No Beer comes out!!!!

[Shypan]

Hi, This may seem like a simple/stupid question, but this is my first time kegging my own beer. I have built my own kegerator with a Y spliter so that I can have two taps (one with a sankey coupler and one with ball lock fittings). I am using the "set and forget" method to carbonate the beer and have it sitting in the fridge at 13 psi. It has been there for 48 hours, now I know that is not enough time to carbonate the beer, but if I open the tap, shouldn't flat beer come out? I have nothing coming out of the tap. Do I just need to wait longer for it to carbonate more so that something will come out, I did not think it would need much pressure to push the the beer out since once the tap is open some should come out and the head space in the keg should be filled with CO2.

Is something wrong? or am I just impatient?

Thanks in advance.

 

[JonM]

Something should definitely be flowing. Is the valve coming off the regulator open? (I .. uh, kinda made that mistake over the weekend )

Also, is it possible your tap line is too close to the refrigeration area, resulting in frozen lines?

 

[wilconrad]

Yes, flat beer should come out. A few possible problems...:

-your ball lock connector is not properly engaged, push down on it
-your lines/connectors are frozen, turn the fridge temp up
-the C02 isn't getting into the keg (pop pressure relief valve to test if this is the case)

 

[Shypan]

Thanks, for the quick replies.

I know that the CO2 is getting into the tank because if I use the relief valve it empties and I can hear it fill again from the co2 tank. This also answers the question if the valve on the regulator is open because I can hear it fill the tank.

I am not sure how to tell if the lines are frozen, they are in the fridge and cold, but I do not think i would say frozen.

I will look at the connector again.

Thanks again.

 

[JonM]

Dip tube might be clogged with gunk. Might want to check that as well.

 

[tjmac5071]

I would put money on clogged dip tube. Happened to me, took it out and replaced with one from an empty keg . Soaked in some pbw to clean

 

[Shypan]

I took the tube out and it is not clogged. Is it possible there is a problem with the shank and handle?

Thanks again

 

[Belenus]

Silly question, but is the dip tube post is connected to the hose going to your tap? Maybe disconnect the liquid side ball lock and gently depress the center post. Beer should flow. If it does then the issue is between the keg and the tap outlet.

 

[JonM]

Huh. Sounds like we've pretty well narrowed the problem down to something between the dip tube and the faucet though.

Do you have an extra keg from which you can scavenge parts for testing? I'd try to switch QR and liquid line and, maybe try connecting it to the other faucet, and if that doesn't work, then switch the post/poppet,

 

[Shypan]

I am going to try connecting the other shank. When I take off the ball log connection on the out side there is some liquid so I think it is coming up the tube.

 

[Rivenin]

push down slightly on the center though - see if any beer squirts out.
next would be to take the ball lock fitting with the tubing on it, put the tubing into a bowl (to catch all the stuff) and put the ball lock fitting onto the keg, does anything come out?
now that you have your faucet and shank unhooked, turn the faucet on, can you blow through it?

 

[RmikeVT]

For what its worth, on my very first keg I had a clog. I was so frustrated, ALL I WANT IS A BEER FROM MY NEW KEGERATOR! I ended up finding that there were hop flakes jamming up the post, preventing beer from flowing (I had a trickle). Maybe take off the post and disassemble the post spring, little button, and post and give it a rinse (remove pressure from the keg first, or you will get a shower).

Its hard to describe, my dip tube was clear, but the post has a spring in it and a button valve and hops had clogged the top of the post preventing beer from flowing into the quick connect and into the beverage tubing.

 

[porterpounder]

I had a buddy a while back who was having the same problem and after nothing fixed it (replaced poppets, QDs, lines and faucets checked) he discovered that the bottom of the dip tube had wedged/sealed itself against the side/bottom of the keg and nothing would flow. Never seen it before, haven't seen it since.

 

[Shypan]

Thanks I will check to see if it is wedged. I did notice that it was bent when I took it out

 

[wilconrad]

Thanks I will check to see if it is wedged. I did notice that it was bent when I took it out

FYI, some are supposed to be bent. If it has a smooth bend (roughly 30deg), that's how it's supposed to be. Ensure that this bend is pointing towards the center of the keg during reassembly.

If it is kinked or otherwise deformed from contact with the inside of the keg, that's the problem.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[Shypan]

I really appreciate the help everyone. It is great to have a place to turn to discuss and trouble shoot. I will let you know how it turns out.

 

[DrunkleJon]

You get it flowing? Is there any beer at all in the lines from the keg to tap? if no the problem is between the dip tube and the quick disconnect. if that is the case, try disconnecting the keg from pressure, relieving some of that pressure, swapping the gas in quiick disconnect for a beer out one (gray to be replaced with black) and send some gas through the beer out tube. This can help clear clogs from the post/dip tube. if you hear bubbles going through your beer, good. Swap back and try it again. If you do not hear bubbles, you probably have a QD that is not depressing the poppit or a very clogged post/diptube. You may need to rack the beer into a second clean keg and try that out.

 

[Shypan]

Still no go. Thanks for the idea. There is no beer in line

 

[DrunkleJon]

Sounds like it is definitely in the diptube/poppit or quick disconnect. Were you able to get beer to squirt out by depressing the post poppit? if so, your quick disconnect is possibly clogged or not depressing it enough.

 

[Johnnyhitch1]

Replace your QD hookups and make sure you have the pin and spring installed correctly. Without that pin it will not depress the popit valve.

Seems like thats the only thing left!

 

[Shypan]

I just checked and there was a tiny bit of beer in line. I cranked up the psi and will wait a day or so

 

[wilconrad]

I just checked and there was a tiny bit of beer in line. I cranked up the psi and will wait a day or so

Waiting ain't gonna change anything here, bud. You need to find where the obstacle is and/or the missing/broken part and fix it. Sounds like it's either the dip tube or the QD. Maybe pull those parts out and disassemble, then take some pics and let us have a look?

 

[JonM]

Replace your QD hookups and make sure you have the pin and spring installed correctly. Without that pin it will not depress the popit valve.

Seems like thats the only thing left!

This, 100%. Those pins are plastic and could break.

 

[DrunkleJon]

This, 100%. Those pins are plastic and could break.

Or if they (QD's) have been disassembled previously, can be reassembled improperly. I have done it before, the cap will not screw down all the way.

There is the additional possibility that the keg poppit was replaced with one that is too stiff.

 

[Shypan]

They are brand new discoNnects. But maybe something stuck on it

 

[Shypan]

Thanks everyone. . Got it going!!! ..I let it sit at 30 psi for a few days and that seems to have done the trick. It could have been something with the posts since I did take them out and reassemble them.