National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: delzep on April 10, 2019, 04:56:05 PM

Title: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: delzep on April 10, 2019, 04:56:05 PM
I kegged a porter the same way as usual but for some reason the beer line doesn't fill up and so it splutters everywhere when I try to pour a pint. I disassembled and cleaned the tap, changed the actual beer line itself, and degassed the beer in case it was overcarbed and still the same. I upped the pressure a little bit too but I still have the same problem. My tap is flow control and no matter what setting I have it at the issue is still there

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: Tom on April 10, 2019, 05:46:03 PM
Is the dip tube seated properly? Or are you connecting your ins and outs the wrong way or something?
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: delzep on April 10, 2019, 06:23:53 PM
Connections are fine. I think it's seated OK, would be leaking otherwise I'd imagine?
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: Tom on April 10, 2019, 06:38:45 PM
Is any beer getting into the line?
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: delzep on April 10, 2019, 08:24:50 PM
Yeah, the beer line is kind of halfway filling up (was the same before I changed the beer line), and its spluttering into the glass when I try to pour. The two other kegs in the fridge pour fine
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: Tom on April 10, 2019, 08:58:30 PM
Interesting.

Guess one: the o-ring on the dip tube needs some attention (letting as much CO2 through as beer);
Guess two: massively reduced gas pressure in that one keg, for some reason.

I reckon your problem is your dip tube. Either it's accidentally the short gas tube just touching the beer, or the o-ring has degraded or is missing. Degas, remove, check. Let us know!

Do you use McLaughlin's PetroGel?
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: LordEoin on April 14, 2019, 10:21:51 PM
try another liquid disconnect if you have one.
i had a similar problem once and it was caused by a little crack in the disconnect
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: phildo79 on April 15, 2019, 12:20:53 AM
Your dip tube might be clogged. Happened to me a couple of weeks ago. Tried various things to fix it but in the end I had to transfer to another keg.
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: delzep on April 15, 2019, 07:31:06 AM
I've already blasted co2 through the beer out post so it's probably not clogged. Will most likely end up transferring to another keg and then replacing the seals in the original keg
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: Tom on April 15, 2019, 11:18:49 AM
If you're struggling to fill a beer glass, you're going to have a wonderful time trying to fill a keg.
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: delzep on April 15, 2019, 12:09:01 PM
Could turn the keg upside down and use the gas dip tube maybe?
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: phildo79 on April 15, 2019, 12:54:27 PM
Quote from: delzep on April 15, 2019, 07:31:06 AM
I've already blasted co2 through the beer out post so it's probably not clogged. Will most likely end up transferring to another keg and then replacing the seals in the original keg

Yip, I tried that too, several times. It kept getting clogged due to the shite from the trub that I inadvertantly transferred. Transferring carbed beer was a chore. It wasn't easy to syphon. An auto-syphon would have been very useful. In the end, I just tipped it into the keg. Was lucky enough not to spill too much.
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: delzep on April 15, 2019, 01:11:36 PM
An excuse to use my new shiny stainless steel autosiphon  O0
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: phildo79 on April 15, 2019, 01:20:00 PM
Yeah, I think I will have to get one in case this sort of thing happens again. Just another toy, innit!
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: iBrau on April 27, 2019, 02:52:14 PM
Hi Delzep, you're probably sorted by now but if you still have problems with that keg I'd suggest removing the dip tube and checking it for damage. I had the exact same problem you're describing and it turned out I had a pin-hole crack near the top of the dip tube. It looked like the tube had scrapes from being rotated against some rough metal in the keg. In my case I mailed The HomebrewCompany with a photo of the damaged tube and they posted out a new one the next day. Problem solved for my keg.
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: delzep on April 30, 2019, 09:24:03 PM
Meant to update this. I degassed and siphoned the beer into another keg and all is fine with the beer now. I changed the seals on the original keg but haven't reused it yet
Title: Re: Beer line not filling up problem
Post by: mac2k on May 01, 2019, 02:05:45 PM
Quote from: LordEoin on April 14, 2019, 10:21:51 PM
try another liquid disconnect if you have one.
i had a similar problem once and it was caused by a little crack in the disconnect

Same!!