Opening Keg

[anteup]

I got a 5?gal keg for FREE. It is from boston beer works. how do you open it to clean it, fill it, etc.? Looks like it has a safety ring on it to keep ball valve screw in place.

 

[davis119]

edit..... oh

its a sixthel sanke keg

 

[TyTanium]

Sure you can.

Yuri_Rage has a YouTube video I think...just need a screwdriver.

Here's a helpful thread:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/sanke-keg-further-revealed-28915/

 

[Golddiggie]

Depressurize it first. If you don't have a sanke coupler then take it outside, or put it into the tub, and depress the ball in the middle of the valve (center of the top opening). I would cover that with a towel first unless you want to get sprayed with beer. Once you've vented the pressure get a small flat head screwdriver and pry under the first layer of the ring. Youll want to either get where there's a notch or someplace where you can get in there. I would go closest to the visible end of the ring for that. Once you have the screwdriver under it simply pry it up and go to the end your close to. Theb go the other way until you get it free from the keg. You can then simply turn the valve assembly to line up the notches and posts so that you can remove it. Once you do it a timw or two it gets really easy. Depressurizing the keg is very easy with a coupler too. You can leave a hose connected to rhe center (or liquid out end) so that you can direct it wheee you want.

 

[davis119]

guys he said wants to fill it not make a keggle.... what would you do with a 3foot my 8" keggle .........
its a 1/6 not a 1/2 keg .... if its 5gl

 

[cyberbackpacker]

Nothing stated above is incorrect davis119. They have shown the OP how to depressurize, remove the spear in order to clean and fill it as the OP requested.

That said, to actually pressurize, reverse the process. Hook up a coupler with a shut-off valve or a penny over the liquid out port (what I do) and then carbonate as normal. Getting the ring back in takes some practice, but after a while it becomes second nature and takes ~30 seconds to install. Use a wrench to re-install the ring; there is a tutorial on HBT here somewhere that shows the ring install process with the wrench.

Sixtel 5.16 gallon Sanke's are great for kegging, and I actually switched from years of using cornie kegs to using Sanke's over the last 12-18 months. Went from 16 cornies to 16 sankes and I have zero regrets, except that I didn't start out with Sankes.

 

[davis119]

Nothing stated above is incorrect davis119. They have shown the OP how to depressurize, remove the spear in order to clean and fill it as the OP requested.

That said, to actually pressurize, reverse the process. Hook up a coupler with a shut-off valve or a penny over the liquid out port (what I do) and then carbonate as normal. Getting the ring back in takes some practice, but after a while it becomes second nature and takes ~30 seconds to install. Use a wrench to re-install the ring; there is a tutorial on HBT here somewhere that shows the ring install process with the wrench.

Sixtel 5.16 gallon Sanke's are great for kegging, and I actually switched from years of using cornie kegs to using Sanke's over the last 12-18 months. Went from 16 cornies to 16 sankes and I have zero regrets, except that I didn't start out with Sankes.

oh...ok.

 

[anteup]

Success. Got valve off, youtube what would we do without it. Now to get equipment for it and use it. Thanks for the help. Knowing it's a sanke really helped.

 

[TyTanium]

I have zero regrets, except that I didn't start out with Sankes.

When I move to kegging (someday...) I'd like to start with Sankes...where did you get your sixtels? I haven't been able to find any.

 

[cyberbackpacker]

I traded some of my cornelius kegs for some, others I happened upon-- actually my first two came in a swap for some cornelius kegs, and one happened to be a 23L keg. I thought to myself, why haven't I been looking for these before!

They are definitely much more difficult to track down, and routinely sell for $65 or more on ebay. The key is to be patient. I had enough cornelius kegs to start the transition, as well as relocating and not being able to brew so I wasn't in a hurry/need to get them all at once so to speak.

 

[PistolsAtDawn]

CBP, would you mind elaborating why you like them more?

 

[cyberbackpacker]

One seal point. All of my cornelius kegs sealed, but sometimes liberal keg lube was needed.

Fewer parts. Self-explanatory.

Also, when trying to clean multiple cornelius kegs at once, I had to be d@mn sure I kept all of the fittings separate, because they don't all interchange.

Additionally, when seating the lid on a cornelius, many of mine only sealed if the lid was put on with it facing a specific direction. For example when I look down at it, if the lid has the pressure relief closest to me, it would not seal properly if I put it on with the pressure relief away from me. When cleaning, this could be a pain. And it especially odd since the lids are "symmetrical".

Sanke are the beer industry standard, and there is no reason to believe after 40+ years this is changing anytime soon.

Cornelius ball locks are now like finding a needle in a haystack at an affordable price. Two years ago I could buy all I wanted (pallets full) for ~$12 each. Now try and get them in any quantity for under $35 including shipping. Pin Locks are now what everyone that is getting into kegging are buying. Eventually those too will reach a leveling off point and there will be no "new to the market" kegs in bulk, and those prices too will rise.

No rubber tops/bottoms to get black all over my hands and the tub/laundry sink. Also no rubber/stainless interface to fail. I.e. durability.

Those are just some of the reasons... I really could go on!

 

[ajwillys]

I'm a sanke man as well. It's just a much simpler design. Agree with everything cyberbackpacker said, except I use a dime to block off my liquid port for carbing only. Never tried a penny, just grabbed a dime once and it worked.

 

[PistolsAtDawn]

Well those certainly look like valid reasons. Thanks, fellas

 

[anteup]

New question. Once you remove the stem and clean the inside how do you clean the ball and rubber seal?

 

[ajwillys]

New question. Once you remove the stem and clean the inside how do you clean the ball and rubber seal?

That's the hard part. I've taken them apart, but I don't recommend it. I don't think you're supposed to. I have a special coupler that allows liquid to flow both ways through the beer port (remove the ball inside it). I hook this up and use it to clean the inside as best I can. Another thing I've done is have the ball depressed while soaking the spear in a cleaning solution. I have a piece of 4" pvc with a cap that'll hold three spears.

 

[mags11]

When I move to kegging (someday...) I'd like to start with Sankes...where did you get your sixtels? I haven't been able to find any.

My local beer store guy gives me them for the deposit $30. Good luck.