Nukatap Flow Control Faucets - Slow Pours

[JoeSpartaNJ]

I have had Nukatap flow control faucets for some time, not sure why originally I swapped them out for standard Intertaps. However, recently saw that they came out with a 2nd gen for the Nukatap flow controls and that the new internals were compatible with the first gen, and for less than $20 for 2 faucets, I ordered them, I also upgraded to the self-closing springs.

I had to clean my lines anyway, so it was a perfect time to do the swap. Went easy enough, no leaks like I have read about. My only complaint is that the new design pours extremely slow. I tried messing with the flow control (btw….the new gen actually can stop the flow) but compared to a standard forward sealing faucet, they are real slow. I also tried raising serving psi, but that didn’t change anything. Maybe too much restriction in the new design?

Anyone have any input?

 

[Broken Crow]

From your other posts it sounds like you have a properly balanced system (correct line diameter/length, correct pressures etc.).
Why do you have the FC at all? Sorry..not trying to be a dick, but it seems like people think FC taps are somehow 'better' and what's too often lacking from the narrative is that they exist solely as the solution to the problem of an unbalanced dispensing system. If you want to serve something at a higher carbonation level than your line diameter/length is suited to, then you use a Flow Control tap...otherwise it's just an inappropriate waste.
Sorry...not trying to derail. Inappropriate FC's, too often bought for lack of research or bad online advice like the 'CO2 blanket' or arbitrary 'secondary fermentation' just gets on my nut.

 

[JoeSpartaNJ]

Yeah, had no problem with balance before putting these faucets back on. I only use the flow control option when filling a bottle from the tap to bring it somewhere. Much easier than messing with serving pressure, degassing the keg, etc or buying a bottle filler.

 

[FogHTX]

It's really just a matter of rebalancing the lines since even in the full open position there is more restriction in the FC faucet than regular. I just lopped a foot or so off the lines.

 

[Broken Crow]

It's really just a matter of UNbalancing the lines

FIFY.
Too short or too large a diameter lines that make an unbalanced system are the very reason FC exists; A Solution to the Problem.
Cutting down your lines is kinda like puncturing your own tire just so you can use the patch kit you bought.

 

[FogHTX]

I enjoy the convenience of being able to instantly adjust the pour if I've switched to a keg that's over carbed or carbed to a different pressure than my baseline. Not sure why you feel the need to disparage folks who share this view. Peace.

 

[mac_1103]

I enjoy the convenience of being able to instantly adjust the pour if I've switched to a keg that's over carbed or carbed to a different pressure than my baseline.

Given the frequency with which we see threads complaining about how temperamental their FC faucets are, you just might be the only person who is actually able to instantly adjust the pour.

edit - he also said "If you want to serve something at a higher carbonation level than your line diameter/length is suited to, then you use a Flow Control tap..." which would seem to cover your point pretty well.

 

[ITV]

I'm not familar with Nukatap flow control faucets, but for Perlick flow control faucets you cannot use the self closing spring with them.

Maybe try removing the spring?

 

[sibelman]

If you want to serve something at a higher carbonation level than your line diameter/length is suited to, then you use a Flow Control tap...otherwise it's just an inappropriate waste.

This seems true until I contemplate swapping faucets (and owning extra faucets) for different beers. Or swapping beer lines. The extra cost of flow control faucets makes adapting to varying beers simple. For me, it's in no way a waste.

threads complaining about how temperamental their FC faucets are

My Perlick FC faucets don't seem temperamental. Sorry to hear others have trouble. OP's slow pours can probably be corrected by trimming his line lengths.

@Broken Crow's post seems uncharacteristically sharp-tongued, but I certainly respect his and @mac_1103's experience and opinions.

I think it's beer-thirty, so I'm gonna pour me some cucumber Pilsner, with somewhat restricted flow 'cuz my rig is balanced for lower-carbed ales.

Cheers!

 

[mac_1103]

This seems true until I contemplate swapping faucets (and owning extra faucets) for different beers. Or swapping beer lines.

I was imagining something more along the lines of having one or two FC faucets for the higher carbed styles and regular faucets for the rest. Personally, I only use FC for my traveling minikegs - you really need them when the line length is zero. Then again, too much restriction is rarely a problem when the line length is zero.

 

[sibelman]

one or two FC faucets for the higher carbed styles

Yes, that makes sense. As an ignorant and self-indulgent first time kegerator buyer, I just went with four matching faucets (and a four-body secondary regulator). Stainless Perlick got a lot of love in postings here and elsewhere, and I wanted to "buy once, cry once."

I could've saved >$100. I was building my brewery after a downsizing move, and the faucets were a small percentage of the overall project. Today, more experienced and better advised (by @mac_1103 and @Broken Crow) I might go with just one or two FC. I still value the per-keg regulators.

 

[Broken Crow]

I enjoy the convenience of being able to instantly adjust the pour if I've switched to a keg that's over carbed or carbed to a different pressure than my baseline. Not sure why you feel the need to disparage folks who share this view. Peace.

I Apologize.... I tried to quit smoking again yesterday and was being a real dick.
Sorry.

 

[sixstring]

I have two Nukataps, my first one, was with FC (Gen 1), and my second was without.
My FC doesn't have the spring, and it maybe pours just a tiny bit slower than the Nukatap without the FC (I always have my FC tap set to fully open, as I've never found any need to restrict it since I got my lines balanced thanks to the advice of several ppl here (BC, mac, IslandLizard and others all chimed in to help me out when I first got here).

I have had Nukatap flow control faucets for some time, not sure why originally I swapped them out for standard Intertaps. However, recently saw that they came out with a 2nd gen for the Nukatap flow controls and that the new internals were compatible with the first gen, and for less than $20 for 2 faucets, I ordered them, I also upgraded to the self-closing springs.

I had to clean my lines anyway, so it was a perfect time to do the swap. Went easy enough, no leaks like I have read about. My only complaint is that the new design pours extremely slow. I tried messing with the flow control (btw….the new gen actually can stop the flow) but compared to a standard forward sealing faucet, they are real slow. I also tried raising serving psi, but that didn’t change anything. Maybe too much restriction in the new design?

Anyone have any input?

One thing I've not seen you mention: maybe it's worth taking the spring out of one and seeing if that helps?
Did you put the flow control internal bit(s) in the wrong way round by chance? I don't know if they can be put in backwards. I don't know much about the internals as I was fine with the way the Gen 1 works.

Yeah, had no problem with balance before putting these faucets back on. I only use the flow control option when filling a bottle from the tap to bring it somewhere. Much easier than messing with serving pressure, degassing the keg, etc or buying a bottle filler.

I wish I'd thought of that before I bought a bottle filler Does the beer stay good in the bottle for around a day?


And BC, have you tried switching tobacco for vaping and reducing your nicotine strength over time until it's at zero? Then you'll find it's easy to break the final habit of holding the cig/vape and taking a drag, as there's nothing your brain is gaining from it. That's how I quit.

 

[Broothru]

I was imagining something more along the lines of having one or two FC faucets for the higher carbed styles and regular faucets for the rest. Personally, I only use FC for my traveling minikegs - you really need them when the line length is zero. Then again, too much restriction is rarely a problem when the line length is zero.

I recently bought a mini, forward sealing Nukatap flow control from Kegland. It’s small, light, works very well for ‘portable’ use and wasn’t very expensive.

My only downside complaints are that the plastic build is not very sturdy (durable?) and it’s difficult to easily clean. Being Kegland, the quick disconnect will also fit on a Gas In keg post. Not always the best way to mistakenly discharge CO2 instead of beer when using 20 gram cartridges.

Also pleased with the Kegland PVC Oxbar small volume “keg-ish” serving bottles. More convenient than a bunch of large growlers for transporting multiple beers. Not a lot of “thermal mass” for maintaining serving temperature however.

 

[JoeSpartaNJ]

I have two Nukataps, my first one, was with FC (Gen 1), and my second was without.
My FC doesn't have the spring, and it maybe pours just a tiny bit slower than the Nukatap without the FC (I always have my FC tap set to fully open, as I've never found any need to restrict it since I got my lines balanced thanks to the advice of several ppl here (BC, mac, IslandLizard and others all chimed in to help me out when I first got here).


One thing I've not seen you mention: maybe it's worth taking the spring out of one and seeing if that helps?
Did you put the flow control internal bit(s) in the wrong way round by chance? I don't know if they can be put in backwards. I don't know much about the internals as I was fine with the way the Gen 1 works.


I wish I'd thought of that before I bought a bottle filler Does the beer stay good in the bottle for around a day?


And BC, have you tried switching tobacco for vaping and reducing your nicotine strength over time until it's at zero? Then you'll find it's easy to break the final habit of holding the cig/vape and taking a drag, as there's nothing your brain is gaining from it. That's how I quit.

1. These cannot be installed backwards, or else it would not go together. The rubber washers on my gen1 broke, so I "upgraded" to the gen2. I bought new lines, so when I swap those out, I will take out the self closing spring to see if that helps, but I doubt it.

2. I have bottled off the tap and have had bottles last over a year, although I am usually serving these bottles that I pull off the tap the same night.

 

[mac_1103]

I recently bought a mini, forward sealing Nukatap flow control from Kegland. It’s small, light, works very well for ‘portable’ use and wasn’t very expensive.

My only downside complaints are that the plastic build is not very sturdy (durable?) and it’s difficult to easily clean.

I like mine too. And even though it does feel a bit flimsy it has held up well so far. I clean it by flushing with water/BLC/water/Starsan.

I bought new lines, so when I swap those out, I will take out the self closing spring to see if that helps, but I doubt it.

I'm pretty sure that Kegland says these are compatible with the spring.

 

[Broothru]

1. These cannot be installed backwards, or else it would not go together. The rubber washers on my gen1 broke, so I "upgraded" to the gen2. I bought new lines, so when I swap those out, I will take out the self closing spring to see if that helps, but I doubt it.

2. I have bottled off the tap and have had bottles last over a year, although I am usually serving these bottles that I pull off the tap the same night.

You may be confusing the two taps. I have several Gen 1 Nukataps, some of which are flow control.

The one I’m referring to is this one:

 

[mac_1103]

The one I’m referring to is this one

He's not talking about the mini. I don't think there's a second generation mini. He started the thread about these: NukaTap® Stainless Steel Beer Faucet | Flow Control Gen 2 | Forward Sealing (note - I don't know if he got them from that vendor). I'm the one who brought up minikegs and FC mini faucets. The Nukatap mini is not a flow control faucet, but as you show it can be used with a flow control QD.

 

[Willy]

I was imagining something more along the lines of having one or two FC faucets for the higher carbed styles and regular faucets for the rest. Personally, I only use FC for my traveling minikegs - you really need them when the line length is zero. Then again, too much restriction is rarely a problem when the line length is zero.

Yep. That is how I am setup. Two NukaTap FC faucets and 4 regular intertap. Works great - I can take a brown ale that got a little over carbed without any problems. But for most beer styles - the regular, non FC works just fine.

 

[tracer bullet]

I've got Nukatap FC faucets attached directly to the specialized QD posts, sitting on top of my kegs. It's sweet to have no beer lines at all. I get about 1 oz a second with them.

Mentioning as a baseline for speed. It's slower than picnic taps with long lines, but to be able to mount directly to the keg is totally worth the extra time.

I did stick "Gen 2" parts in them, but not sure I gained anything.

 

[mac_1103]

I've got Nukatap FC faucets attached directly to the specialized QD posts

So FC faucets on FC QDs? Or am I misunderstanding?

 

[tracer bullet]

Sorry, the wording might be right but didn't give a clear picture. Found this on William's site, which is where I ordered them from:.

Nukatap FC faucet, and the specialized QD keg posts that can accommodate such things.

I can pour foam free, just a light head, about an ounce a second.

 

[JoeSpartaNJ]

Ok, let me clarify. I have the original Nukatap flow control faucets. Gen1. I replaced the shuttle with the new gen2 version which is backwards compatible with the gen1. The spring in question is designed specifically for the gen2 shuttles. The faucets are mounted to Intertap shanks on my tower.

 

[tracer bullet]

they are real slow.

I looked again but don't think you gave a time on pours, how long does it take to fill a pint glass?

I'm pretty sure the physics of it is going to mandate that the pours be slower. I think it's an unavoidable side effect - you've got such a very short distance for a pressurized beer to emerge into the environment. I'm kind of amazed how well they do, even at the slower speed.

If you have to go seriously slowly, far less than a second per oz like I mentioned, then you'll want to look at the standard things like the o-rings on your keg post and other common sources that might be sucking in air or adding a lot of unnecessary turbulence. Even the springs under the poppets can matter, as I've found out. Too many coils and they barely compress and can screw up the flow because the opening in the post itself is a lot smaller than intended. Your QD could have a similar effect from the other side.

 

[JoeSpartaNJ]

I looked again but don't think you gave a time on pours, how long does it take to fill a pint glass?

I'm pretty sure the physics of it is going to mandate that the pours be slower. I think it's an unavoidable side effect - you've got such a very short distance for a pressurized beer to emerge into the environment. I'm kind of amazed how well they do, even at the slower speed.

If you have to go seriously slowly, far less than a second per oz like I mentioned, then you'll want to look at the standard things like the o-rings on your keg post and other common sources that might be sucking in air or adding a lot of unnecessary turbulence. Even the springs under the poppets can matter, as I've found out. Too many coils and they barely compress and can screw up the flow because the opening in the post itself is a lot smaller than intended. Your QD could have a similar effect from the other side.

I would say it takes 1.5 to 2 times longer to put a standard pint that a standard faucet.

 

[sibelman]

Maybe timing in seconds (standard and restricted) and ounces in your pint would help others to better understand what you're experiencing.