Need Help Switching to EVA Barrier and DuoTight Fittings

[Brooothru]

I like the clips. It seemed like they could get accidentally pushed in and leak if I was moving things around.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YGR576K/

I like the clips. It seemed like they could get accidentally pushed in and leak if I was moving things around.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YGR576K/

Just curious about the sizing. The link shows a ¼" circlip retainer. Shouldn't it be a 5/16" circlip for an 8mm fitting? I couldn't find a "stateside" supplier that carried the 8mm Kegland circlips. I did find one in Calgary, Canada, but shipping was $20 USD for a $4 order.

 

[marc1]

Just curious about the sizing. The link shows a ¼" circlip retainer. Shouldn't it be a 5/16" circlip for an 8mm fitting? I couldn't find a "stateside" supplier that carried the 8mm Kegland circlips. I did find one in Calgary, Canada, but shipping was $20 USD for a $4 order.

Yikes! The listing changed to 3/8" from 1/4". In any case, I ordered those because some else on here got them and they worked. They worked for me, too. Seems like they are gone now, but there are similar recommendations on Amazon.

 

[IslandLizard]

Just curious about the sizing. The link shows a ¼" circlip retainer. Shouldn't it be a 5/16" circlip for an 8mm fitting? I couldn't find a "stateside" supplier that carried the 8mm Kegland circlips. I did find one in Calgary, Canada, but shipping was $20 USD for a $4 order.

Instead of using plastic clips at an exorbitant price, how about using a short piece of solid core electrical/copper wire in the groove? It should hold its horseshoe shape once in there.
Or perhaps a skinny zip tie?

I've seen the locking clips such as these (5/16") at FreshWaterSystems.
Once you include the shipping they seem way overpriced too.
Always silly to place an order for only a few bucks... better combine and order more stuff.

 

[Brooothru]

Instead of using plastic clips at an exorbitant price, how about using a short piece of solid core electrical/copper wire in the groove? It should hold its horseshoe shape once in there.
Or perhaps a skinny zip tie?

I've seen the locking clips such as these (5/16") at FreshWaterSystems.
Once you include the shipping they seem way overpriced too.
Always silly to place an order for only a few bucks... better combine and order more stuff.

Yeah, the end price is pretty ridiculous, but it buys me peace of mind. The Brooothru Corollary to Murphy's Law applies:

"If a system fails, it will invariably fail at the worst possible time, and always in the least accessible location."

For me, that would be "any time" and the location would be "at the junction of the beer shank and the Duotight 6.5mm x 8mm reducer fitting inside a 3" Tower shaft." (x2 taps). I've already had to suffer through an over-night interior leak (and loss of most of an award-winning IPA) from a keg inside my kegerator, and the subsequent clean-up outside the kegerator in recent months. Not again! The only consolation was discovering the mess just as we were about to leave home for an extended 6 week trip. I don't even want to consider what we would have come home to if I hadn't decided to do "one last look" downstairs to make sure all the lights had been turned out.

Anyway, shipping and handling came to a little over $18 bucks for a bag of 100 circlips. That's better than $25 for a bag of 50, and delays in trans-shipment and customs with our neighbors to the north. Added value: It looks like they'll fit on my portable reverse osmosis system. I don't recall ever breaking any circlips when changing filters or the membrane, but I always seem to 'misplace' a few whenever I do. Likely outcome: I'll forget where I put the partially used bag, and end up ordering more.

 

[bailey mountain brewer]

Had my first leak last night... Luckily when cleaning lines so it wasn't homebrew leaking... the 3/8 pack of 50 on Amazon is still there if you scroll down. Just ordered for $6 and free shipping. Had no leaks for about a year, but I'll be snapping these on as soon as I get them.

 

[Knightshade]

Had my first leak last night... Luckily when cleaning lines so it wasn't homebrew leaking... the 3/8 pack of 50 on Amazon is still there if you scroll down. Just ordered for $6 and free shipping. Had no leaks for about a year, but I'll be snapping these on as soon as I get them.

Oddly enough..so did I. Went out to the garage on Sunday to carb some of the NA ginger beer I made for the kids and...20 lb tank I just filled up in late November is empty...WTF.

Have a really good idea of where it leaked too...but just haven't had the wherewithal to troubleshoot it since I know I have new hardware coming in anyways and I'll have to leak test that anyways.

When I hooked up a keg that should be carbonated by now had it not been for the damn leak...the gas post was really touchy. If I angled it too much, it was leaking to the point where I could hear it. So I just kinda angled it back out as to not be as extreme? Closed the door, left it. New SS posts...never had a leak w/the previous CMB ball locks. New duotight ball locks should be in on Friday..so I'll hook all that stuff up to the back up tank, leak test and report back. Interested to hear what others think of these too.

 

[IslandLizard]

the gas post was really touchy. If I angled it too much, it was leaking to the point where I could hear it.

That's the rubber o-ring around the top of the post leaking. It's either the wrong size or it's worn. Keg lube can help form a good seal against the hard surfaces, but not fill any voids. I hate using silicone o-rings for that location, they're too soft. Use Buna-N ("regular rubber") instead.

 

[Knightshade]

That's the rubber o-ring around the top of the post leaking. It's either the wrong size or it's worn. Keg lube can help form a good seal against the hard surfaces, but not fill any voids. I hate using silicone o-rings for that location, they're too soft. Use Buna-N ("regular rubber") instead.

Oh...veddy interesting. When I disassemble the kegs, I usually apply a layer of keg lube to the various o-rings but I have been not doing so w/the posts because I feel like I'm gunk'ing up the ball lock connector somehow. And I wouldn't doubt that I've probably worn some of them down from accidentally forcing the wrong connector to the wrong post on more than one occasion.

I'll make sure to inspect those o-rings as I'm replacing the connectors w/the duo-tight ones and/or apply a thin layer of keg lube. Thanks for the tip!!

 

[earachemyeye69]

Anyone else try RO water filtration fittings and line? It’s a lot less expensive than Duotight and available at the hardware store.

 

[day_trippr]

1/4" tubing could be problematic wrt dispensing setups, but it's the O2 permeability of the tubing that makes it a non starter...

Cheers!

 

[rgrrbt]

I converted to EVA tubing without investing in any duotight fittings using a tapered center punch tool and hot water.

View attachment 755913

Soak the center punch, and tubing ends in hot water for a minute. Then use the center punch to expand the tubing diameter, dipping both in hot water as needed. Once the tubing is the correct size, remove the center punch and insert the flared end of the swivel nut.

ScrewyBrewer, what size tubing did you use in that photo? Is it 4mm or 5mm ID?

 

[Dgallo]

ScrewyBrewer, what size tubing did you use in that photo? Is it 4mm or 5mm ID?

I’m not sure which he used but Your liquid lines should be 4mm for the most restriction. It will greatly benefit your pouring.

If you don’t have the duotight for your shanks or balllocks, you can heat up the tubing and use needle nose pliers and an expander to flare the ends of the hose enough to get them over a 1/4 bath

 

[ScrewyBrewer]

ScrewyBrewer, what size tubing did you use in that photo? Is it 4mm or 5mm ID?

rqrrbt I bought the EVABarrier Double Wall Draft Tubing - 5 mm ID x 8 mm OD tubing.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/length-of-beer-lines.672446/post-8725458