Tapcooler Counter Pressure Bottle Filler

[ITV]

I'm reluctant to cut them but I may have to. I've got a pick hook around here somewhere. Thank you !!

Everytime I use a pick hook I end up sticking my finger, just a heads up.

 

[seanjwalker1]

Everytime I use a pick hook I end up sticking my finger, just a heads up.

All the sharp tools I have and tried, small knives, tiny screw drivers, micro hex tools...a lowly thumb tack with a hardened plastic end did the job in 30 seconds

 

[ITV]

All the sharp tools I have and tried, small knives, tiny screw drivers, micro hex tools...a lowly thumb tack with a hardened plastic end did the job in 30 seconds

I am tempted to jab my finger up front to get it over with anymore.

 

[seanjwalker1]

I am tempted to jab my finger up front to get it over with anymore.

Use a thumb tack, save your finger for genuine accidents

 

[camonick]

Here's to hoping all your Christmas wishes come true!

Santa got my list. Now I need to go test it out.

 

[3 Dawg Night]

Santa got my list. Now I need to go test it out.
View attachment 753452

I love mine! So much easier than the beer gun. The only problem I have with it is setting the PRV. I don't know if the spring is too stiff, but I end up having to tilt the bottle to let pressure escape. Other than that, it's awesome.

 

[camonick]

I love mine! So much easier than the beer gun. The only problem I have with it is setting the PRV. I don't know if the spring is too stiff, but I end up having to tilt the bottle to let pressure escape. Other than that, it's awesome.

I just filled 4 bottles with it. I also thought the pressure relief spring may be way too stiff. I have to unscrew it nearly all the way to get it to vent.
I do love how simple it is though and it’s much easier to clean than the the 16 feet of beer tubing and picnic tap I’m using now. I like the way you can purge the bottles with CO2 before the beer goes in. I’m sure after I use it some more, it’ll be awesome.

 

[seanjwalker1]

Santa got my list. Now I need to go test it out.
View attachment 753452

Congrats!! I looked at mine Christmas Eve deciding wether or not to try it again. Maybe after new years. I think the rubber stopper needs an improved design. Congrats though !!

 

[3 Dawg Night]

I also thought the pressure relief spring may be way too stiff. I have to unscrew it nearly all the way to get it to vent.

Min doesn't vent at any point. It has to be either a stiff spring or a stuck valve. I think I'm going to disassemble my valve, apply some keg lube, and see if that helps.

 

[franknbeans]

I'd say it's a stiff spring, mine's the same way. I saw somewhere that someone cut half a coil or maybe a little more and it helped.

 

[seanjwalker1]

Yeah like I said a few months ago it's a great little device but just needs some improvement. I'm sure version 3 or 4 is going to improve. Also I really think the keg line adapter works really good with it.

 

[ITV]

Min doesn't vent at any point. It has to be either a stiff spring or a stuck valve. I think I'm going to disassemble my valve, apply some keg lube, and see if that helps.

Mine usually is a stuck valve. I make it a habbit of pulling the valve off and spraying it with starsan prior to using.

 

[micraftbeer]

I used to get the vent poppet stuck all the time. Now my process after rinsing everything good post bottling, is to unscrew it totally and take the poppet out. Then I put the poppet back in sideways so the o-ring isn't sitting against anything, put the spring in and then just lightly screw the vent on since it's not assembled properly inside. Come next bottling day, I open it up and assemble it properly.

Before I started doing this, I'd find it almost always stuck to the o ring and the poppet wouldn't open. Getting it unstuck was a major pain.

 

[camonick]

An update on this device.
I used it again today to fill 15 (5 bottles of 3 different beers) bottles. I found that I could not insert it into one of my Intertap spouts. I tried and tried with no success. I had to swap spouts with another one of my taps to finish filling that style of beer. There must be a very slight difference in the machining on that tap. I also still think the relief spring is much too stiff and I’m going to cut off about one coil to see if that helps.

 

[franknbeans]

I haven't cut the spring, but lube didn't seem to help my sticking poppet. I got the Nano Canner adapter a few weeks ago and that was pretty disapointing, especially for how much it cost. That poppet stuck every single time no matter what I did.

 

[3 Dawg Night]

My poppet spring loosened up after a few uses.

 

[youngdh]

Agree with the tubing, I used mine once and put it away. I believe that it was intended to carry away any foam into a container instead of on the side of a bottle, which is useful if you don't have the pressure relief dialed in.
For the pressure relief valve, I temporary remove it prior to using to make sure that it isn't sticking.

I just received the tapcooler from northern brewer and paid additional for the PRV drain tube. The right angle fitting OD is bigger than the relief valve ID and won’t even go into the relief valve! I’ve reached out to NB on this and getting no response. Glad to hear the drain tube isn’t really needed. An option I should have saved my money on.

 

[wsmith1625]

Does anyone use this on a kegerator with a tower? I'm not sure I'll have clearance to fit the bottles on. I could order the extension tube but only if it's necessary. I also hear the ball lock adapter is a must.

 

[ITV]

I use the tap cooler with a tower. The extension tube is useful if you want the bottle to rest on a flat surface.

 

[seanjwalker1]

Yeah extension is best way to go if you have a short tower/tap. It's not that much and is a easy fix.

 

[burtom]

I bought one last year. I have a Williams Warn counter pressure filler that I no longer use. If you have forward sealing faucets the Tapcooler is ridiculously easy to setup, use and clean. I have lost one of the small washers though.

Me too. The Williams Warn worked but took so long to setup and clean.

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

Tapcooler is the best piece of brew gear I own. Regarding the valve sticking, I apply a tiny amount of keg lube to the o-ring after each cleaning.