OLD Pin Lock Cornies

[neumann]

My father-in-law came over to see my new kegging setup. After seeing my corny in the keezer, he mentioned that he thought he had some just like it in his scrap pile. Sure enough, last time I was over at the in-laws house, we walked out to his pile of stainless scrap and there on top were to pin lock cornies. Both basically intact except on was missing its lid, the other had its lid but the rubber top and bottom had been removed.

Here is my question and dilemma: these cornies are probably 20-25 years old and have spent a good deal of time sitting outside in the elements. The one without the lid has pine straw and rainwater just rolling around inside. If I replaced the o-rings, what are the odds these things would hold pressure? How hard is it to find a loose lid? Also, my current system is set up for ball lock, what would be better, replacing the disconnects or buying new tubing and disconnects? In the board's opinion, is this even worth the effort or is it just a better idea to buy some from somewhere where I know the kegs will be sound and where they will match my current hardware?

 

[Walker]

There is no problem mixing the pin and ball interconnects on one gas system. I have both corny and firestone kegs in use at the same time. The ends of my gas and tap lines have connections that screw onto the keg fittings, so I just put the proper fittings on the hoses when I rotate batches in and out of the system.

Also, the lids seem to be interchangeable on the two keg styles. My original pinlock lids don't have a manual pressure release valves on them, so I tend to use the good lids (from the ball-lock kegs) on the pin-lock kegs. never had any problem.

Having said that.... I'm not sure I would be jumping up and down at the prospect of old kegs that have been sitting in a scrap pile, but if you re-condition them and clean them thoroughly... I see no reason why they wouldn't be usable.