National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: Bubbles on October 05, 2014, 08:36:00 AM

Title: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Bubbles on October 05, 2014, 08:36:00 AM
Anyone know what size spanner fits the posts on a corny keg?

Ta.
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Shanna on October 05, 2014, 08:39:30 AM
Think it's 22mm, will check after my breakfast :) I have some if you need to borrow them.

Shanna
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Bubbles on October 05, 2014, 09:41:34 AM
Cheers lad. And thanks for the offer, but not urgent.
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: mcgrath on October 05, 2014, 11:01:02 AM
Mines 22mm..
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Shanna on October 05, 2014, 11:12:31 AM
Quote from: mcgrath on October 05, 2014, 11:01:02 AM
Mines 22mm..
Checked my kegs some have 22mm and some 21mm. Best to the typical male thing and buy a 11mm - 22mm set, or better still buy two :)

Shanna

Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Bubbles on October 05, 2014, 11:28:41 AM
Thanks for checking lads! I thought these feckin things were supposed to be standard?! Looks like it'll have to be a spanner set :)
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Shanna on October 05, 2014, 11:39:36 AM
Quote from: Bubbles on October 05, 2014, 11:28:41 AM
Thanks for checking lads! I thought these feckin things were supposed to be standard?! Looks like it'll have to be a spanner set :)
So did I some of my kegs even have two different sizes on them. Try get spanners with straight & rounded edges on either end.

Shanna
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Bubbles on October 05, 2014, 01:01:25 PM
They had feck all selection in woodies in sandyford after all. Nothing near 22mm.

Do you mean the open and closed ends? Pic?
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: mcgrath on October 05, 2014, 01:05:46 PM
I got a ring spanner set in aldi. Largest spanner was 22. I,m pretty sure an open end spanner won't open mine. They are hard to get at..
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Shanna on October 05, 2014, 01:28:16 PM
Quote from: Bubbles on October 05, 2014, 01:01:25 PM
They had feck all selection in woodies in sandyford after all. Nothing near 22mm.

Do you mean the open and closed ends? Pic?
Sorry poor choice of words ring spanner would be a better description. Will tweet you a photo soon.

Shanna
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Shanna on October 05, 2014, 01:34:50 PM
Quote from: mcgrath on October 05, 2014, 01:05:46 PM
I got a ring spanner set in aldi. Largest spanner was 22. I,m pretty sure an open end spanner won't open mine. They are hard to get at..
Yeah I picked two different sets in Aldi as well. Lidl have them every now & again.

Shanna
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: molc on October 05, 2014, 01:37:23 PM
Just get a small adjustable spanner maybe? It's what I used in mine and they slipped right off.
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: mcgrath on October 05, 2014, 02:52:19 PM
I've been able to remove most of mine for cleaning. But some were put on so tight I haven't been able to shift them. I gave up on them as I was damaging the edges from slipping. It's hard to get a really positive grip with the handles etc. If I get my hands on an extended socket similar to sparkplug socket I might give it a go again.
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: imark on October 05, 2014, 03:33:23 PM
I got a socket for mine in halfords. Had trouble with a couple of kegs on last group buy. One post was on so tight I nearly gave myself a hernia removing it. Turned out the threads on the post were f*cked. Haven't been able to use or repair it. So be warned. If they're on that tight it might be best to leave them alone.
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Garry on October 05, 2014, 04:23:12 PM
If you can't get 22mm, have a look for 7/8". I find the imperial one fits a bit better.
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: alealex on October 05, 2014, 08:53:19 PM
19mm, 21mm and 22mm those sizes I came across, but I think most common is 22mm.
Woodies used to have extended sockets for 99 cent.
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Bubbles on October 10, 2014, 08:49:05 PM
Couldn't get a "metric" spanner in my local hardware shop, but as Garry suggested, I picked up the 7/8". Fits grand on both types of kegs that I have.

The only problem is, as the lads also found out, I can't for the life of me budge the posts on one of the keg types. I only tried one keg, so i'll have to see if the rest are the same. These are also the kegs from the last group buy. :(

Keg is holding pressure but the gas disconnect is leaking. Though it's leaking between the line and the disconnect. I just can't get the jubilee clip tight enough, i think. Any suggestions welcome!
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Sorcerers Apprentice on October 10, 2014, 09:23:31 PM
Sometimes stainless fittings bind together it's called galling
http://www.estainlesssteel.com/gallingofstainless.html
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Bubbles on October 10, 2014, 10:21:56 PM
This hardware shop is pretty old-school. I'd say those spanners have been in stock for many's a year.

Will try again tomorrow with a bit more elbow grease. Maybe it is just stiff.

Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Shanna on October 11, 2014, 08:42:13 AM
Quote from: Bubbles on October 10, 2014, 08:49:05 PM
Couldn't get a "metric" spanner in my local hardware shop, but as Garry suggested, I picked up the 7/8". Fits grand on both types of kegs that I have.

The only problem is, as the lads also found out, I can't for the life of me budge the posts on one of the keg types. I only tried one keg, so i'll have to see if the rest are the same. These are also the kegs from the last group buy. :(

Keg is holding pressure but the gas disconnect is leaking. Though it's leaking between the line and the disconnect. I just can't get the jubilee clip tight enough, i think. Any suggestions welcome!
small bit of wd-40 around the base of the post, alternatively get a length of pipe to put around the spanner to give you more leverage. As for the jubilee clips there is a simple solution. Get some spare garden hose or similar rubber tubing and cut off a 1/2". Place this around the piping to in effect increase the width of the tube. Put your jubilee clip over it and tighten. Have done this many time myself with no problems. Have loads of spare garden hose if you need some.

Shanna
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Sorcerers Apprentice on October 11, 2014, 08:49:06 AM
Only use a ring spanner if you are buying one, an open spanner or adjustable spanner will round off the corners if the fitting is seized. You could also try hitting the other end of the spanner with a hammer, a bit of shock can sometimes help
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: mr hoppy on October 11, 2014, 10:46:48 AM
I'd trouble getting the posts off last year's GB cornies originally. Like SA said I laid one out flat, sat on it, put the ring spanner on the post and smacked the other end with a Big hammerand problem solved.
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Sorcerers Apprentice on October 11, 2014, 10:59:54 AM
Few things in life can't be persuaded with a lick of a hammer :-)
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Bubbles on October 11, 2014, 12:22:54 PM

Quote from: Shanna on October 11, 2014, 08:42:13 AM
Get some spare garden hose or similar rubber tubing and cut off a 1/2". Place this around the piping to in effect increase the width of the tube. Put your jubilee clip over it and tighten.

Dec you're a star boy!! Worked a treat. Just used a bit of garden hose from my immersion chiller.

The keg posts are another days work. Will use the hammer approach; thanks for the suggestions lads.
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Shanna on October 11, 2014, 01:43:57 PM
Quote from: Bubbles on October 11, 2014, 12:22:54 PM

Quote from: Shanna on October 11, 2014, 08:42:13 AM
Get some spare garden hose or similar rubber tubing and cut off a 1/2". Place this around the piping to in effect increase the width of the tube. Put your jubilee clip over it and tighten.

Dec you're a star boy!! Worked a treat. Just used a bit of garden hose from my immersion chiller.

The keg posts are another days work. Will use the hammer approach; thanks for the suggestions lads.
Glad it worked, those jubilee clips broke my heart as they were too big for my hoses. I gave up in frustration the first time as I could not see a solution. Amazing what a break does as walking back in to the garage I saw the hose next to a clippers and eureka

Shanna
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Bubbles on October 11, 2014, 02:22:06 PM
The jubilee clips I bought were a great size for the regulator side of the gas line, but the barb on the grey disconnect is tiny. That's a great tip though. I'm going to do a post about my experience with kegging, so I'll include your tip, with full credit of course! :)
Title: Re: Spanner for keg posts
Post by: Shanna on October 11, 2014, 03:14:53 PM
Quote from: Bubbles on October 11, 2014, 02:22:06 PM
The jubilee clips I bought were a great size for the regulator side of the gas line, but the barb on the grey disconnect is tiny. That's a great tip though. I'm going to do a post about my experience with kegging, so I'll include your tip, with full credit of course! :)
For anybody else reading this Aldi are doing a set of 6mm-22mm open ended and ring spanners at the moment for €11.

Shanna