sanke conversion

[rcog]

I happened to find a used sankey keg at a yard sale so I bought it to try my conversion...........
I started by taking out the split ring that holds the ball valve in


https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107727&stc=1&d=1363309654


Then with a twist of the ball valve to line up the tabs in the slots the ball valve pulled straight out

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107728&stc=1&d=1363309654


https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107729&stc=1&d=1363309654.


I purchased a 2" tri clamp cover and clamp and drilled and tap 2 1/4"npt holes at approx 10 degrees

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107730&stc=1&d=1363309654


then spot faced a 3/4" dia x approx .100 deep on the bottom of one of those holes and silver soldered a 3/4 stainless tube in the spot face and cut it to the same length of the total length of the original ball valve and tube seems to work great

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107731&stc=1&d=1363309654

I did add a relief valve as you can see in the pics just for added safety

 

[rcog]

Now I have the ball lock fittings so this keg will attach to most any homebrew system

 

[tm999xxx]

Very nice

 

[user 125772]

I like the metalwork you did, but I cant help but think hooking up a D-Type coupler would be easy, affordable and versatile.

 

[rcog]

Ive had lots of compliments on this from my friends on how simple ans nice this setup looks thanks

 

[MaxOut]

Looks great! Good idea and well done!

How much $$ do you have in the conversion?

Could be used as a fermenter if you make one with a shortened dip tube.

 

[rcog]

I didnt really keep track.............The most expensive parts are the fittings I bought them from midwest brewing. The tri clamp parts were bought from MSC. So fittings total was about $22 Tri clamp cap and cover about $15. I did machining myself ...so Im guessing I have under $40 in it.. and fermenting would be a grest idea too

 

[tm999xxx]

then spot faced a 3/4" dia x approx .100 deep on the bottom

Lost me here? Have a pic of that?

 

[rcog]

I don't have a pic of the spot face. But in the last pic where you see the silver solder joint for the stainless tube that is where it is.. Basically its just a 3/4" cut .100 deep so the tube can slide in and make a better solder joint

 

[tm999xxx]

Ah ha..beautiful.. Annular cutter?

 

[rcog]

just a end mill

 

[rcog]

looking at getting more sankey kegs............ looks like Ill be building more

 

[rcog]

Almost done with a new version. This one has a relief valve in the tri fitting....Ill post pics soon....

 

[mattd2]

Almost done with a new version. This one has a relief valve in the tri fitting....Ill post pics soon....

I can see a side business in your future
Any reason why you couldn't go for a smaller diameter diptube? or do you need to use all the meat in the TC to thread?

 

[rcog]

Yes I need the large diptube cause the threads are at an angle causing an eliptical hole. There is not much extra room...

 

[OneFeather]

I would be interested in that kit!

 

[rcog]

Ill get some pics on here tomorrow

 

[acidrain]

What gasket did you use? I'm using the black rubber one with a lip, and it doesn't compress enough to get the clamp on.
I've also got an o-ring that fit's perfectly in the groove, and it clamps well, but the notches are dangerously close to the seal.
I'm wondering if the silicone gasket without the lip would be the way to go?

 

[rcog]

I have used a o-ring with sucess, also Ive used a specially made tri clover tri clamp gasket that is flat on one side to seal a 2" tri clover cap to a Sanke Keg Ferrule. This is a replacement seal for a Sanke Keg Fermenter Kit from Brewers Hardware

 

[rcog]

Here are the latest pics of the upgrade

 

[rcog]

Sorry last pic is blurry guess i got a little to close lol

 

[rcog]

Going to fill today wit my habanero banana beer for first fill with this upgrade

 

[tm999xxx]

did you have to dent the tube for clearance?

 

[rekoob]

oh man that is pretty slick. I have been thinking about making the switch or at least starting to make the swtich and this would be a great way to connect the sanke kegs without changing everything over at once.
Very Nice!

 

[rcog]

Yes the dent in the tube is for the lower lip in the neck of the keg. I might be able to adjust the machined holes but with the relief valve things are pretty tight..but the dent wont anything either so I might just leave it well enough alone....

 

[thejuanald]

Nice conversion! Being that I had a kegerator system before I got into homebrewing, however, all my couplers are all D-type sankey couplers so I have been on the hunt for 1/6th barrel sankey kegs so I don't have to convert my whole system to the soda keg couplers. At first, taking the ring out was a pain, now it takes about 30 seconds to take off and 30 to put back on. I like it this way because I am the only person in my group of friends who homebrews but I have lots of friends with kegerators.

 

[dozer5454]

That is awesome. Please let me know if you do start a side business.

 

[rcog]

I have thought about making some to sell........

 

[ChefRex]

Looking good, i could use a couple.
Care to share the recipe for the habanero banana beer? Sounds interesting.

 

[rcog]

sure I just made a smooth nut brown and last 5 min of boil I added 1/8 cup habanero powder. then added 5oz of banana extract in the secondary. I also waited an extra week in the secondary so I could soak 4 cut bananas in there.. so far it tastes great. Now I'm naturally carbonating in my sankey keg