Very Strange Pouring Problem.

[native86]

So what I'm about to say you've probably all heard before. But one of my kegs (corny) completely stopped pouring. After some trouble shooting it began pouring however slower than my other keg. And now it is getting slower. My other keg pours just fine with zero issues.

My below trouble shooting steps that have not resolved the issue...

1. Swap CO2 hoses from one keg to the other. Still no pour.
2. Swap beer lines from one keg to the other. Still no pour.
3. Swapped beer & CO2 lines in different orders from non pouring keg to pouring keg. Awesome pour through the lines. (How I realized it was the keg and not the system).
3. Put the CO2 line onto the beer out line to clear it. Still no pour.
4. Clean the corny keg post and out tube (no blockage or foreign bodies in post or tube). Still no pour.
5. Finally completely replace the corny keg post for the beer out. (which then allowed some flow but still not to the extent of my other keg).

Keeping in mind that during all the above steps my other keg was pouring magnificently. On all the same lines.

The only thing I haven't done is replaced the CO2 keg post, but I'm not sure that would do anything and I don't have a spare at the moment and I live in Japan. Or possibly a leak on the keg but I feel like my CO2 would have run out by now.

I'm completely perplexed. I would love some feedback! Thanks in advance!

 

[chickypad]

Sounds like either a partially frozen keg or a clogged beer dip tube. Is it a hoppy beer? IME just blowing CO2 down the out line doesn't always fix the clog.

 

[native86]

I don't think its a frozen keg, just because my other keg doesn't have any issues. And the bad keg is actually a higher abv than the other.

I also took the dip tube completely out and cleaned it and had no clogs.

And yes it's a very hoppy beer.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[day_trippr]

It's a mystery. You did everything I'd have done but found nothing.

Typically there'd be a clogged dip tube or post or disconnect (even faucet, I suppose) but you covered all those.
Even a post poppet not playing nice with a disconnect plunger was covered.

So, did that keg ever pour properly with this batch?
If not, how about an earlier batch?

Cheers!

 

[JohnSand]

A hop leaf or similar might block the dip tube with pressure, but drop free when the tube is pulled.
I had a car that would lose oil pressure over 45mph. It had a shred of gasket blocking the screen, but only at higher suction.

 

[native86]

So, did that keg ever pour properly with this batch?
If not, how about an earlier batch?

Cheers!

It sure did. This is the first time I've had a problem with it.

A hop leaf or similar might block the dip tube with pressure, but drop free when the tube is pulled.

That's a decent possibly as I did wet hop this beer.

I just bottled a whole bunch of beers from it today so it's almost at it's end. I'm ready to just drink the rest of it tonight so I can find out what the problem is.

Thanks for the responses.

Update* I switched from my American CO2 tank to my Japanese one and still have the same issues. There is enough evidence to propose it is the keg. I just need to take it apart and figure it out.

 

[JohnSand]

Good luck, let us know what you find.

 

[daveMN]

I saw that you changed the line, but did that include changing the black ball lock connection? Maybe the keg has a leak and no pressure? Just spit balling here...

 

[william_shakes_beer]

Also, sometimes keg lube can get caught in the poppet spring and collect gunk and debris. Would present as a clogged beer line. Try removing the beer poppet, completely cleaning off the old lube and reapplying lube to the rubber seals.

 

[IslandLizard]

If you have a universal poppet in the out post, you may need to clip one turn or even a bit more off the bottom. In many posts they tend to be a little too long and the QD poppet can't depress it down enough. It's all in the balance between those 2 springs.

 

[c673986]

I've had debris build up underneath the poppet springs, which can cause the poppet not compressing enough. I'd remove the spring from the both of the keg side and the tap side, then put a little gas on it. Then you should be able to run the debris out fully....then reassemble.