17 replies to this topic

[ColdAssHonky]

I have accumulated nine kegs from various sources, each with their own dents, dings and quirks.About half of them have occasional trouble leaking at the IN and/or OUT post during or after carbonation. Specifically, I've noted that if I have four kegs in various stages of carbonating and serving, if I switch my two gas and beverage lines among them, I usually end up with an IN or OUT bubbling up after disconnecting the line. Some kegs will lose pressure from the IN side after a while of being disconnected.Since I don't know the age of the keg components, would you think it more likely to be a post or poppet problem? I can get a replacement post and poppet for $7.50, but can get just poppet for $2.50.Thoughts?(Not sure if post is the right word, but you know what I mean, right?)

[ncbeerbrewer]

Couldn't you just replace the o rings in the posts and see if that seals up your kegs. I would go that route it cheaper than buying a new post or poppet.

[ColdAssHonky]

Couldn't you just replace the o rings in the posts and see if that seals up your kegs. I would go that route it cheaper than buying a new post or poppet.

If I'm following you correctly, you're referring to the the o-ring that goes around the outside of the post? If so, I'm actually having this issue when the post is disconnected from the gas/beer line. I'm getting leakage from around where the poppet meets the top inside of the post.

[chuck_d]

If I'm following you correctly, you're referring to the the o-ring that goes around the outside of the post? If so, I'm actually having this issue when the post is disconnected from the gas/beer line. I'm getting leakage from around where the poppet meets the top inside of the post.

I've gotten this too. Every time the issue is that the poppet doesn't come straight up and form a good seal, it comes up off-centered. I just use a screwdriver to push the poppet down and get it to seal. I took a beer shower once because of this. I suppose you could buy a new poppet if your spring is having serious issues coming back up properly.

[ColdAssHonky]

I've gotten this too. Every time the issue is that the poppet doesn't come straight up and form a good seal, it comes up off-centered. I just use a screwdriver to push the poppet down and get it to seal. I took a beer shower once because of this. I suppose you could buy a new poppet if your spring is having serious issues coming back up properly.

I was thinking it should be more likely a poppet problem since the post is just a solid piece of metal. I did take a beer shower this evening trying to re-seat an out post poppet that just wont reseal correctly. I ended up just venting the keg for now thinking that without excess pressure it may not force more beer through the poppet?

[ncbeerbrewer]

+1 on Chuck d suggestion. Hearing you say your problem it reminds me too about those poppets. I took a shower too on the last keg I hooked up. I find this is a problem most frequently when the poppet wants to fall away from the keg post when you disconnect and take the posts off the keg.

[ColdAssHonky]

+1 on Chuck d suggestion. Hearing you say your problem it reminds me too about those poppets. I took a shower too on the last keg I hooked up. I find this is a problem most frequently when the poppet wants to fall away from the keg post when you disconnect and take the posts off the keg.

Yeah, I've been completely breaking down my kegs for cleaning each time. Each poppet makes it back to its respective home, but I've noticed this problem cropping up more and more recently... maybe that means I shouldn't break and and clean my kegs as often?

[ncbeerbrewer]

A thorough keg cleaning for each blown keg never hurt nothing. If you don't clean between beers then there is a serious problem for sure. Hope you solve your problem as well.

[Kansan]

Poppets are an often replaced part- a part of doing keg business. Making sure you have the correct poppet for the type of post you have is key. Most poppets work in most posts, kind of, but if the fit ain't just right your looking a quick problems down the road. Do your homework on the post style and the correct poppet and you'll save yourself some headaches right from the start. Probably within 10 fills you will have a problem if you do not take your keg apart after every drainage-- and you should!!! I have a real wizzo keg washer than puts the total whammy on a keg with a hot PBW wash, but when it comes to sanitizing: the 11/16 socket gets its work out. It takes and extra two minutes. An ounce of prevention-- can save the 8 hours of prep that it takes to put that liquid in that keg... the post is rarely the culprit, but if you use a screwdriver to fix a hissing sound often-- be careful, you can put a tiny little nick in the metal that the strongest poppet spring cannot seal.

[ColdAssHonky]

Poppets are an often replaced part- a part of doing keg business. Making sure you have the correct poppet for the type of post you have is key. Most poppets work in most posts, kind of, but if the fit ain't just right your looking a quick problems down the road. Do your homework on the post style and the correct poppet and you'll save yourself some headaches right from the start. Probably within 10 fills you will have a problem if you do not take your keg apart after every drainage-- and you should!!! I have a real wizzo keg washer than puts the total whammy on a keg with a hot PBW wash, but when it comes to sanitizing: the 11/16 socket gets its work out. It takes and extra two minutes. An ounce of prevention-- can save the 8 hours of prep that it takes to put that liquid in that keg... the post is rarely the culprit, but if you use a screwdriver to fix a hissing sound often-- be careful, you can put a tiny little nick in the metal that the strongest poppet spring cannot seal.

Do you have some references of keg post styles to the correct poppet? I can see the different between Cornelius and Firestone, but are there differences within Cornelius poppets? I think I may copy your wizzo whammy washer idea. Sounds like a winner.

[chuck_d]

I was thinking it should be more likely a poppet problem since the post is just a solid piece of metal. I did take a beer shower this evening trying to re-seat an out post poppet that just wont reseal correctly. I ended up just venting the keg for now thinking that without excess pressure it may not force more beer through the poppet?

Yeah, that's what I said, it's the poppet. I use a screwdriver to reposition the poppet so it seals properly. For a reference of what each kind looks like, check out this page: https://www.northern...pair-parts.html

[ColdAssHonky]

Yeah, that's what I said, it's the poppet. I use a screwdriver to reposition the poppet so it seals properly. For a reference of what each kind looks like, check out this page: https://www.northern...pair-parts.html

Thank you for helping out on this. I'll try interchanging a few matching styles between kegs and if I can't maintain a good seal, new poppets it is.

[Kansan]

Do you have some references of keg post styles to the correct poppet?

a few good places to start are:https://hbd.org/carb...allkegclean.htmhttps://www.northern...pair-parts.htmlhttps://www.nthba.or...ocs/Poppets.pdf

[Stout_fan]

Someone rebuilt your keg and hosed the poppet.I'm betting he has the wrong one installed.More beer also has a ton of them.

[pods8]

Dab a little keg lube on the edges of the popped too. I have some problematic kegs which I've noted and when disconnecting those kegs put the QD's on and off a few times or use a screw driver to reseat if needed.

[ColdAssHonky]

Dab a little keg lube on the edges of the popped too. I have some problematic kegs which I've noted and when disconnecting those kegs put the QD's on and off a few times or use a screw driver to reseat if needed.

That's one area that I have never used lube on when breaking down my kegs... If that'll help I'll add it to my routine.

[pods8]

That's one area that I have never used lube on when breaking down my kegs... If that'll help I'll add it to my routine.

Can't hurt on that little poppet gasket surface.

[Zulu]

Lube helped quite a few of my trouble ones, but as you have identified , there is always one damn problem child , usually on the beer you have to take somewhere...