What's the trick??

[Raillz]

Hey lads, I'm new to kegging and for the life of me I cannot get the gas lines onto the post. What's ya tricks other than just hot water???
Cheers in advance

 

[SouthBounds]

What size lines and barbs do you have?

 

[McKnuckle]

If you're struggling with quick disconnects (QD), then you're not alone. I have been brewing for years and I fight with them nearly every time I hook up a keg. I keep thinking there's a secret I'm missing, but I just can't seem to find it.

Make sure the poppet on the post is depressing smoothly - use a screwdriver to push it in. It should have resistance but not too much. It should also be flush with the post, not proud.

When you attach the QD, pull up on the sleeve first, place it on, lower the sleeve, twist a bit to ensure that it's seated, then lean on it with the butt of your hand. Fail? Keep trying. May need to re-seat it a few times.

I'm interested if others have better tips for us on this.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

Boiling water...

Boil some water and dip that guy in there for a couple minutes. A heat gun/hair dryer could help too. They are a pain to get on, but that means they're not likely to slip off.

 

[day_trippr]

It really should not take heroic measures to get a gas line onto an appropriately sized barb. Hot water or hair dryer/heat gun should be plenty, or something else is going on.
It would be helpful to get more specific info from the OP as "get the gas lines onto the post" isn't actually a thing...

Cheers!

 

[SanPancho]

Keg lube

 

[day_trippr]

Ok, so if this is actually an issue attaching disconnects to keg posts...

- dry fitting over any rubber o-ring or gasket is asking for more effort and potential o-ring damage. At least wet the post, better still use keg lube (silicone grease).
- there are two types of cornelius keg style post o-rings: those meant for ball lock posts, and those meant for pin lock posts. The latter are slightly thicker, and if fitted to a ball lock post can be a pita.
- over time, keg lube will cause Buna-N o-rings to swell. It takes quite awhile - well over a year - but it happens, and getting QDs on and off becomes tougher. A 100 count of the proper size o-rings is a cheap investment wrt making home brew ops easier...

Cheers!

 

[Deadalus]

Ball locks-
1. Gray goes on gas which is the post with a gash.
2. Thumb, index and middle finger lift up completely on the outer ring of the disconnect.
3. Keep the back of the QD, where the flathead slot is, against the base of your pointer finger.
4. Firmly push the QD from the back onto the post. Keep the post straight up and down while doing so.
5. Release the outer ring.

New QDs seem to need a little wearing in.