressure relief valves on the kegs and make sure those are in good working order. I've blown through a CO2 tank because of a faulty one, once.

Other than that, hard to screw up. Do you have a kegerator or a keezer?

 

[bracconiere]

those regulators are probably going to need a rebuild kit....they look old, and mine usually start leaking after 4-5 years.....

 

[day_trippr]

Righteous score

Check the cylinders for the latest evident test date stamp. DOT requires a hydro test every five years for undamaged CO2 cylinders before refilling.
I'm going through that again for the third time with my three aluminum CO2 cylinders, and the next time I get my nitro tank filled it's gonna need a test or swap, too. Ugh.

On the up side, that 5 gallon corny looks pristine, and the two squat kegs looks like they're in good shape as well. I agree that investing in complete O-ring sets for all those kegs is wise, as would be cleaning them within an inch of their respective lives

The regulators look a tad iffy but I bet you can get rebuild kits for them if they prove to be leaky or unstable...

Cheers

 

[Earendil]

Thank you everyone for your replies! I probably ought to spin some of my follow up questions into their own dedicated thread, but I’ll try a few of them here first

Does anyone know what the squat looking kegs are called? The only legible thing on them is “Firestone”. I’ve browsed a few Homebrewing keg refresh kits and nothing seems to match, so I think I need a name to search with.

The big old regulator steps down to 0-100psi, and a secondary (broken) one steps down to 0-30. Given that I’m already into a rebuild kit and another step down regulator, should I just replace the entire regulator assembly with a new one?

 

[camonick]

The big old regulator steps down to 0-100psi, and a secondary (broken) one steps down to 0-30. Given that I’m already into a rebuild kit and another step down regulator, should I just replace the entire regulator assembly with a new one?

That regulator is a welding regulator, but will work perfectly fine for home draft. Is the smaller secondary regulator screwed into the “out” port on that regulator?

 

[Earendil]

That regulator is a welding regulator, but will work perfectly fine for home draft. Is the smaller secondary regulator screwed into the “out” port on that regulator?

Correct it (was) connected to the out. The plastic adjustment knob has broken. Overall it appears to be cheap and in bad shape.

 

[camonick]

Here’s how to make the Victor gauge functional... replace the 100# gauge (blue circle) with a low pressure gauge https://www.homebrewing.org/Gauge-0-30-PSI-rht_p_3330.html
Eliminate the broken secondary regulator (red circle... it’s unnecessary) and replace it with a shutoff valve.
Brass Shut Off 1/4
I wouldn’t be surprised if the regulator itself isn’t already in working condition... those are pretty durable.

Edit:
Is the high pressure gauge stuck @ 400?

 

[Earendil]

View attachment 693179
Here’s how to make the Victor gauge functional... replace the 100# gauge (blue circle) with a low pressure gauge View attachment 693178https://www.homebrewing.org/Gauge-0-30-PSI-rht_p_3330.html
Eliminate the broken secondary regulator (red circle... it’s unnecessary) and replace it with a shutoff valve.
View attachment 693181 Brass Shut Off 1/4
I wouldn’t be surprised if the regulator itself isn’t already in working condition... those are pretty durable.

Edit:
Is the high pressure gauge stuck @ 400?

Very helpful! Thank you!
So I take it regulators are likely to be precise enough at those lower PSI levels to work?

 

[camonick]

Yes sir. No different than the regulator in your third pic above

 

[camonick]

Just a FYI... those Victor regulators are $170-$350 depending on where you purchase them.

 

[camonick]

I asked in an edit above that you might have missed. Is the high pressure gauge stuck at ≈400? If it is, it might need to be replaced also. A new beverage regulator starts around $50 and up. You might have to weigh the benefits of repair or replace.

 

[Earendil]

I asked in an edit above that you might have missed. Is the high pressure gauge stuck at ≈400? If it is, it might need to be replaced also. A new beverage regulator starts around $50 and up. You might have to weigh the benefits of repair or replace.

I did miss the edit! It appears to work fine, as it’s actually measuring the tank pressure in that picture. Actually, it’s measuring it after sitting for 24 hours with the tank closed off from the gauge.

 

[camonick]

That’s a good thing