Buffalo tap replacement - with pictures

[subfaction]

Hi Guys,
I've just received a box of 'shiny' items from BES to get my crappy Buffalo tap replaced with something much more manly.
Just playing with the parts, ohh err.. and noticed there's no washers with the tank connector to avoid another BES order just for those, I was thinking along the lines of a 2mm silicon baking sheet cut to size...

UPDATED: I found answers on these two on the interwebs...
The question is where to put these.. just on the outside/inside or both? - from searching sounds like it's best on both sides.

I assume those baking sheets are food-safe in boiling wort? - after a fair bit of googling I think yes they are.

The parts I ordered, I'll try and document the build as I know there's a few out there thinking of doing similar.

BES parts I ordered:
7786 - 15 mm x 1/2" COMP x BSP PM, EXT THRD & BACKNUT - £5.82
tank connector, going to attach my 15mm copper drilled filter into this

10397 - 1/2" BSP F, S/S BALLVALVE, 3 PIECE - £12.83
rather sexy tap

14283 - 1/2" BSP TM x BSP F, 90° STREET ELBOW, 316 S/S -£1.50
I'm hoping with PTE tape I can get this fairly locked in facing downwards onto which screws...

14558 - 1/2" BSP TM, HOSE TAIL ADAPTOR, S/S - £2.35
Handy for extra syphon effect

17612 - 15 mm x 1/2" BSP, ADAPTOR, IMPORTED - £0.94
17633 - 15 mm x 1/2" BSP PM, ADAPTOR, IMPORTED - £0.83
These last two are in case I need to extend the hose-tail side with copper, hoping not to need them though.

Total with P&P £35.06

[subfaction]

Ohh and on using silicone sheet, how thick is recommended, I notice the ASDA sheets are 1mm thick, is that enough?
- I've ordered a sheet from ebay to cut my own, I went with 2mm in blue to match the tap:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SILICONE-RUBB ... 4d048698c6

[AdyG]

I have a 40L Buffalo and I've taken the tap off a few times for cleaning and can't remember seeing any seals on the inside of mine, I think it just has a nut. I'm sure the silicon sheet will be fine on both sides of the tap, and if they get worn you can always cut some more off the sheet.

Any chance of a photo of the tap when it's finished please... wouldn't mind doing this to mine! And are you fitting a hop strainer to the back? That's also quite high up my 'things to do' list!

[subfaction]

Right then I had a bit of time to play with my shinys , some pictures...

I cleaned everything with washing up liquid and rinsed to get rid of any dust:


I dissembled the tap and switched the bolts over to the other-side (facing away from the boiler) to allow easier in-situ disassembly:


The 90 degree elbow when tightened sat at an odd angle so I applied plenty of plumbers thread tape to make sure it sits nice and tightly downwards.
Also used the thread tape to attach the 90 to the tap body... Looking proper!


It looks like I still need to enlarge the tap hole in the Buffalo, just waiting on these to arrive to do that: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130843716109? ... 1497.l2649

The open/close motion on the tap is really smooth but it takes a fair amount of effort, anyone know how to loosen this up a touch, the bolt on the top didn't seem to effect it. I'm a little concerned that it might pull the boiler wall out of shape.

[subfaction]

Any chance of a photo of the tap when it's finished please... wouldn't mind doing this to mine! And are you fitting a hop strainer to the back?

Yes using my existing hop strainer, which is a length of 15mm copper with lots of holes drilled in the bottom half, I squished down one end to fit into the original buffalo tap hole, the copper is a touch longer than the diameter, so that it fit's snug against the outer wall of the boiler when the squished end is in the tap hole. It's worked really well, but I'll be cutting off the existing squished end of the filter and attaching to the new tank connector.
I'll get picys up as I progress, as I know this kind of thing is really helpful for those like me who like to ensure they can see what's involved.

[AdyG]

Any chance of a photo of the tap when it's finished please... wouldn't mind doing this to mine! And are you fitting a hop strainer to the back?

Yes using my existing hop strainer, which is a length of 15mm copper with lots of holes drilled in the bottom half, I squished down one end to fit into the original buffalo tap hole, the copper is a touch longer than the diameter, so that it fit's snug against the outer wall of the boiler when the squished end is in the tap hole. It's worked really well, but I'll be cutting off the existing squished end of the filter and attaching to the new tank connector.
I'll get picys up as I progress, as I know this kind of thing is really helpful for those like me who like to ensure they can see what's involved.

Cheers for the photos, that looks great! I bet transfer to the FV post boil will be much quicker and easier now!

[subfaction]

Just finished for today on this, I used the cheapo grinding drill bits and enlarged the hole, took maybe 10mins but was fairly easy with a bit of pressure applied, although I went through three of the heads


Cutting the silicon washers was much easier, I just cut them a bit bigger, then when on the thread used a scapel to trim them using the tank connector as a guide, nice neat end result


I also used a tip from here and made the inner hole a tad smaller so they would be nice and tight against the inner thread.


The main problem arose from my old hop filter:


...as I had over-worked (battered to hell) the end to fit into the buffalo tap, so... after cutting the end off, and trying to bend it to touch the bottom I'm left with 1litre of dead-space, not great, I think I just need to rebuild one and get one of those pipe-benders so I can sit it flush at the bottom like before (100ml if that of dead-space).


I hope this helps out those looking to do the same, just be sure of using plenty of plumbers tape on the threads so you can ensure they all point where you want!

THE MONEY SHOT!

[AdyG]

I never thought I would be that impressed by a tap... but yes that looks awesome! Great moneyshot too

I like the insulated foil jacket you have made for your buffalo too.

[subfaction]

Thanks Ady, yeah im happy with it, just miffed that I need to remake my hop stopper... Or live with 1l of losses...
The stiffness of the tap isn't too bad now its on but I'd love to know how to loosen it a touch.

[orlando]

The stiffness of the tap isn't too bad now its on but I'd love to know how to loosen it a touch.

I believe you have tried this but the nut at the top of the tap is the key, you need to loosen it off and then it will be easier to turn on and off. Try a tiny squirt of WD.

[subfaction]

Thanks Orlando, I'll try that again, this time with lube!

[subfaction]

Update - I sorted this out just before brewing at the weekend.
I used a spring type pipebender from screwfix and made a new hop-stopper from 15mm copper pipe.

Bent it to fit by heating it on the hob and bending using oven gloves, with the spring inserted:


Then drew 3 lines on the underside 1/3, used a nail and hammer to bang in a little dip on the tube for each hole, then drilled using a 2.5mm metal bit. The nail-punch is really handy to stop the drill sliding around.


Then I trimmed the pipe to fit maximising the length for a snug fit. Used some pliers to squish the end down sealing it shut.


Worked really nicely leaving only 200ml deadspace in boiler!

I should have used some thread tape on the tank connector - hop-stopper connection, I want to ensure I get a strong syphon effect. That done and some tube attached to the tap end and it should be awesome.

[subfaction]

Pictures sorted