Recently Bought a 2 Corny System from Midwest- I CANNOT get them apart

[thomascbucher]

Hello All,

I recently bought the 2 used ball lock Cornelius keg set from Midwest.

I am trying to disassemble the posts to give it a good lookover and scrub down before i planned to brew another batch and rack the current one in to carb it up sunday.

I CANT get them to come loose, not even a little. I am giving it the old rightsy tightsy lefty loosy and cant get anything. I bought an open ended 7/8" wrench, 11/16" open ended wrench and tried using a socket wrench but it doesn't work. I was slamming the handle of those tools with a rubber mallet and still getting nothing.

Are the threads loosened by turning them to the right? Does Bruce Banner assemble the kegs at Midwest and I just happened to have mine put together when he was having a bad day? I am going to try a drill with a socket tonight but was under the impression from everything I read that I wouldn't need power tools for normal keg use/dis-assembly/cleaning/re-assembling.

I wont have another free weekend for over a month and really want to get this done this week but have encountered nothing but frustration.

Any tips?

 

[Face Eater]

They come apart by turning counter clockwise. not sure any real tips other than that. Do you have a longer wrench for more leverage? Or a piece of pipe you can put over the wrench to increase it's length? This is my only suggestion other than putting it on a drill or impact for more torque.

 

[Gartywood]

I've had my share of trouble disassembling kegs. The first few I cut myself on the keg opening when the post finally moved. They can be really tough make sure to hold the keg completely securely so it doesn't move when you use the mallet. If they are really really stuck you could try penetrating oil but you'll have to make sure that it is cleaned off 100%

 

[gavball6]

If the keg is moving, try sitting on it while trying to loosen the post with the wrench between your legs... I think I may have seen that technique on one of the Northern Brewer TV videos.

 

[RDWHAHB]

Never had trouble, but sounds like a job for an impact wrench to me.

 

[Bobby_M]

Two people. Lay it down on a carpet and one person straddles it with all their weight and someone else stands on the ratchet.

 

[eastoak]

or just leave them alone. i bought a keg from midwest, all i did was run star san through it and the beer has been fine for a month so far.

 

[TimpanogosSlim]

yeah, impact wrench if you've got the right socket . . .

Also have a friend help you. Try heating it up with a hair dryer or something too.

 

[ab12]

Is the lid on the keg? Just make sure the keg has no pressure in it. You'll have a pretty hard time if there is pressure in the keg.