Three Prong Poppet Valve Questions

[DPB]

I just received my kegs from keg connection and noticed that my poppet valves have three prongs to hold it into place. After some searching I discovered how to take them out, however, I've yet to see anyone post how to put the things back in. I ended up jamming them in with a screwdriver which worked for all but one. Is there a better way?

 

[samc]

Some poppet springs just sit inside the post and others have feet that jam up against the side of the post. They can be a bear to remove and replace without breaking the feet off sometimes. I leave them in and clean in place in that situation. If you got them out and want to put them back in I would look for a round dowel or similar to push them back in uniformly so they don't get bent out of shape or broken.

 

[bsdx]

I used a wooden chop stick from the kitchen drawer to pop them out, sometimes I thought I was going to break something but so far so good. Others just fall out.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Poppet valves have three prongs to hold it into place?

That's not what they're for...they're "stand-offs" that allow the beer/CO2 to flow around...

If you soaked them in water first (to dissolve the sugars) you can use your thumb to push them out.

 

[bsdx]

Ah thanks I'll try that. The kegs I cleaned recently last held pepsi before rinsing.

 

[SweetSounds]

I just place the poppet back in the post, and screw it down. The prongs sit on the flange of the dip tube, pressing it into the o-ring.

 

[Yambor44]

I just place the poppet back in the post, and screw it down. The prongs sit on the flange of the dip tube, pressing it into the o-ring.

+1 on this way.

 

[P-J]

There are many brands and styles of keg poppet & post designs. Some of them are made so that the legs of the poppet snap into place. The Challenger VI is one of them.

I made up a cut away drawing to illustrate what is involved. The arrow points to a ledge that the poppet feet rest on when pushed into place. To remove the poppet, the feet must be pried inward so that they come off of the ledge. This is rather tricky to do. Simply trying to push the poppet out will not work. It is latched in place.

When reassembling this style the poppet must be latched in place again or it will not seal properly.

Hope this helps...

 

[homebrewer_99]

I never knew that. Thanks. Still, the legs/stand-offs are there to allow beer/air to flow around/through them...

 

[Yambor44]

There are many brands and styles of keg poppet & post designs. Some of them are made so that the legs of the poppet snap into place. The Challenger VI is one of them.

I made up a cut away drawing to illustrate what is involved. The arrow points to a ledge that the poppet feet rest on when pushed into place. To remove the poppet, the feet must be pried inward so that they come off of the ledge. This is rather tricky to do. Simply trying to push the poppet out will not work. It is latched in place.

When reassembling this style the poppet must be latched in place again or it will not seal properly.


Hope this helps...

Paul,

In the past I just take the post and place it on a wooden work bench and push down on the poppet with a pointed end screw driver (looks like and ice pick on the end). It pushes right out. Then when I replace it, I just put it back in like one of the type that float, and screw the post back on to the keg insuring that it lines up with the hole in the post.

It seems to hold CO2 at 30 psi okay (thats how I store them after cleaning). Will this cause a problem down the road once it has beer in it at a serving pressure of around 11 psi?

Give me a call if you want.

Rob

 

[Yambor44]

PS. How the heck did you make that drawing??

 

[P-J]

PS. How the heck did you make that drawing??

The same way I do all my drawings. 4 different programs (some no longer available), lots of patience and determination.

But you already knew that.

It was nice talking with you again my friend. We need to do that more often.