Spartanburg Challenger VI keg woes

[SanPancho]

so i got a batch of used kegs, and have mostly gone through all of them and gotten everything sorted, but there was one keg missing a poppet so it sat in the back for a while.

Well, turns out its a Challenger VI. Crap. Two issues, one is that the threads on the liquid post look like they might have a bit of warping on the top, like somebody took a post with some other thread pattern and tried to muscle it into place. Maybe, im not sure. BUT- without an actual 5/8 thread post i cant say for sure. The one that came with it is not correct as it threads onto the gas post, which is 9/16. So i have two 9/16 thread posts, but i need a 5/8.

All normal sources only have them for like $15 bucks plus shipping. Now the issue is that the keg cost me about $25 or so. And since i bought in bulk, i ended up with a few more kegs than we need. the few others i sold, and this one was claimed for sale and was almost getting picked up until i realized the problem.

So the issue is that if i buy a correct 5/8 fitting, im probly at $40-45 bucks, so i could likely break even on the keg. Which is totally fine. Not trying to profit. BUT---- if the threads are in fact warped then im screwed out of the $15-20 as i dont think re-doing the threads is really an option here.

The other possibility is buying new thread post, and having it welded on. The only ones i can find are brewhardware for about $8 shipped, but they're 19/32 thread. So i'd probly need to kick the welder like 20bucks, plus the 8 for threads, plus a few for a post, and im probly over $50 and losing money on the stupid thing.

Or i guess just sell it as a fermenter? I do closed transfer so it doesnt work as a fermenter for me.

Was thinking of maybe trying to find a 5/8 or 10/16 threaded hex nut to test the threads, but not sure that's a very common thread so not sure if i could actually find it anywhere.

Suggestions?

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, you can get a Challenger VI liquid post for $16.31 delivered.
Could you pull the post from a good keg just to test how it threads?

I suspect the threaded keg risers would follow some flare fitting spec, just not sure which. 1/4", maybe?

Cheers!

 

[SanPancho]

no, as noted above the keg came with two 9/16 thread posts as they both thread onto the gas side, but not the liquid. it was a big ass batch of kegs, i didnt really notice it amongst the others.
no way to confirm the threads are ok unless i can get my hands on some 5/8 -18 thread nuts. it'd just be an order and pray scenario.

not sure how common those threads are, so unfortunately im guessing this wont be as easy as rolling down to the local lowes/home depot.....

 

[day_trippr]

So out of all your kept kegs there isn't another Challenger VI?

 

[SanPancho]

exactly. i dont know if this was just a single challenger that was in the group i bought, or if there were more and they got sold off, etc. i just cleaned and tested and put them in use or sold off the excess, wasnt really paying attention to brand or anything like that as they all were ball locks, in workable condition, and held pressure. until i got to the last one.

so im sitting on one challenger VI, the rest are corny or no name.

no bueno.

 

[Jwin]

Use it to hold sanitizer?

 

[SanPancho]

kinda pointless. you can push it out with pressure so i'd need to siphon the star san out, or lift it and pour it out and im sure get tons of foam.

i guess it'd make a decent fermenter. and if i recall a 1/2" ID hose should fit right over the threads. i wonder if i could clamp it down tight enough over the threads to hold pressure? then you could at least ferment in the keg and then pressure transfer out of it if you kept it low, say under 3psi.

 

[Jwin]

Just put the liquid dip tube in the gas side
You would have to siphon to the keg that's going to be purged but if it's just a holding tank, you don't really want to waste co2 doing that anyway
If you could get a hose over the threads, you could always put an mfl barb on that

 

[SanPancho]

sure. just need some sort of adapter from 1/2 to 3/8 or 1/4 for the mfl threads.

in any case, as i was saying at the beginning, i already put the kegs i need into use. so this one is just sort of in the way now.

im not sure anyone would buy this guy as a fermenter, so im guessing i'd probly need to get it fully functional again before i sell it off.

unless somebody in the SF bay area or central valley is looking for a corny fermenter?

 

[SanPancho]

success. got off my butt and swung by Fastenal. took a while but we finally found a 5/8-18 nut that wasnt in a pack of 20 units. found the loose one and guy just put it in my shirt pocket.

so the threads seem to be fine. just didnt have the correct post. i'm ordering a new one now it looks like this guy is going back on the market.