DIY beer engine

[mjmottram]

Hi,
I'm looking to create some kind cask setup. Until now I've bottled and also used keykegs (along with an incredibly expensive dispense hire). I'm planning on getting either something like a King Keg, or a plastic pin (e.g. from http://www.breweryplastics.biz/). I really don't want to limit myself gravity based dispense as I much prefer beer from an engine, however, even second hand these are pretty pricey for a system that I'll rarely be able to make use of. There's a great DIY beer engine setup described on BYO (http://byo.com/hops/item/346-build-a-be ... e-projects), but I've not been able to find a UK alternative to the hand pump used (e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-RP800-C ... B000BGM2XG, cheap in America, not available anywhere near the same price in the UK). Was wondering if anyone had managed to put together a cask / engine setup who could give some advice or suggestions? Would be extra nice if the engine setup was easily portable.
Thanks!

[Jim]

There are a few threads on here showing peoples' beer engine set ups. I've used a pin before, but now I use an ordinary plastic hb beer keg with a modified lid to take the supply from the cask breather (which you need unless you have a lot of friends round).

I've not seen that hand pump before, but if you keep a look out on ebay you can still get bargains (though you may need to be prepared to do a bit of refurbishment). I watched numerous beer engines apparently selling on ebay for stupid money (e.g. £80 or £90) but then reappearing for sale again a few days later - it was obvious a lot of shill bidding was going on, and I bet that's still the case. You need to wait for a genuine seller to come along. I eventually got one for about £12.

[T1mjv]

Are you anywhere near Bristol?

[Fil]

patience and ebay are the answer, just wait for a hand pump in your area within your price range and it will eventually appear..

there is a limited market place for em and a shed load of pub closures weekly, some buyers may snap em up at 'Full retail ebay price' but they wont be repeat customers.. i think circa £30-50 is a reasonable price for a complete, engine in working condition probably in need of a good clean up... And dont be shy of bidding on 3 or 4 of em (for a reasonable cost) it would let you pick the 'cream of the crop' and pass on to forum members at a reasonable price too perhaps

took me a few months to ebay auction my brass 4 tap font for my kegs, well worth the wait in the end tho

[bobsbeer]

The pump in the OP is a marine water pump. Check out chandler shops, you may find one similar at a decent price.

[Fil]

pm sent

[jinjahbiscuit]

There are a few on the bay of evil right now. There are three together (not worked out how to paste links) at around 20 quid each, and another rough looking one at about a tenner. Also there's a lot of others at daft money.

[6470zzy]

Hi,
I'm looking to create some kind cask setup. Until now I've bottled and also used keykegs (along with an incredibly expensive dispense hire). I'm planning on getting either something like a King Keg, or a plastic pin (e.g. from http://www.breweryplastics.biz/). I really don't want to limit myself gravity based dispense as I much prefer beer from an engine, however, even second hand these are pretty pricey for a system that I'll rarely be able to make use of. There's a great DIY beer engine setup described on BYO (http://byo.com/hops/item/346-build-a-be ... e-projects), but I've not been able to find a UK alternative to the hand pump used (e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-RP800-C ... B000BGM2XG, cheap in America, not available anywhere near the same price in the UK). Was wondering if anyone had managed to put together a cask / engine setup who could give some advice or suggestions? Would be extra nice if the engine setup was easily portable.
Thanks!

Give this one a look.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whale-V-Pump-M ... sr=1-1#Ask

[BenB]

On the Amazon.com site you can select international shipping- it works out at £32 (including shipping) for that Chrome Rocket pump. I'm trying to see if I can find a peltier fridge that will take an Easy keg....... One of those with a hand pump screwed to the top could be quite nice! You can get top bungs with a threaded centre section which I could attach a S30 valve to.... Quick squirt with the Hambleton Bard cylinder to prevent air getting in etc etc.

[mjmottram]

Hi, eventually got a pump on ebay for under 50 quid that looks to be in working order. Agree that theres a lot of suspicious bidding going on (potentially raised me to my max bid too) so would probably wait longer and try to find out about pub closures directly in future.

[mjmottram]

I also did still like the idea of a diy engine, but I there wasnt going to be a lot in it in terms of cost, plus would need to build a stand or clamping mechanism.