Rare mysterious 37L Corny Keg

[Andreq]

Couple days ago, I was randomly browsing marketplace and found this Keg:

The spacing of the posts vs the side of the keg made me realized it's not our standard sized 5 gal. keg... so I immediately jumped online trying to find some info about this thing. To my surprise, I can't find anything anywhere. It's as if there's no trace of this thing on the web.

That's why I decided to register on the forum (after lurking for a while) to share some photos and the little info I got.

Here's some more photos (I did buy the keg, had to!) :

Next to a 5 gallons keg

Lid doesn't have a PRV and no plastic feet.

It has a very long dip tube, but its there

The only piece of information I got about it. Quick translation : 37L Keg | Max pressure 130psi, standard use pressure 75 psi | S.A.Q. Montreal, Quebec. (SAQ is our provincial alcohol store, they sell high proof alcohol, wine and import beer. I have no idea if they ever sold kegged liquid back in the day)

I plan to give it a good cleanup and overall "restoration" and use it as a pressure fermenter.

Will be a perfect vessel to brew 8.5 gallon that will fill my 5 and 3 gallon pairs of keg.

 

[Deadalus]

So no etched writing anywhere at all? Think there is anything written under the label? The position of the label doesn't strike me as covering anything however. Were those labels something typically applied by S.A.Q.?

It's nearly 10 gallons. I've never seen a 10 gallon with the rubber handles myself. Usually they look like your other keg but with two metal handles.

The post style and threads could be a clue as to manufacturer. It would be really interesting if the threads were metric!

 

[Andreq]

Think there is anything written under the label

I peeled off the label and there was nothing under it. There's no etching or any kind of permanent mark anywhere. Even the lid is completely blank.

It's nearly 10 gallons.

I think it might be 10 gallons but they labeled it 37L just for the sake of being metric and maybe leave more headspace (for whatever reason).

The post style and threads could be a clue as to manufacturer. It would be really interesting if the threads were metric!

Still trying to figure out if they're 19/32 or 9/16. They're not the same between gas and liquid. Liquid is bigger (19/32?), gas is smaller (9/16?). I need to dig into my posts stash to find out what can be installed on there as the original posts are quite crusty even after a good scrubbing to remove most of the pitted rust.

 

[Deadalus]

That seems reasonable about the headspace as 10 gallons=37.85l.

Here's what I have on thread sizes:
Firestone V Challenger, Firestone VI Challenger, Firestone Super Challenger
Gas 9/16"-18
Liquid 5/8" -18

Cornelius Spartan & Super Champion
Gas 19/32" - 18
Liquid 19/32" - 18

Cornelius R (pin lock)
Gas 19/32" - 18 (2-pin)
Liquid 19/32" - 18 (3-pin)

John Wood 85, Firestone Challenger
Gas 11/16" - 18
Liquid 3/4" - 18

Firestone A, Firestone R, John Wood RA, John Wood RC (pin lock)
Gas 9/16" - 18 (2-pin)
Liquid 9/16" - 18 (3-pin)

Are you familiar with passivation of stainless steel? I've never done it but it seems like it might help your keg and posts out some.

 

[Andreq]

Are you familiar with passivation of stainless steel? I've never done it but it seems like it might help your keg and posts out some.

I read all the mixed information about it and did passivate my SS brewtech bucket the best I could. I just bought 5lbs of citric acid to give this a shot again.

Already went ahead and used BKF to remove most of the rust.
There was small blob of rust inside the keg, took some persuading with an aluminium rod to get rid of it.
I can't reach the bottom of the keg using my arm, it choke my bicep before I can physically touch the bottom.

BFK did a great job on the posts, but the pop-it are kinda gone and I don't have any spare universal one to try. They're longer than usual "old style" pop-it, which I got plenty of.

I think I'll 3d print the 4 different thread sizes and see which one fit the best for each posts. I don't have an easy way to source bolt/screw of each.

 

[Deadalus]

Same document as the thread sizes has this on poppets

Type A is for Spartanburg or Firestone Challenger V, VI, and Super Challenger.
Type B is for Cornelius.
Type C is for older Firestone Challenger (no V or VI) and John Wood 85.
Type D is for older Firestone models A, R, RA, and RC, Alloy Products and John Wood (pin lock).

I'm guessing you may have already tried to fit the posts on one of your known kegs?

I've got one of these things but not this one--mine has fewer sizes--which is pretty handy. A 3d printer is pretty handy too though.
https://www.amazon.com/Thread-Check...9142&sprefix=thread+sizer,aps,80&sr=8-12&th=1

 

[Andreq]

I was able to screw a 19/32 post on the liquid side of the big chungus keg. Seem to fit just as good as the original.

I'm guessing you may have already tried to fit the posts on one of your known kegs?

Not yet. I have this pin-lock to ball lock converted keg that used to be my pressure fermenter, I think it got 9/16 posts on it. Should be able to at least try 2 different thread size out of the 4 standard one.

Left : Old pop-it from an old 3gal single handle keg. Right : 37L keg pop-it, the bottom "legs" keep falling off the stem.

Yesterday I screwed back the original posts just to pressure test the keg, I'll investigate a bit more tonight after work.
The liquid side got one of my old pop-it and it fitted nicely, the gas side wouldn't take anything else than the original.

 

[Deadalus]

I've never see a poppet with such big feet but when I looked online, that may be a CM Becker poppet. I think I would try a universal first though since it's $10.
https://www.morebeer.com/products/c...SuZ54xybtqVt9FmTnak9BrgxB9YYbbkxoCDW0QAvD_BwE

 

[Andreq]

Yep, hopefully a universal pop-it will fit in there, I just need to grab some at the LHBS or online asap.

 

[Andreq]

Little update :

Gas post is 9/16, got my "new" post from my old keg fermenter and it screwed perfectly. I purchased that post recently and know its a 9/16.

Liquid side is very odd, I just figured out the "original" post is wrong, it's kinda loose when threaded in. It's bigger than 19/32. Found a spare 19/32 post that screw on perfectly, but has too many thread and bottom out before sealing properly. I'll need to find one with a shorter portion of thread.

Also can confirm a normal lid works fine and seal properly. I did have to use the original o-ring (seem a tad wider?), but might have been my spare lid since it never really did well on any keg.

Old liquid post (5/8???), Thread, New liquid post 19/32

Old liquid post (can wiggle while threading in), thigh on the dip tube.

New liquid post, bottom out before fully tight on dip tube

New gas post, plenty of room before bottoming out, tight on the diptube

Edit: I'm tempted to just cut some mm off the liquid post and call it a day. Tried 2 types of 19/32 post I have and both have the same bottom out issue.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

Grew up in Montreal. SAQ used to sell bulk wine for restaurants and bars. That's likely what this was used for.

 

[Andreq]

So I couldn't find any different post locally or on amazon and decided to use 2 o-rings on the dip tube. Looks like it'll do until I find something better.

Now I need to figure out the best way to brew 8.5 gallons on my G30 system. Probably gonna end up with adding 2 gallons of distilled water to the keg fermenter.