regulator leak problem

[phschimpf]

My wife bought me a keg, tank, and regulator approx 12 years ago, just when I stopped brewing because kids came along. I just recently started back up and have fired up the keg. It appears that I have a problem in that my regulator is leaking from the keg pressure adjustment valve. I'm not 100% sure, but it appears to be coming thru the threads. I first noticed this when I cranked the keg pressure down after leaving it high for a day to encourage quicker carbonation of the beer (I'm not sure that's a completely valid approach, so feel free to correct me). As soon as I cranked the keg pressure down, I heard the leak. I've verified the source with soap bubbles. I've also found that it stops when I shut off the flow into the keg. Do I have any options other than replacing the regulator? I doubt I'll convince the store to replace it after 12 years, but I suppose I can try.

 

[Golddiggie]

If it's the shutoff/check valve, you could pull it from the body, apply some Teflon tape and install it again. That would be the cheapest/easiest fix. If it still leaks, or the leak isn't from the threads going into the regulator, then get one of these to go between the swivel nut (if you have one) and the fitting on the regulator. If you don't have swivel nuts, and the hose clamp is 100% sealed, then try the Teflon tape. Standard 1/2" wide pipe tape (found in most plumbing sections of hardware stores) will do the job just fine.

 

[phschimpf]

Thanks for the quick reply. The leaking gas is coming from the keg pressure adjustment screw, not from the output shutoff valve. Could the problem still be with the check valve?

 

[Golddiggie]

Thanks for the quick reply. The leaking gas is coming from the keg pressure adjustment screw, not from the output shutoff valve. Could the problem still be with the check valve?

Not likely. If it's leaking from the center screw, then it's probably the diaphragm, or another internal part. If it's a Taprite regulator, you can get a rebuild kit for it. It could just be that it dried out after a dozen years in storage.

 

[phschimpf]

Thanks. Definitely leaking from the center screw. Not sure what the brand is, but will check it out, disassemble to look at the diaphram (if I can figure out how to do that), and look for a rebuild kit. I really appreciate the help. Hope I can manage to save this excellent porter in the process.

 

[Golddiggie]

Thanks. Definitely leaking from the center screw. Not sure what the brand is, but will check it out, disassemble to look at the diaphram (if I can figure out how to do that), and look for a rebuild kit. I really appreciate the help. Hope I can manage to save this excellent porter in the process.

Most likely the body will be stamped on the back. or you'll see a name on the gauge faces. If you have a bench vise, you can place it in there (use some cloth to prevent marking it up) and use an adjustable wrench to open the body up. The rebuild kits actually include instructions on taking it apart and putting it back together.

As for saving the beer, just disconnect the gas feed and pull the regulator off the tank until you have it fixed. Or go to the LHBS tomorrow (if they're open) with the regulator and see if they have a rebuild kit for it or can help you out.

 

[phschimpf]

Thanks. Given that it doesn't leak when the outflow is shut off, I'm getting by for now just shutting that and opening it again when keg pressure drops too low. Couldn't get to LHBS today (it's about 28 mi each way)because caring for sick kid while Mom was away, and of course they're not open tomorrow (Sun).

 

[Golddiggie]

I'd get there as early in the week as possible, with the regulator. If they're any good, they'll either have a rebuild kit there for you to use, install it for you, or at least give you another regulator at a discount (keeping the old one).

 

[phschimpf]

Thanks again Golddiggie. Thought I'd give you an update and get your opinion as to whether you still think that is necessary.

1) I could not find a manufacturers mark anywhere on it, but it looks like all the pictures of Cornelius regulators, and not at all like Taprite or NADS. There's an odd logo on the low pressure gauge with the letters BCC, with the center C lowered and a vertical line coming out the top of it. I'd post a pict but I don't think it matters, as I think that is simply the gauge manufacturer's logo. I appear have a shutoff valve but not a check valve on the low pressure output.

2) I disassembled the black cover and took a look inside. It all looked pretty good except that I could see some brass shavings in the cavity where the low pressure output fitting was screwed in, so I cleaned that up and cleaned and wetted the diaphragm and inner rubber seals and reassembled. I also worked the pressure release valve a bit in an attempt to make sure it was seating.

3) When I put it back on a tank I got a bit of leaking out of the little hole in the black cover. I played around with the pressure and popped the release a couple times and it seems to have made it go away. I have to wonder now if my leak wasn't always from there, and I just thought it was from the control screw threads because of the proximity. I see that others have had problems from that little hole, such as this thread (there is at least one other describing this problem as well):

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/regulator-leak-tiny-hole-near-pressure-relief-45990/

So at the moment I no longer have the problem. But will it recur? I guess I could monitor it for awhile with manual turn on and off. It needs to stay off for awhile anyway as my beer is way over carbonated at the moment. But of course I'm nervous because I almost drained an entire tank with this problem already and don't want to see it happen to my backup when I'm not looking someday. Maybe I should rebuild it just in case? Or dig a little deeper with a look at the pressure release valve? That little hole appears to be some kind of backpressure release, but I'm not sure about that. I notice there is a little tiny hole in one side of the diaphragm assembly as well, and another thread says that both are supposed to be there. Wish I understood how that works, and whether it has anything to do with the manual pressure release valve.

 

[Golddiggie]

If it was me, I'd order up a new Taprite regulator and change over to that as soon as possible. I have one that was rebuilt, that's working just fine, and a new (dual body) from Keg Connection that's given me zero issues in over a year.

IMO, if it's done this once, it will do it again. Check the pricing from your LHBS and the pricing on the same regulator from Keg Connection. Since you're not in urgent need now, if KC has a better rate (on the exact same regulator) I'd get it from them. Actually, even if they come out a dollar or two more, I'd still get it from KC. Especially with how far away your LHBS is. IF the LHBS was within an easy drive, that would be different.

 

[phschimpf]

Will do, thanks for the recommendation.