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Date: 22 Aug 2007 19:48:34
From: TARogue
Subject: Keg Cleaning Question
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I just bought 2 kegs from the LHBS. I took off the lids, posts, and
tubes and filled #1 with Oxyclean and water. While that soaks, what
would be the best way to clean the posts, poppets, tubes, and lid? I got
replacemest gastket for everything except the outside of the posts (the
blue & red rings). Can I get by using the existing ones, or do those
need replacement too?
Thanks!
Tom
--
TARogue (t o m (at) t a r o g u e . n e t)
Cthulhu for President.
Why vote for a lesser evil?
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Date: 25 Aug 2007 09:44:20
From: Scott Lindner
Subject: Re: Keg Cleaning Question
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>I just bought 2 kegs from the LHBS. I took off the lids, posts, and
> tubes and filled #1 with Oxyclean and water. While that soaks, what
> would be the best way to clean the posts, poppets, tubes, and lid? I got
> replacemest gastket for everything except the outside of the posts (the
> blue & red rings). Can I get by using the existing ones, or do those
> need replacement too?
I generally do the same as you, but carefully place all of that stuff in the
bottom of the Corny. With the lid I dangle it as much as I can into the
solution in the keg so it's all contained.
It's generally considered a good idea to replace all of the rings including
the ones you didn't receive, but it isn't required. Typically people do it
for piece of mind. That's why I do it. If they look like they are in good
shape you should be fine. Clean them up and lube them.
Scott
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Date: 25 Aug 2007 11:52:34
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: Keg Cleaning Question
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Scott Lindner wrote:
>>I just bought 2 kegs from the LHBS. I took off the lids, posts, and
>>tubes and filled #1 with Oxyclean and water. While that soaks, what
>>would be the best way to clean the posts, poppets, tubes, and lid? I got
>>replacemest gastket for everything except the outside of the posts (the
>>blue & red rings). Can I get by using the existing ones, or do those
>>need replacement too?
>
>
> I generally do the same as you, but carefully place all of that stuff in the
> bottom of the Corny. With the lid I dangle it as much as I can into the
> solution in the keg so it's all contained.
>
> It's generally considered a good idea to replace all of the rings including
> the ones you didn't receive, but it isn't required. Typically people do it
> for piece of mind. That's why I do it. If they look like they are in good
> shape you should be fine. Clean them up and lube them.
Why would you bother to put the pieces into the bottom of the keg? How about
a small to medium sized tupperware container or the takeout soup container from
a Chinese restaurant. You don't need to fill the keg completely with the solution
to clean and sanitize it.. the solution will coat the sides. Shake or roll it
when its closed up, then let is sit for whatever the contact time is..
--
Dan
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Date: 25 Aug 2007 09:54:05
From: Scott Lindner
Subject: Re: Keg Cleaning Question
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> Why would you bother to put the pieces into the bottom of the keg?
One container instead of two. No other reason than that.
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Date: 25 Aug 2007 12:14:05
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: Keg Cleaning Question
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Scott Lindner wrote:
>>Why would you bother to put the pieces into the bottom of the keg?
>
>
> One container instead of two. No other reason than that.
Sounds like more than a pain than removing and dropping into a small
container of solution.. getting the pieces out of the keg bottom means
sliding them around inside.
--
Dan
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Date: 25 Aug 2007 11:09:27
From: Scott Lindner
Subject: Re: Keg Cleaning Question
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> Sounds like more than a pain than removing and dropping into a small
> container of solution.. getting the pieces out of the keg bottom means
> sliding them around inside.
It works just fine for me. I would find a separate container of solution to
be a pain. It's probably the differences in our situations that make one
thing a pain, and something else not. I think part of the reason why I like
doing it this way is that I have a lot of kegs and the poppets are all
different. I had a real bugger of a time getting the right poppets matched
up with the proer keg. Now that you have me thinking about it this was the
original motivation for me long ago. Now it's become a matter of habit and
preference since it's less things to rinse and have laying around.
I did just move to a newer home and haven't brewed here yet. Maybe I'll
find something that works better for me such as you suggest.
Scott
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Date: 25 Aug 2007 23:07:23
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: Keg Cleaning Question
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Scott Lindner wrote:
>>Sounds like more than a pain than removing and dropping into a small
>>container of solution.. getting the pieces out of the keg bottom means
>>sliding them around inside.
>
>
> It works just fine for me. I would find a separate container of solution to
> be a pain. It's probably the differences in our situations that make one
> thing a pain, and something else not. I think part of the reason why I like
> doing it this way is that I have a lot of kegs and the poppets are all
> different. I had a real bugger of a time getting the right poppets matched
> up with the proer keg. Now that you have me thinking about it this was the
> original motivation for me long ago. Now it's become a matter of habit and
> preference since it's less things to rinse and have laying around.
>
> I did just move to a newer home and haven't brewed here yet. Maybe I'll
> find something that works better for me such as you suggest.
I'm pretty quick on cleaning my kegs, maybe get behind by one or two. I only
have two different types really, Super Champions and Challenger VI (3Gal).
All of my SC kegs have thin fittings (Cornelius plugs) and poppetes. The others
have fatter ones with taller poppets. Its kind of hard to mix them up, so I have
no issue putting both fittings in a small container while the kegs dry.
What makes it easy for me is that Cornelius and Firestone fittings swap. And at
this point, I could assemble a keg with my eyes closed.
--
Dan
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Date: 22 Aug 2007 16:24:40
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: Keg Cleaning Question
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TARogue wrote:
> I just bought 2 kegs from the LHBS. I took off the lids, posts, and
> tubes and filled #1 with Oxyclean and water. While that soaks, what
> would be the best way to clean the posts, poppets, tubes, and lid? I got
> replacemest gastket for everything except the outside of the posts (the
> blue & red rings). Can I get by using the existing ones, or do those
> need replacement too?
Soak all the small parts in some of the oxyclean solution in a small
pail or tupperware container. I usually put a tablespoon or more of
Oxy into the keg and add a gallon of hot water. I close it up tight
and shake it around or roll it on the floor. So you ned to do this
with all the parta assembled. After it sits for 10-15 minutes, I
drain and rinse with hot water before I disassemble and soak seperately.
--
Dan
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Date: 22 Aug 2007 13:22:42
From: Melville
Subject: Re: Keg Cleaning Question
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On Aug 22, 3:48 pm, l...@my.sig (TARogue) wrote:
> I just bought 2 kegs from the LHBS. I took off the lids, posts, and
> tubes and filled #1 with Oxyclean and water. While that soaks, what
> would be the best way to clean the posts, poppets, tubes, and lid? I got
> replacemest gastket for everything except the outside of the posts (the
> blue & red rings). Can I get by using the existing ones, or do those
> need replacement too?
>
> Thanks!
> Tom
>
> --
> TARogue (t o m (at) t a r o g u e . n e t)
> Cthulhu for President.
> Why vote for a lesser evil?
I usually just rinse the tubes, poppets, lid, o-rings, etc. in hot,
clean water and then sanitize with One Step sanitizer to kill any
bacteria that may be lingering.
You should NOT need to replace the o-rings if the kegs you bought were
already reconditioned. Usually, reconditioned kegs have these pieces
replaced before your LHBS re-sells them. I would suggest that you
inspect the o-rings by sight and smell and then make a decision. Are
the o-rings cracked or dried at all? If so, replace them. Do they
smell bad (i.e. not like beer)? If so, replace them. If they look
and smell fine, just clean and sanitize and you should be good. IMHO,
you do not need to replace these o-rings very often - only when they
start showing wear and tear. And you can avoid wear and tear by using
keg lube...in which case they should last a long, long time.
M
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