Repairing an Autpsiphon, can it be done?

[IrregularPulse]

That GD little flap at the bottom. Knocked it off with the tiniest poke from a tooth pick while picking leaf hops off. I've used this thing twice. IMO, it should just "fall off".

Any ideas how to get it back on? I'm not going to buy another autosiphon. This is the second one to fail for this same reason. I'm not using any force either. Just the tiniest little tap with a toothpick.

 

[bob1852]

nope. I've tried for hours.

If you find something that works, let me know

 

[Bobby_M]

This has been talked about a few times. Get a dowel or some other long object with a flat tip. Put some double sided tape or funtack on the end and jam that flapper on with the tabs facing out. Push it down and line up the tabs with the slots, push.

 

[DilvishTheDamned]

Attach the flap to a long pole (I used my racking wand) using something semi-sticky, like scotch tape (I used poster tac). Put the flap back into the autospihon using the long pole, and push it into place. (The pole needs to be longer than the autosiphon for this reason), and then pull the pole back out, leaving the flap attached to the hole. In theory the semi-sticky stuff should have stayed attached to the pole, and not the flap. In practice I found I had to flush out some of the stick tack using water.

 

[BBBF]

You could also drop a sanitized dime in there.

 

[nealf]

This has been talked about a few times. Get a dowel or some other long object with a flat tip. Put some double sided tape or funtack on the end and jam that flapper on with the tabs facing out. Push it down and line up the tabs with the slots, push.

This worked for me... it took about 20 minutes but I still have it (about 1 year later) and it's still working! I always use paint strainer bags when I deal with leaf hops now though.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Thanks for the tips I'll grab a dowel.

 

[bob1852]

Did it work?

 

[klyph]

I used hemostats to squeeze the tabs and pushed it in with the cane.

Then I promptly put a ball valve on my kettle

 

[Quan]

I used an aluminum arrow (archery) instead of a dowel. =P

 

[brewnickbrew]

I used hemostats to squeeze the tabs and pushed it in with the cane.

Then I promptly put a ball valve on my kettle

Me too.


I've broken 2 of those siphons now. My wife thought she would outsmart me "show me how it was done" -she broke it.

 

[Conodor]

I've had this problem 3 times now. the clip wouldn't stay in anymore. Very frustrating.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I've reverted to a piece of tubing filled with starsan. It's just so much easier.

 

[Mischief_Brewing]

I've had this problem 3 times now. the clip wouldn't stay in anymore. Very frustrating.

Same here. Just creating the siphon pulls the damn plastic piece out again. I got one use out of the thing.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Same here. Just creating the siphon pulls the damn plastic piece out again. I got one use out of the thing.

yep. I used my first one for over a year. Great. finally popped out. Bought the larger version. 2 uses, pop.

Used a simple piece of tubing last couple times. So much easier.

 

[Bobby_M]

If you gently separate the two tabs before you put it back in, it should work almost forever (as far as plastic parts go).