Leaky Keg?

[Hoppkins]

I got a youngs 5 gallon keg a few weeks back. I only just kegged my fixby gold on the 26th. I noticed that some had leaked from around the tap onto the towel i had wrapped around.

I assumed it had been wicking the beer out somehow so removed it.

I noticed last night tiny drops were leaking from around the seal of the tap. I found by releasing the pressure by unscrewing the tap it slowed it to almost an unoticable rate. I jammed some blu-tack around the seal in an attempt to keep it in.

Is it possible the pressure was so high in the barrell it was forcing it out? I did notice what may be a small crack next to the seal maybe where they forced it in when it was made.

Would there be anyway to fix this? I dont want to lose anymore of my precious fixby gold (p.s i took a tiny taste last night and it already tastes great)

Thanks

[Hoppkins]

Ah right so the total beer lost is not so bad as i imagined. So i could just leave a towel to soak it up?

Would Blu Tack contaminate the beer within?

Would it be wise to drain it into another barrel now?

[Hoppkins]

Thanks Daab Your a god amongst brewers

[PieOPah]

The first barrel I bought leaked in an identical way to that which you have described. In a panic, I rushed out and bought a new keg, rush cleaned it (ruining my favourite t-shirt with bleach) and racked the beer to the new Keg (with hindsight I am surprised I didn't ruin the beer).

Before buying the new keg, I did try to tighten the tap but this seemed to make things worse and the rate the beer was spraying out was quite nasty.

With my new keg and more experience, I discovered that the problem was down the the tap not being on tight enough.

Now, I have the tap on as tight as I have been able to get it (using a towel and resulting in painful cuts on my hand when it slipped). Whilst I would eventually like to replace the tap for a drum tap, currently I NEVER remove the tap that I currently use. I just make sure I clean it as well as possible after the keg is empty. I have not had a bad batch yet!!

[SteveD]

Plastic Barrel taps with an inside locking nut are usually tight enough if you hand tighten them as far as you can, then turn the tap for a last quarter turn while holding the nut still, to finish it off. Therefore, hand tighten the nut with the tap spout pointing at 3 o'clock, then the quarter turn will leave it at 6 o'clock for dispense.

Sometimes that type of tap also leaks from the internal tap seal as well, the drips appearing from under the turning knob.

[Hoppkins]

i dont think this one has a inside nut as the hole at the top is too small for my hand to get inside. I think its just a thread that twists. I might try twisting some more later to see if this helps.

[PieOPah]

I might try twisting some more later to see if this helps.

Twist till you bleed That worked for me

[Road Runner]

I don't know this type of barrel, but would it be possible when orriginally fitting the tap, to put some plumbers PTFE tape around the thread? This should prevent any leaks happening.

Obviously it's too late now if you have filled your barrel I know.

[SteveD]

i dont think this one has a inside nut as the hole at the top is too small for my hand to get inside. I think its just a thread that twists. I might try twisting some more later to see if this helps.

Therein lyeth the problem 2" cap econobarrel. Yeah, screw in tap. Stick it on ebay to flog it, and then buy a 4" cap barrel that you CAN get your hand in..they're much better and last forever. I've got two that are at least 15 years old, and still look new.

[bitter_dave]

i dont think this one has a inside nut as the hole at the top is too small for my hand to get inside. I think its just a thread that twists. I might try twisting some more later to see if this helps.

Therein lyeth the problem 2" cap econobarrel. Yeah, screw in tap. Stick it on ebay to flog it, and then buy a 4" cap barrel that you CAN get your hand in..they're much better and last forever. I've got two that are at least 15 years old, and still look new.

I'm going to step up and defend the budget barrel, as a tightwad

I've got both king kegs and budget barrels, all secondhand. The King kegs are better because of the arm thing, but are they £15 better? Not in my opinion, and I would never spend the extra to get a king keg if buying new. There is a knack to closing the tap, but once I acquired it I haven't lost a drop.

[SteveD]

Horses for courses, fair enough. Personally it's worth £15.00 just to be able to get my hand in an clean it with no hassle rather than having to resort to gyneacology, and the convenience of a top tap. If that starts to leak, you can fix it without disturbing the beer, as I have done in the past.

[Hoppkins]

Fixed the leak by tightening like bad. No leak now

Thanks guys Want to keep every last drop of the fixby.

It smells GORGEOUS!

[Hoppkins]

I just use metabisulphate after it's emptied and shake the crap out of it and rinse well and repeat and allow a load of the solution to drain out the tap.

When i come to use it again i repeat.