7 replies to this topic

[pete maz]

OK Stangbat & others, I know you guys have switched to aluminum nuts for your HLT elements to avoid rust. What's the part# for those? I know this info used to be on the green board, but since it went tits-up I think all of that info was lost. My elements have been rusting for a long time, and I checked them last night before filling the HLT and it was borderline disgusting. I don't want to replace them every 6 months, so it's time to give the Al nuts a try.Thanks in advance,Pete

[xd_haze]

OK Stangbat & others, I know you guys have switched to aluminum nuts for your HLT elements to avoid rust. What's the part# for those? I know this info used to be on the green board, but since it went tits-up I think all of that info was lost. My elements have been rusting for a long time, and I checked them last night before filling the HLT and it was borderline disgusting. I don't want to replace them every 6 months, so it's time to give the Al nuts a try.Thanks in advance,Pete

I think this is the pn at McMaster: 44705K416mike

[stangbat]

I think this is the pn at McMaster: 44705K416mike

Yes, that's it. I've only used my setup once since switching to an aluminum locknut. From my understanding, the protection of a sacrificial anode only works when there is a conductive path from the anode (locknut) to the cathode (element), which would be the direct contact, and an ion path (the water). So if the HLT is empty but there are water drops on the chromed end, there is a possibility it could still rust. So I make sure I dry mine off when I'm done, even with the aluminum locknut.

[djinkc]

I have that locknut on my sanke EHLT. Been there for years and is covered with white precipitate. The element and inside of the keg are good as new.

[pete maz]

Excellent! I knew I could count on you guys.You KS/MO guys are alright. I don't care what Nebraska people say.

[dondewey]

I think my HLT element is Cr on Cu and my kettle is inco. Where is the rust comming from?

[stangbat]

I think my HLT element is Cr on Cu and my kettle is inco. Where is the rust comming from?

On mine, it doesn't come from the element itself, it comes from the threaded part that is chromed (where the element attaches). Seems like this portion eventually rusted when I used a brass locknut. I'm hoping the aluminum one helps prevent this from happening. Of course I seem to dry fire my HLT element often enough that I have to replace it before it can rust too much. Sometimes being a dumbass has its advantages.

[dondewey]

On mine, it doesn't come from the element itself, it comes from the threaded part that is chromed (where the element attaches). Seems like this portion eventually rusted when I used a brass locknut. I'm hoping the aluminum one helps prevent this from happening. Of course I seem to dry fire my HLT element often enough that I have to replace it before it can rust too much. Sometimes being a dumbass has its advantages.

Gotcha, I'm going to check mine; the threads are mostly hidden because my nut is really half a coupling and so pretty thick.