SS Brew Bucket "dip tube"

[Rob2010SS]

So I received an SS Brew Bucket as a birthday present and I used it for the first time on a pale ale. The pale is ready to go to a keg tonight so I want to transfer it using the sample port on the bottom so I don't have to open the top.

Here's my problem... I didn't plan for this when I initially transferred the beer to the brew bucket so the "dip tube" (for lack of a better term) is pointed downward into where I would suspect the trub is at. I should have turned the tube sideways so it wasn't pointed into the trub.

Questions for anyone who has one of these:
1. Is there any way to rotate the dip tube without removing the lid?
2. Am I OK to just transfer using the sample port even if I get a little trub in the keg?
3. Should I just the sample port and just drain a bit until I start getting clear beer, THEN transfer to keg?

Thanks.

 

[GPP33]

Sounds like you should be able to just spin the spigot.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/ss-brewbucket-review.html

 

[shoengine]

Just spin it clockwise. It'll work as long as you didn't over tighten the nut.

I usually rack with my tube horizontal.

 

[orionol73]

Make sure you spin it to the right only or else it will loosen and leak

 

[Rob2010SS]

See, I thought that too, but I tried to spin it and it didn't want to move. Maybe I just need to put my big boy pants on and try a bit harder to spin it. Even then though, not sure how to tell where you're at as far as the level of trub and what not without opening the top.

 

[petemoss]

Funny, I have my first batch fermenting in my new brew bucket. When I set mine up I did so so that the tube would be pointed straight up when the valve is in the upright position. Prior to racking wort to it I positioned the valve and tube horizontally to the left. My thinking being that it would maybe not be submerged in the trub but that flocculating yeast and crap may not fall down the tube either. My plan is to rotate upward and begin draining. Once liquid stops I will then rotate slowly to the right to allow more to drain. I will keep going to the right and down until I see crap in the line and then stop.

I don't know if this will actually work or not, but since this is gravity fed rather than a siphon I think that I should be able to flow little by little as I approach the trub. Of course if the trub level is below the valve inlet then it would turn into more of a siphon situation and I will be screwed. Hmmm, maybe there is a better way.

 

[brewbama]

I don’t even use the dip tube anymore. I found the o-rings kinda jacked up and some trub where the tube and valve mate up. I didn’t want to have a problem and can’t find replacement o-rings local and I refuse to pay dollars on shipping for a penny part.

 

[Konadog]

See, I thought that too, but I tried to spin it and it didn't want to move.

If it acts like it doesn't want to move, turn it counter clockwise to see if it will loosen up a bit. Be careful because if you go to far it will start to leak.

Before your next batch, fill it up with water and rotate it back and forth so you understand what it's doing without seeing it (when its full of beer). You can also test it to see if its too loose and leaks this way.

 

[Rob2010SS]

If it acts like it doesn't want to move, turn it counter clockwise to see if it will loosen up a bit. Be careful because if you go to far it will start to leak.

Before your next batch, fill it up with water and rotate it back and forth so you understand what it's doing without seeing it (when its full of beer). You can also test it to see if its too loose and leaks this way.

This worked out perfectly. Thank you. Worked like a charm. Was able to rotate the tube after that

 

[Konadog]

Glad it worked! I messed with mine for a few days with water to figure out problems before I put beer into it. Had to learn it myself.