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Sticky/Leaky gas poppet?

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cpbergie

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2007
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Location
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The last two kegs that ive used and filled up have had a slight problem with the poppet on the gas assembly. When I added CO2 to the keg, and then took off the ball connector, gas was leaking. I can easily push on the poppet valve and it re-seats or something and is fine. it is also fine if I leave the ball connector on.

Anyone else see this before. Ive used the kegs before with no problem and the poppet looks normal to me.
 
Before you replace do what I did. A good cleaning and then given the whole assembly a good rubbing with keg lube.

It gets the rubber seal nice and lubey for a good seat, and it lubes up the spring for smooth "action".

Also, since it's the gas valve, it won't affect your beer (can sometimes flatten a good pour on the liquid post).
 
There are slight differences. Before ordering a poppet, dismantle the old one and clean it. Take a snapshot of it, so if cleaning didn't do the trick, you can order an exact replacement. With 14 kegs, I have three different poppets.

What is really annoying, is when the out poppet starts leaking in the conditioning chest. I've had that happen twice in the last three years. The kegs self-pressurized and the valves developed slow leaks. Nothing a cleaning didn't fix, but made a mess.
 
Thanks, all try another cleaning and use keg lube this time.

Ive never noticed brand names on my kegs. Is it printed on the side?
 
One thing you might try before replacing the poppet valve is placing another seal gasket on the gas/liquid pipe that the poppet valve sits on (raising the poppet valve slightly in the process)

Cheers
BeerCanuck
 
So does that mean northern Brewer sent me kegs with the wrong poppet valve? I didnt think they were interchangeable.
 
no, it means they sent you poppets that aren't yellow. Color has nothing to do with the size. (I'm sure there's a joke in tere somewhere.)
 
My Corny keg had two O-rings under the tubes when I purchased it. I noticed they apply more pressure on the poppet valve when the fittings are tightend down. Had no problems yet.
 
I had a leaky one before, and it was due to the one leg being flattened a little (One of the three little metal legs at the bottom). Bent it back gently, re-installed with no leakage.
 
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