Fermenting with no c02 production

[Wez]

The 80/- that I brewed on Sunday appears to be fermenting quite happily, there is a 1.5" krausen, the SG has dropped from 1.052 to 1.034 there are small clumps of yeast whizzing around in the fermenter but it's not moved the airlock at all normally I'd expect the airlock to be going mad by now! There is no where else for the c02 to escape, when I press the lid lightly the water in the airlock moves.

I aerated this one very well (using an aquarium pump and airstone) has that got anthing to do with it?

Why isn't it producing c02? during fermentation anyone else experienced this?

(fermenting using Gervin English Ale yeast)

[steve_flack]

You have a leak.

You don't get fermentation without CO2 being released.

[Andy]

What Steve said. With my last batch I fermented 50% of it in one of those plastic wine fermenters with the screwtop lid. I wondered why there was no airlock activity after 12 hours and then found I'd cross threaded the lid. Put it back on correctly and the airlock burst into life.

[Madbrewer]

Doh! Di dthe same myself two weeks ago too!

[Redbloke]

Is it one of these -

http://www.leylandhomebrew.com/item630.htm

... if so I had the same problem with 2 of mine, I was told to smear Vaseline around the threads, although I'm not sure how safe this is: is Vaseline sanitised? I think a better idea would be to modify the rubber washer, the one supplied clearly doesn't do the job. Something I will work on.

... any other ideas anyone?

[Madbrewer]

Is it one of these -

http://www.leylandhomebrew.com/item630.htm

Yup one of them.

I usually use vaseline, and on this occasion was expermienting without using it actually . I settled for tightening a lot more in the end. I dont think Vaselines been responsible for any off brews but I generally make sure it doesn't even touch the beer! (For the sanitation reasons).

To soften the rubber washer you could also try heating it in a saucepan of boiling water and screw back on? That might seal better!