Corny problems

[Bart Goddard]

This has happened twice now, and it REALLLLLY bugs me:

I kegged 5 gallons in my corny, pressurized it and then put
it in the keg fridge to await its turn in the kegerator.
I come to the fridge much later, and there's beer all over
the place. Evidently, when the beer cools and the pressure
drops, the "out" poppet leaks.

Is that weird? High pressure doesn't leak but low pressure
leaks. I have noticed for a while that on this one particular
keg, when I first put pressure on it, that post tends to leak,
but if it tap it with the end of my pocket knife I can get it
to stop. I had assumed that "sealed was sealed" and I was
right for a while.

After the first time, I took the post apart, and found
some little crud (perhaps a piece of hop leaf) in it.
Having cleaned it, I assumed the problem was solved, but
the very next time I used that keg, same leakage in the
fridge, so the same sticky mess to clean up.

Main question: I am going to have to replace something.
Should I replace the whole poppet, or just the inner guts?
(it's probably $10 difference.)

Bart

[Dan Logcher]

Post by Bart Goddard
Main question: I am going to have to replace something.
Should I replace the whole poppet, or just the inner guts?
(it's probably $10 difference.)

Sounds like the poppet isn't seating well. Make sure the inside
of the post is clean and may have to replace it. Poppets usually
only cost $2.50 - $4. Posts cost roughly $10. What kind of keg
is it? I find that Cornelius, Spartan/Super Champions are best.

[Dan Logcher]

Post by Dan Logcher

Post by Bart Goddard
Main question: I am going to have to replace something.
Should I replace the whole poppet, or just the inner guts?
(it's probably $10 difference.)

Sounds like the poppet isn't seating well. Make sure the inside
of the post is clean and may have to replace it. Poppets usually
only cost $2.50 - $4. Posts cost roughly $10. What kind of keg
is it? I find that Cornelius, Spartan/Super Champions are best.

The question is, where does the beer come out from? The poppet or
the base of the post? If the base of the post, then the diptube o-ring
should be replaced. Poppets and o-rings are cheap and you should always
have spares.

[b***@ureach.com]

Always attach a tap to your corny, unsealed poppits have high failure
rates.

Roger

[Dan Logcher]

Post by b***@ureach.com
Always attach a tap to your corny, unsealed poppits have high failure
rates.

Really? I've never had a problem with kegs left disconnected once they
are completely carbonated. A proper, clean poppet should be able to
keep a seal with a minimum internal pressure. Trust me, I've worked on
a few hundred kegs.

Its possible the OP has the wrong type of poppet on his keg. I've seen
this many times, when people mix parts from keg to keg. Never swap parts
around, especially lids.

[b***@ureach.com]

Because the OP and I and many others have experienced failure with
poppits leaking indicates that they occasionally leak. 12 years ago,
in Saudi Arabia, I lost a whole keg of beer on my apartment living
room carpet -- overnight - due to poppit failure. It is not a perfect
world, with everyone having the "proper" poppit - I consider attaching
a tap to be insurance.

[Dan Logcher]

Post by b***@ureach.com
Because the OP and I and many others have experienced failure with
poppits leaking indicates that they occasionally leak. 12 years ago,
in Saudi Arabia, I lost a whole keg of beer on my apartment living
room carpet -- overnight - due to poppit failure. It is not a perfect
world, with everyone having the "proper" poppit - I consider attaching
a tap to be insurance.

I alway carbonate outside my fridge at about 18 PSI, and I never attach
a tap. After about two weeks, I detach the keg and put it aside. I've
never had a problem with leaking beer or gas in over six years.

What brand of kegs did you experience this with? Do you use keg lube on
the poppets? I've seen people use the wrong poppets on kegs, and make
them work for the most part.

If kept clean and lubed, they should not be a problem.

[Bob F]

Post by b***@ureach.com
Because the OP and I and many others have experienced failure with
poppits leaking indicates that they occasionally leak. 12 years ago,
in Saudi Arabia, I lost a whole keg of beer on my apartment living
room carpet -- overnight - due to poppit failure. It is not a perfect
world, with everyone having the "proper" poppit - I consider attaching
a tap to be insurance.

I would think that attaching a tap would just introduce a different failure
mode. It opens the poppet, removing that one, but introduces the risk of o-ring
or tap leakage.

[Bart Goddard]

Post by Bob F

Post by b***@ureach.com
Because the OP and I and many others have experienced failure with
poppits leaking indicates that they occasionally leak. 12 years ago,
in Saudi Arabia, I lost a whole keg of beer on my apartment living
room carpet -- overnight - due to poppit failure. It is not a perfect
world, with everyone having the "proper" poppit - I consider
attaching a tap to be insurance.

I would think that attaching a tap would just introduce a different
failure mode. It opens the poppet, removing that one, but introduces
the risk of o-ring or tap leakage.

Thanks for the responses, y'all. I lost my internet just
after I posted, but I'm up and running again.

I guess I'll replace the poppet and hope that fixes things.
It does seem to me that a handy device would be a "tap" that
doesn't open the poppet or have an output tube. It just snaps
on the post and acts as a second line of defense.

[Dan Logcher]

Post by Bart Goddard

Post by Bob F

Post by b***@ureach.com
Because the OP and I and many others have experienced failure with
poppits leaking indicates that they occasionally leak. 12 years ago,
in Saudi Arabia, I lost a whole keg of beer on my apartment living
room carpet -- overnight - due to poppit failure. It is not a perfect
world, with everyone having the "proper" poppit - I consider
attaching a tap to be insurance.

I would think that attaching a tap would just introduce a different
failure mode. It opens the poppet, removing that one, but introduces
the risk of o-ring or tap leakage.

Thanks for the responses, y'all. I lost my internet just
after I posted, but I'm up and running again.
I guess I'll replace the poppet and hope that fixes things.
It does seem to me that a handy device would be a "tap" that
doesn't open the poppet or have an output tube. It just snaps
on the post and acts as a second line of defense.

So remove the spring and poppet from a ball-lock disconnect with
1/4" MFL and cap the MFL. Done.

[Bob F]

Post by Bart Goddard
I kegged 5 gallons in my corny, pressurized it and then put
it in the keg fridge to await its turn in the kegerator.
I come to the fridge much later, and there's beer all over
the place. Evidently, when the beer cools and the pressure
drops, the "out" poppet leaks.
Is that weird? High pressure doesn't leak but low pressure
leaks. I have noticed for a while that on this one particular
keg, when I first put pressure on it, that post tends to leak,
but if it tap it with the end of my pocket knife I can get it
to stop. I had assumed that "sealed was sealed" and I was
right for a while.
After the first time, I took the post apart, and found
some little crud (perhaps a piece of hop leaf) in it.
Having cleaned it, I assumed the problem was solved, but
the very next time I used that keg, same leakage in the
fridge, so the same sticky mess to clean up.
Main question: I am going to have to replace something.
Should I replace the whole poppet, or just the inner guts?
(it's probably $10 difference.)

If it happens to be a pin-lock corny, you may be able to just replace the o-ring
on the poppet.