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Date: 28 Jun 2006 04:18:43
From: Adam Preble
Subject: How do I open up a half-keg?
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Awhile back I managed to get a 15.5 gallon half-keg, and I plan to
ferment a plambic in it. Until now, I haven't bothered playing with it.
I got it with a kegerator and it came with some fittings, none of
which were in place. I haven't kegged before so I don't know how to use
them.
I assume the fittings are pretty standard, but I'll go through the
effort of trying to describe what I see on the keg itself. There's are
two ridges opposing each other that I think fits on of the other
fittings I have, and I think once threaded in to those ridges, I use
that to normally tap beer.
At the base of that is a rubber stubber and a metal ball tightly sprung
into place. I can let out some CO2 and years-old dregs if I push down
on the ball hard. I assume I have to remove that to get to the insides.
I don't want to wreck it, so I'm stuck at that point. Any help?
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Date: 28 Jun 2006 05:11:57
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: How do I open up a half-keg?
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On Wed, 28 Jun 2006 04:18:43 GMT, <rockobonaparte@hotmail.com > wrote:
> Awhile back I managed to get a 15.5 gallon half-keg, and I plan to
> ferment a plambic in it. Until now, I haven't bothered playing with it.
> I got it with a kegerator and it came with some fittings, none of
> which were in place. I haven't kegged before so I don't know how to use
> them.
Most kegs you get (at least in the US) are American Sankey kegs, so I'm
going to assume this is the type you have. It also sounds from your
description like this is the case.
Rule #1 (in bold blinking 10 foot high font) when opening a keg is to
BE VERY CAREFUL. You do not want to release the spear in the keg while
there is any significant pressure inside it. If you do, the spear will
launch out of the keg and drive straight through any soft objects that happen
to be hovering over the keg while you are working, like your head and/or
chest. I don't know for sure, but I've seen enough *serious* warnings about
this on websites that leads me to believe people have actually been killed
doing this.
The first thing you want to do is release the rest of the pressure from the
keg by pressing in that spring loaded ball. One trick I've seen if you are
getting a lot of dregs spraying out is to turn the keg upside down when you
are venting it. The spear that the kegs draws from goes all the way to the
bottom. If there are dregs and you turn the keg upside down, then you'll
be venting what is now the headspace instead of blowing out all the liquid.
Once the keg is fully vented it is a very good idea to jam something into
the space between the spring loaded ball and black rubber/plastic piece
surrounding it. The idea is to wedge the ball open so that if it does
build up any pressure again (I've seen this happen) while you are working
on it, the pressure is automatically vented instead of builing up internally.
I highly recommend doing this step.
If you look at the inner top edge of the "cup" that is the main fitting, there
should be a circular metal spring (looks like a metal ring wound around
the inside) that holds the spear in place. Some people will replace this
with a snap ring, if that helps describe what it looks like. The hardest
part about opening the keg is getting this metal spring (snap ring thing) out.
Typically, I'll use something like a knife or ice pick to pry out one end of
the spring and then grab it with a pair of pliers. Once you've got hold
of one end of it it's not too hard to pull it the rest of the way out. If
you aren't replacing this with a snap ring, then save this piece. You'll need
it to put the spear back in place. The first time you take this ring out
it will probably cause a lot of frustration. It gets easier once you get
used to taking it out and work out your own method.
After the retaining ring is out, you just rotate the spear slightly in one
direction (clockwise I think) and the entire spear will lift out of the keg.
Once it comes out you'll see why they call it a spear.
Reassembly is just the same in reverse. Put the spear back in the keg until
it seats all the way down, rotate it to lock it in place (you may have to
push down while you rotate it to get it to lock under the ledge. Sometimes
the rubber oring that is on the spear will need to be compressed via force
to get it to lock). Then either replace the metal retaining ring (or a
snap ring) around the upper inner edge to lock the spear in place. Be sure
that the retaining ring is really seated in between the spear and the ledge of
the fitting. It's this retaining ring that primarily holds the spear in
place. I usually use a small hammer to tap the retaining ring towards to
outside of the fitting, just to make sure it's seated in there securely.
IMO, the first time you repressurize the keg, keep your face/body away
from the spear, just incase something wasn't put in right and the spear
shoots out. Either stand clear or else point the keg away from you.
Don't get me wrong, once you get used to them these things can be pretty
safe to work with. However, especially the first time you deal with one,
treat it with respect. They have the potential for causing a lot of damage
if you don't pay attention to what you are doing.
John.
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Date: 28 Jun 2006 06:28:59
From: Adam Preble
Subject: Re: How do I open up a half-keg?
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John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
> On Wed, 28 Jun 2006 04:18:43 GMT, <rockobonaparte@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Awhile back I managed to get a 15.5 gallon half-keg, and I plan to
>>ferment a plambic in it. Until now, I haven't bothered playing with it.
>> I got it with a kegerator and it came with some fittings, none of
>>which were in place. I haven't kegged before so I don't know how to use
>>them.
>
>
> Most kegs you get (at least in the US) are American Sankey kegs, so I'm
> going to assume this is the type you have. It also sounds from your
> description like this is the case.
>
[etc]
Thanks for the response Shaggy. It was very informative, but I ended up
having to do this in a less elegant manner. I found out--as you
said--that these are sanke kegs, and I found something online that
talked about the process:
http://www.physics.arizona.edu/~workman/homebrew/Sanke.html
Unfortunately, my efforts at whacking at it ended up only deforming the
ring. It's been almost a year since I got the kegerator, and I assume
the keg was left unused for much longer. I decided since the ring was
probably bad, that I'd grind it out using my Dremel with a cutoff wheel.
I just ground down the ring in parallel, preserving the rest of the
fittings.
Right now, it's sitting in a bleach water solution that should all
evaporate out until I finally get to use it a bit from now. The dregs
smelt like honey, which was both pleasant and very disturbing.
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Date: 28 Jun 2006 07:49:08
From: Bob
Subject: Re: How do I open up a half-keg?
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"Adam Preble" <rockobonaparte@hotmail.com > wrote in message
news:Lkpog.1704$Bh.71@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> Right now, it's sitting in a bleach water solution that should all
> evaporate out until I finally get to use it a bit from now. The dregs
> smelt like honey, which was both pleasant and very disturbing.
Don't leave it in the bleach too long. Chlorine is hard on stainless steel.
Bob
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