Regulator

[mope]

Just picked up my gas bottle, the final piece of the cornie set-up puzzle. I don't really know what I'm doing though.

I screwed the regulator on to the gas bottle, turned on the tap a little and it feels like air is coming out through the thread of the gold coloured connector to the gas bottle (see picture). I would of thought this implies a dodgy connection, but it seems unlikely. Any ideas? Also on the main dials, which way do I turn the screws to inc/dec the pressure?

[Northern Brewer]

Clockwise to increase and anti-clockwise to decrease. However, the dials reflect the pressure within the vessel they are connected to. So if you were to connect an outlet to a Corny and then charge it with 5lbs, turning the screw anti-clockwise will not affect the dial's reading because there remains 5lbs of pressure in the keg. Only once that pressure is relieved, through drawing a pint or whatever, will the dial move anti-clockwise to indicate a lower pressure within the vessel.

[mope]

Cheers. Had another play with it, managed to get the needle up on the output which is connected to the cornie, but as soon as the gas was off it went back down to zero which seems to fit in with theory that gas is leaking out of the connection to the keg. Wondering now whether its an issue with the cylinder or the reg.. or have I missed something.

[jamesb]

You might need a washer. However, try a bucketload of PTFE tape on the thread first.

[kevron]

could be that the rubber washer is missing from were the gauge connects to the bottle of co2

[mope]

Aha. So where does the washer go?

[Jim]

You should definitely have a sealing washer on there. It should go inside the brass connector so that when that's tightened up it mates with the flat bit on top of the gas outlet pipe on the bottle.

[mope]

Hmm, guessing it never came with one unless it got lost amongst all the foam pieces. Where could I buy one from?

[tangoman]

Here's the washers you need http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0312175432
best of luck

[mope]

Would these do the job?

PTFE tape appears to have worked as a short term solution. My cornie is now sitting in a puddle though, it appears beer/gas is leaking through the out post. What do I need to do stop this leak?

[jamesb]

Which part of the post, the bottom (via thread) or the top (poppet).

If the bottom, tighten the post up. If the top, just press the poppet in slightly and see if it fixes itself. If not, take the post off and give the poppet a good clean (check the seals are in there too). If that doesn't work you'll probably have to replace the poppet.

[mope]

Thanks James. Just to bump..

Are these suitable washers? Anyone know if I could source one from a HBS, hardware store etc.?

[jamesb]

I'd get the ones that tangoman posted. I can vouch that they work perfectly. The ones you had were from .us and I don't know if their bottles and regulators are different. You don't have to replace them every time you change the bottle either.

[Northern Brewer]

A good source of suitable washers can be found at the ironmongery stalls of local markets and within the plumbing department DIY superstores. Usually they come in a selection containing rubber and fibre washers plus O-rings etc, for less than a fiver. When my gas washer recently failed I was able to find several suitable replacements within such a selection.

[tangoman]

Should've read posts.....