Please help...Ball Lock Quick Disconnect on Corny Keg Not Attaching to Poppet...

[mrreindeer]

So I've kegged several batches without a problem. I have a Danby kegerator with a single tap and I've never had any problems switching kegs...until now.

I just brewed a Pliny clone that I'm looking to tap on Halloween and it's been on the gas for several weeks but at the time I kegged it, I couldn't get the QD on the beer line.

I figured I was probably rushing it and left the kegerator in the closet to address the problem later when I had more time. I was fine with this as long as the gas was on for carbonation.

So I checked it out this weekend and I still can't get the Ball Lock QD on the beer line poppet.

I released the gas to see if that was the problem and I still can't get the thing on the beer line. I'm raising the collar on the QD, putting it over the poppet, even trying forcefully to push it on there and nothing.

What's going on??

Should I take a wrench to the poppet and loosen it a little? Did I overtighten the poppet?

Is it possible that I reassembled the poppet incorrectly when cleaning before filling the keg?

Has anyone ever had this problem?

Thank you for any help you can give!

 

[E_Marquez]

Check the post o ring for cuts and nicks, use a little o ring lube if you have it, check the QD for dried beer remnants keeping it from seating.

The poppet valve (the inside seal and spring).. if you can see it sitting square in the post body...it should be fine...

The QD when fitting on the post only has to depress the poppet a few mm.... not seeing how misassembly could stop that ...

Is this a new to you keg? or one you have used before? is the QD new to you or have you used it before with this keg?

 

[IslandLizard]

Can you push the poppet down? I use a nail set.
Perhaps the pin in your QD is broken?

 

[h4mmy86]

You didn't accidentally put a gas post from another keg on where you liquid post goes, did you?

 

[mrreindeer]

The poppet valve (the inside seal and spring).. if you can see it sitting square in the post body...it should be fine...

Yep...sitting square...or round, as it were...the 'pin' of the valve is flush with the post body, if that makes sense so it appears to be fitting right.

The QD when fitting on the post only has to depress the poppet a few mm.... not seeing how misassembly could stop that ...

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too...

Is this a new to you keg? or one you have used before? is the QD new to you or have you used it before with this keg?

Not a new keg; I've used both the keg and the QD before...

Can you push the poppet down? I use a nail set.
Perhaps the pin in your QD is broken?

What is a 'nail set'? The pin inside the QD appears okay, although should it move when I pull up on the collar? Because it doesn't seem to be moving.

You didn't accidentally put a gas post from another keg on where you liquid post goes, did you?

No, I only disassembled the one keg and I'm quite sure I put the right posts where they belong... Having had a few weeks on pressure, there was definitely C02 in the keg by way of the gas post...

 

[IslandLizard]

A nail set or nail punch is a carpenter's tool to drive nail heads in. It is spike shaped with a flat or depressed point. They come in different diameters.

When you press the nail set or any other pointed object on the liquid poppet it should go down. If there is pressure on the keg, you will spray beer in your face, so keep your mouth open and eyes closed. Beer is good for hair. If you do it carefully with little pressure you can test that the poppet works.

The plastic pin in the liquid QD depresses the poppet in the same way, and the poppet pushes back on the QD pin opening that "valve" at the same time. If you disassembled the QD for cleaning and sanitizing, make sure the pin goes in the right way. It has a small (black) rubber seal on the bottom.

If you don't get beer, the poppet may be filled with gunk (hops matter), or the dip tube is blocked.

You can fix all these problems, without removing the lid. Just keep sanitation in order. Spray bottle with Starsan!

 

[mrreindeer]

Well, I was able to depress the liquid poppet (after disconnecting the gas and pulling the air release) and beer dribbled out so I guess it's not the poppet.

For some dang reason, I still can't get the QD on the poppet...and I actually haven't disconnected it to clean...

I looked inside the QD at that plastic pin and it looks intact and just like the one on the gas line.

What now?? I'm supposed to tap the keg for our Halloween party!

Thank you so much for your help, by the way...I'm completely stumped!

 

[IslandLizard]

Have you used that keg with the same post configuration before? How about the QD? Does it go on other kegs?

You can take the QD apart and check it. See it if goes on the post WITHOUT the plunger, spring, and cap installed.

You can always post a close-up picture of the liquid out post. It may help to see what's up.

 

[E_Marquez]

Seeing as a new liquid out ball lock disconnect is all of $6.00 or less....... I'd hit your local HBS place pick one up and try that.. Not really worth the time to keep troubleshoot a hunk of plastic.

The steel ball lock post is pretty indestructible in general other then the rubber seal on the poppet. If your not seeing any damage or deformed part of the liquid out post...... Hey thats an idea..

Take a few pics of your liquid post, top and sides... and of the disconnect.
Someone might SEE an issue your not finding.

 

[mrreindeer]

Have you used that keg with the same post configuration before? How about the QD? Does it go on other kegs?

Yep...yep...yep... No problem drawing my porter from another keg.

You can take the QD apart and check it. See it if goes on the post WITHOUT the plunger, spring, and cap installed.

I lack all handiness; I don't think I'd know how to take it apart let alone put it back together! About the extent of my abilities were exhausted when I figured out to release the pressure and thereby avoid that beer shower for my hair...

You can always post a close-up picture of the liquid out post. It may help to see what's up.

Not sure if this would help. It looks absolutely fine...but if I can, I will!

Seeing as a new liquid out ball lock disconnect is all of $6.00 or less....... I'd hit your local HBS place pick one up and try that.. Not really worth the time to keep troubleshoot a hunk of plastic.

Good point...but it does work with the other keg which points at the poppet as the problem...dang it...

The steel ball lock post is pretty indestructible in general other then the rubber seal on the poppet. If your not seeing any damage or deformed part of the liquid out post...... Hey thats an idea..

Take a few pics of your liquid post, top and sides... and of the disconnect.
Someone might SEE an issue your not finding.

I shall try but I won't be able to today...again, the post 'appears' fine...this is driving me crazy.

 

[IslandLizard]

This points to the post, doesn't it?

Take the liquid post of an empty keg and swap it out. Chances are it fits.
Use Starsan to keep bugs out.

 

[mrreindeer]

Okay...but man I'm pissed because I won't have time today, ahead of our Halloween party. Could there be anything else a moron like me could be missing?

1) QD works on another keg
2) Poppet can be depressed by hand, producing beer (which makes me think it might actually not be the poppet)
3) I'm very stubborn

 

[cmoore2]

It may be a gas post on there....move the gas QD over to see if it fits. The gas and liquid posts are different...but you have to look very closely to see it (I spent about an hour once trying to figure out why my liquid QD wouldn't fit on the post).

 

[mrreindeer]

Problem is that this keg JUST worked with a prior batch.

The only thing I've done is dissassembled the tubes for cleaning and sanitizing between batches and I'm pretty darn certain I put the thing back together properly...

Unless (and I doubt this) I swapped sides with the posts. The gas line works though. If I had the liquid post actually on the gas post, would the keg pressurize? Because it is pressurized...

 

[IslandLizard]

It points to the post! Maybe there's burr on it.
Did you put some keg lube on the post's o-ring? That helps to slide the QD over it. Maybe the o-ring is a bit large.

If that's not it, are you saying you don't have time to swap out the post as I suggested before?
You'll need a 13/16" wrench or deep socket, but a 7/8" will work if you're careful.

 

[E_Marquez]

Just in case they are switched...

Take a look at the profile differences between gas and liquid.. and the cut markings at the base of the gas post.

 

[IslandLizard]

Just in case they are switched...

Take a look at the profile differences between gas and liquid.. and the cut markings at the base of the gas post.

If he has them switched I'm gonna be pissed.

 

[Doongie]

Unless (and I doubt this) I swapped sides with the posts. The gas line works though.

I did this thefirst keg I filled. Gassed it up just fine, liquid side did not fit. Spent almost an hour because I didn't realize the gas side is actually bigger. Depressurize the keg, try the qd's on the other posts, if they fit switch 'em and you're back in business in 10 minutes.

 

[mrreindeer]

Well guys, you're going to kill me....seems either I didn't realize the poppets were different when I reassembled the keg or I had one too many beers while kegging (or both) but I swapped the QDs during the party and whattaya know...it worked. I, in fact, had switched the poppets upon reassembly.

The next problem I'm now dealing with is that the freaking beer tube inside the keg is completely clogged... With whatever hops from the dry hopping (my first experience dry hopping) were picked up in siphoning from the fermenter to keg.

During the party, I attempted to remove and unclog the tube to no avail. We couldn't get so much as a taste of the new beer.

What now??

Is the beer salvageable?

Do I transfer to another keg and use a strainer to strain off the debris that's clogging the line?

I'm such a moron.

And I won't even begin to tell you how I left the kegerator in the entry way to go into work the next morning only for my wife & in laws to find it leaking tons of beer from another keg I had hooked up since I couldn't tap my Pliny and didn't screw the beer QD tight enough...

 

[Mdsutton]

No attaché the gas line to liquid, you may have to hold it on, blow the tube clear with CO2. Sounds like the original problem is you have the liquid line on the gas fill tube, and gas line on the beer pick up tube. Is that correct?

 

[mrreindeer]

Yes, on the original problem which finally was solved....on to the next. I imagine the only way to resolve this one would be to transfer and strain to a new keg, right?

 

[Cider123]

No attaché the gas line to liquid, you may have to hold it on, blow the tube clear with CO2. Sounds like the original problem is you have the liquid line on the gas fill tube, and gas line on the beer pick up tube. Is that correct?

It sounds like the suggestion above is to try hooking up the gas line QR
to you liquid poppet briefly so you can force a burst of CO2 gas through the dip tube and clear it. Yes?

If that didn't work, I might try cranking up the psi to 3x the serving pressure to see if that might force the dip tube clear. We force carb with that much pressure so no worries with the tank handling the pressure. I would try a few things before transferring the beer.

Maybe you could go to the archives and type in "clogged dip tube". I bet you will get a million former threads on this topic. Just do an advanced search.

 

[E_Marquez]

bleed keg, Remove both posts, install the gas post on the liquid out side (again ) hook up gas line with regulator set to 30 psi, open CO2 tank valve.

Turn off gas, purge tank, swap posts to correct positions.. THAT will clear the liquid dip tube.. BUT.. not saying it will stay clear..

If you have that much solid matter in the keg.... It may just clog again... if it does..

Id cold crash that keg 2 or 3 days at 34 deg.. then rack to a clean keg... If you flood the new keg with co2, and rack straight to it.. Id bet the beer will be fine.

 

[Yooper]

Yes, on the original problem which finally was solved....on to the next. I imagine the only way to resolve this one would be to transfer and strain to a new keg, right?

You've got some good advice, but I just wanted to help us help you out.

The "post" is the thing that you're talking about, not the "poppit". The poppit is the thing you pressed down to have beer or gas come out. It's hard to understand what we're all talking about when we use terms/parts incorrectly, so that's why I'm trying to clarify.

If you remove the post, take out the diptube (from the "out" side), and rinse it well with water, to take out the clog that will help clear it. Rinse the poppit as well, as hops debris clogs them up easily. I eyeball my long diptube. Hold it up to a light source and look through it. You could be able to see completely through it, to the light, and any crud that is in there.

 

[Coffee_Creek]

How are you at bottling?

 

[day_trippr]

[...]I eyeball my long diptube. Hold it up to a light source and look through it. You could be able to see completely through it, to the light, and any crud that is in there.

fwiw, most corny keg Out dip tubes have a bend in them for drawing from a center well in the keg bottom, so you're definitely not going to peer through their entire length. Out of my 14 ball lock kegs, only one is a side-well style with a straight Out dip tube...

Cheers!

 

[Yooper]

fwiw, most corny keg Out dip tubes have a bend in them for drawing from a center well in the keg bottom, so you're definitely not going to peer through their entire length. Out of my 14 ball lock kegs, only one is a side-well style with a straight Out dip tube...

Cheers!

No, but you can see light and any crud in there, even in the curved ones.

Try it. Take a gunked up curved one and hold it up to the light. You won't see much. Rinse it well, hold it up to the light and you'll see a clean tube, light at the end, and maybe some gunk on the sides. Take a diptube brush through it, and then look again, and you can see shiny cleaness and the light.

I have only 7 regular corny kegs, 4 racetrack, and 3 2.5 gallon kegs- but some of them have straight diptubes and some don't. Probably 1/2 and 1/2.

 

[mrreindeer]

Thank you guys. I actually did up the pressure on Halloween to try to blow it out but I think I'm going to have to settle with racking it to a new keg. I just think there's too much muck in there. Really appreciate all the help, thank you!

 

[Firehammer]

I had the same problem. I just seat the QD and then tap it gently with a hammer to get it down all the way. Then it locks and all is well.

 

[rocketsan]

How are you at bottling?

LOL, this thread is the reason why I bottle