Perlick faucet leak - help pls.

[finn_ethan]

Page 4 shows the parts list of my faucet.
http://www.perlick.com/pdf-files/Tapping-no-prices.pdf

I have the perlick 525ss faucet as above. Basically the problem I have is closing the faucet tight enough. There doesn't seem to be enough friction at the point of closing the faucet to keep it closed. I've had problems with drips, but also had a slow leak and lost several pints to the carpet.

I've tightened part #7 down and presumably a balance of adjustment exists with part #8 so the correct friction to holds it closed.

Can anyone help? What am I doing wrong and how can I adjust this properly.

Thank you.

 

[finn_ethan]

I've also taken all the parts out and check gaskets/o rings and everything is in place and undamaged.

 

[Hammy71]

Tightening part #7 was all my Perlicks took to seal completely.

 

[JMass]

I have 2 side by side on a collar that is part of my keezer that opens. When I open and close the lid one leaks and one doesn't. I'll have to try tightening that down. Sounds a little similar to tightening an outside garden hose bib/faucet or old fashiioned sink faucet.

 

[PseudoChef]

I'm having the same problem - really annoying. Tried everything so far.

 

[JMass]

I tried the Part #7 fix and it worked. I had no idea that was there. I've used the thing above it - which I assume is for tightening the tap handle and the Part #7 came loose somehow.

 

[PseudoChef]

Yeah, I tightened #7 big time on both my faucets with a wrench - worked for one, the other still leaks periodically. At least it's a step in the right direction!

 

[thisoneguy]

I know this is a really old thread, but I just wanted to say thanks. I've had a leaky faucet that's been driving me nuts and this fixed it!

 

[kylevester]

Found this thread on a google search...

I've been having problems with one of my Perlick 525 faucets. Came home about an hour ago to an empty keg and beer all over the carpet.

My first problem with this faucet was leaking out of the top, which I mostly fixed by replacing the gasket and tightening down the top of the faucet (#7). Every once in a while I'd still get leakage there, but making sure it was tight was usually enough.

Then I started having issues with leaks from the tap outlet. I'd push back on the handle to really close it, but sometimes it would leak a bit. If I then pushed it closed it would stop.

This leads up to tonight when I filled a growler with the faucet, and there was no leak. I go over to my brother's for the evening and I come home to roughly 1 gallon of beer all over the place.

After cleaning up and cursing the faucet, I took it off and inspected the gaskets carefully. I had bought some replacement gaskets previously and after popping out the one that the ball seals on, put the new one in. Didn't fit. So, I lubed up the old one, put it back in place and now all appears to be fine.

I did water testing before and after, and with the lube and reseating the after didn't leak at all with less force to close the valve.

So, my advice is to first remove the gaskets you can, lube them up and reseat them. If that fails, buy replacement gaskets. If that fails, buy a new faucet.

 

[sykorabj]

Hello, I too was experiencing a leak with Perlick faucet. Mine are the 545PC flow control type. The leak was due to faucet not shutting off crisply or being too sensitive to getting bumped. The leak cause seems to be similar for 545 and 525 series since most of the shut off mechanics are the same.

I tried tightening #7, but this made the faucet impossibly tight and hard to operate. After replacing all the o-rings, I was then able to tighten #7 down all the way to a hard stop while maintaining smooth operation. I believe the o-ring #2 was too large and this prevented #7 from being tightened down properly. Furthermore, when #7 is not tightened down, it looks like the shut off ball on the bottom of #5/6 doesn't properly align with the shut-off o-ring #3.

Another item that helped was matching up 5/6 for best fitup. I have 3 faucets total and one of them had a metal grinding feel to it. Trading the colars around seemed to help them all be smoother. It may be that they are hand selected / matched by Perlick and I got them switched. Or maybe it was always that way. In any case, that fitup seems pretty important.

BTW, the link above seems to be dead, here is a new link for perlick exploded view (page 5 now)
http://www.perlick.com/files/6913/7510/6171/2013_Tapping_web.pdf

 

[lordtakuban]

I'm having the same problems. I just came home tonight to an empty keg and at least 4 pints (All that was left in it) in the drip tray and on the floor. At least it's tile in my case. Anyway, I'll try out the tips in this thread. I tightened #7 quite a bit after cleaning especially this last time, but maybe it gradually gets loose or something. I did not use any hand tools, but I might this next time around.

 

[passedpawn]

I'm having the same problems. I just came home tonight to an empty keg and at least 4 pints (All that was left in it) in the drip tray and on the floor. At least it's tile in my case. Anyway, I'll try out the tips in this thread. I tightened #7 quite a bit after cleaning especially this last time, but maybe it gradually gets loose or something. I did not use any hand tools, but I might this next time around.

I have four 525ss perlicks on my outside keezer. If it starts showing dripping problems, I just disassemble completely, soak for a couple of hours in starsan, and put it back together. Fixed my leaks.

Be careful to leave oring #2, the LOWER one (see below) seated inside the assy. It's difficult to get back into it's groove. I'm fortunate to have lots of lighted magnifying equipment. Not sure what others do when this oring comes out.

 

[lordtakuban]

I have four 525ss perlicks on my outside keezer. If it starts showing dripping problems, I just disassemble completely, soak for a couple of hours in starsan, and put it back together. Fixed my leaks.

Be careful to leave oring #2, the LOWER one (see below) seated inside the assy. It's difficult to get back into it's groove. I'm fortunate to have lots of lighted magnifying equipment. Not sure what others do when this oring comes out.

That's what I did the previous time (clean and soaking) and it held for a little while. One other thing to mention is that I use these "Tap savers" that are little rubber-ish caps that go on the taps. I've noticed the slight pressure that occurs from putting those on seems to be what triggers some of the dripping. Basically, it's as though the handle moves too freely.

Both of my kegs are empty now, so I'm going to do a big clean and soak of the faucets before hooking up 2 new ones. Hopefully, the combination of the cleaning and really tightening down that retaining nut will do the trick.

Thanks for the suggestions and info.

 

[Yooper]

I have four 525ss perlicks on my outside keezer. If it starts showing dripping problems, I just disassemble completely, soak for a couple of hours in starsan, and put it back together. Fixed my leaks.

Be careful to leave oring #2, the LOWER one (see below) seated inside the assy. It's difficult to get back into it's groove. I'm fortunate to have lots of lighted magnifying equipment. Not sure what others do when this oring comes out.

View attachment 273247

This parts list is still accurate!

I just fixed one of my leaking perlicks, the old 525s thanks to this thread. I know it's an older thread, and I know people hate when old stuff is 'bumped', but I'm so happy to have found this that I just had to share it again.

And some of my old friends are still here! @passedpawn

 

[Broothru]

This parts list is still accurate!

I just fixed one of my leaking perlicks, the old 525s thanks to this thread. I know it's an older thread, and I know people hate when old stuff is 'bumped', but I'm so happy to have found this that I just had to share it again.

And some of my old friends are still here! @passedpawn

I finally gave up on the last of my Perlick Flow Control taps (all six of them). Maybe I was just repair/replace/cleaning them incorrectly, though 73 years of taking things apart and putting them back together again successfully would argue against that conclusion. Four months ago I bought yet another Nukatap (non-FC) and couldn't be more pleased with the performance and foam-free and chilled pours. I bought my first Nukatap when they first came out a few years back, and I'm yet to need to disassemble any of them. Just routine cleaning. Three 'Nukes replaced six Perlick FCs. Trouble-free so far.