Air getting into transfer tubing

[DaveGillespie]

I've recently repurposed my old 33 litre stainless boiler as a fermenter. No elements in there, just a stockpot with a 1/2" two piece ball valve on.

The two brews I've transferred from the tap haven't filled the transfer tubing with beer so I suspect air is getting in. I've tried this with the following setups with the same results.

1/2" barb -> 12mm ID silicon -> 1/2" JG barb attached to black Corny disconnect, hose clips at either end
6mm barb -> 3/8" beer line -> 3/8" JG pushfit on black Corny disconnect, hose clip on barb

Same results both ways. Where am I going wrong?

[MTW]

Are you opening the valve fully straight away? I made the mistake of trying to do it progressively the first time from my plastic 1/2" tap and silicone hose, before realising I needed to let it go with max force, all in one. Then it just blows all the air through in one go and the rest of the transfer is fine.

If not that, the can you increase the height/ length of tube to get more head pressure? Maybe too much resistance through the disconnect without that at the moment...

[DaveGillespie]

Yes I did open it full up straight away. Wouldn't I need to shorten the tube though, not lengthen it? Less resistance that way.

[Fil]

the 'air' is probably co2 that was held in suspension in the liquid left over from the yeast activity, 'shaken' out of suspension by the transfer and the turbulence of the transfer.

[DaveGillespie]

That had occurred to me but I'm still somewhat concerned.

I'll test with water, that would show up whether it's CO2 coming out of solution or not.

[Fil]

If your using SS fittings its a good idea to use ptfe tape as unlike softer metals you cant apply a bit more torque /oomph to the final tightening unless yr Very strong..

[DaveGillespie]

Using PFTE on the nipple to ball valve and ball valve to barb joints as well.

[IPA]

I've recently repurposed my old 33 litre stainless boiler as a fermenter. No elements in there, just a stockpot with a 1/2" two piece ball valve on.

The two brews I've transferred from the tap haven't filled the transfer tubing with beer so I suspect air is getting in. I've tried this with the following setups with the same results.

1/2" barb -> 12mm ID silicon -> 1/2" JG barb attached to black Corny disconnect, hose clips at either end
6mm barb -> 3/8" beer line -> 3/8" JG pushfit on black Corny disconnect, hose clip on barb

Same results both ways. Where am I going wrong?

Why the cornie beer out connects? I doubt that you will ever get non pressurised beer to flow through them.

[DaveGillespie]

Well, I'm racking to a corny. Kegging down the liquid out seems fairly common.

[IPA]

Well, I'm racking to a corny. Kegging down the liquid out seems fairly common.

I use cornies and fill them via a length of silicone hose from the tap that reaches to the bottom with the lid removed and that works fine. Never heard of anyone filling via the out post unless it's a pressure transfer.

[Dads_Ale]

Well, I'm racking to a corny. Kegging down the liquid out seems fairly common.

I use cornies and fill them via a length of silicone hose from the tap that reaches to the bottom with the lid removed and that works fine. Never heard of anyone filling via the out post unless it's a pressure transfer.

I also just use a hose from the FV into the corny. Much easier to use and clean afterwards and you can raise the tube as the corny fills to maintain a good flow.

I wonder if rather than air leaking in you have an airlock caused by the restriction when using the corny disconnect.

[demig]

Well, I'm racking to a corny. Kegging down the liquid out seems fairly common.

I use cornies and fill them via a length of silicone hose from the tap that reaches to the bottom with the lid removed and that works fine. Never heard of anyone filling via the out post unless it's a pressure transfer.

I’ve started filling fv to corny through the beer post and it works well. Fill the keg with starsan first and push out with co2 and then fill. The flow is regulated by pulling the prv and it minimises air ingress. Have used the hose to corny method in the past as well and also works well but for longer storage beers the closed transfer method seems to be good.