National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: LordEoin on May 21, 2015, 11:06:43 PM

Title: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: LordEoin on May 21, 2015, 11:06:43 PM
I got one of these recently and just thought this might be helpful for anyone thinking about buying them.

The keg I got was coke or pepsi, still has a bit of syrup in there.
The condition was very good.
Outside: some light scratches but nothing to affect performance. Rubbers good, connects good. A few dings on the cap but again nothing that'll cause any problems.
Inside: Apart from the drop of syrup, Immaculate. no dirt, no scum, no mold, no dings, no scratches.
Seals: They look like the original seals but they're all perfect. I put in a bar of pressure on Saturday and it's still the same today.
Connects, tubes, etc: No problems here either. Everything fits nice and tight.
Pressure release: no wear n tear, does its job and unscrews neatly.

Overall, a great buy. Decent cornies at close enough to 'mates rates'.
Don't expect the outside to be all shiny like new, but everything else is perfect.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: molc on May 21, 2015, 11:21:41 PM
Yeah one or two of mine were really badly dinged up and bent, but they all hold seals after I did a bit of work on them. One had a damaged popped and another had a bent post, but they seem to be holding. Nothing that isn't serviceable with some ali express parts if push comes to shove.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: robotmonkey on May 22, 2015, 08:57:21 AM
Yeah, I bought three of them. Two were in excellent condition, one was a bit beaten up but still seems to do the job admirably.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: Pheeel on May 22, 2015, 11:01:36 AM
I had a few issues...
1. Mine both a funky smell of some lemon cleaning fluid. I think I managed to get rid of it. It took multiple attempts though
2. An o-ring was missing off one of the gas posts on one. I managed to bust a disconnect trying to get it to stay on. Then I realized it was missing the o-ring. Thankfully I had a spare (diconnect and o-ring!)
3 One of them also had a busted pressure relief value. It's a screw in one and nothing would prevent it from leaking gas. I replaced the lid with a spare I had

At the price I ain't complaining (and the cosmetics don't bother me). I'm lagering in both of them as I type :)
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: johnrm on May 22, 2015, 03:07:17 PM
These kegs were used for Soft-drink concentrate.
The Lemon is not cleaner, probably Club Lemon or 7-Up concentrate
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: Pheeel on May 22, 2015, 03:52:45 PM
Quote from: johnrm on May 22, 2015, 03:07:17 PM
These kegs were used for Soft-drink concentrate.
The Lemon is not cleaner, probably Club Lemon or 7-Up concentrate

It definitely has a chemical smell to it. If it was concentrate I'd have expected the smell to go quicker
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: LordEoin on May 22, 2015, 08:51:35 PM
i have a red bull keg i got at some stage and it took ages to get the smell out
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: Qs on May 22, 2015, 11:45:19 PM
My kegs reek of 7up and I wish I could brew and get that aroma in without infection.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: fishjam45 (Colin) on May 22, 2015, 11:47:13 PM
At a reecent meeting I was told to change all the seals and that will get rid of the smell.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: delzep on May 23, 2015, 07:42:33 AM
The dimensions are different to the ones in the recent group buy so I might have problems fitting them in my fridge :-\
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: auralabuse on May 23, 2015, 11:48:56 AM
Quote from: delzep on May 23, 2015, 07:42:33 AM
The dimensions are different to the ones in the recent group buy so I might have problems fitting them in my fridge :-\
Yeah they are a bit taller than expected.  I had to build a collar onto the chest freezer to accommodate them
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: beanstalk on May 23, 2015, 01:42:11 PM
I've noticed on one of mine after checking there that the lock for the main centre oval seal is a little loose and doesn't tighten as well on one of them, though I'd assume the pressure in the keg once filled would sort that out?
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: auralabuse on May 23, 2015, 07:19:16 PM
Quote from: beanstalk on May 23, 2015, 01:42:11 PM
I've noticed on one of mine after checking there that the lock for the main centre oval seal is a little loose and doesn't tighten as well on one of them, though I'd assume the pressure in the keg once filled would sort that out?
Yeah,  once it's under pressure it will seal
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: dk4545 on May 24, 2015, 11:00:48 PM
Just a heads up for those wanting to replace the seals. I used a U.S. site http://www.oringsandmore.com 

Part numbers are :
109S for gas and liquid dip tube (pack of 50)
111S for posts (pack of 50)
417S for the lid (pack of 2)

These are the red silicone ones but they have the black rubber seals too.

I got 6 x silicon lid seals, 50 x silicon post seals and 50 x silicon dip tube rings delivered for about €21.  Arrived in 5-6 days

I should have got poppet seals too but I totally forgot  :'(
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: rymus on May 26, 2015, 06:04:16 PM
sorry for the hijack, just noticed on a keg I have but never really used that I've got two gas in posts, no liquid out post :( Dip tube is there alright, someone just swapped the post. If I dispense through this post using a grey gas disconnect connected to my tap, will I have any issues? Kinda cant be bothered shopping about for a liquid post if the one thats on it will do the job without any fuss.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: dcalnan on May 26, 2015, 06:14:58 PM
It won't dispense as the co2 pushes the beer through the dip tube at the bottom, without the liquid tube, the co2 will just go out the liquid outpost. The liquid diptubes are easy to come by its the gas ones that are hard to find, ive been looking for one for one of my kegs for ages.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: armedcor on May 26, 2015, 06:23:42 PM
Quote from: dcalnan on May 26, 2015, 06:14:58 PM
It won't dispense as the co2 pushes the beer through the dip tube at the bottom, without the liquid tube, the co2 will just go out the liquid outpost. The liquid diptubes are easy to come by its the gas ones that are hard to find, ive been looking for one for one of my kegs for ages.

I think he has the liquid dip tube. don't see why you couldn't dispense with a gas disconnect.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: rymus on May 26, 2015, 06:32:58 PM
yeah both dip tubes are as they should be thankfully. I'll buy an extra grey disconnect and give it a go. Hopefully theres no difference in the disconnects other than colour.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: delzep on May 26, 2015, 09:47:26 PM
Quote from: dcalnan on May 26, 2015, 06:14:58 PM
It won't dispense as the co2 pushes the beer through the dip tube at the bottom, without the liquid tube, the co2 will just go out the liquid outpost. The liquid diptubes are easy to come by its the gas ones that are hard to find, ive been looking for one for one of my kegs for ages.

Just get a liquid one and saw off most of it to make a gas one?
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: Will_D on May 26, 2015, 10:46:28 PM
On a normal Corny the posts are subtley different sizes! The Push on fittings will cross connect only one way!

Now if you truly have two dispense fittings (i.e. they connect easily with a Black connector and they both have long dip tubes to the bottom of the keg) then its easy. Just decide which Black conector is beer out and which Black is gas in!
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: armedcor on May 26, 2015, 11:33:21 PM
As far as I can tell he still has the gas tube and the liquid dip tube. It's just the actual posts are both gas posts. He should be fine with two gas disconnects.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: Paul B on May 27, 2015, 03:18:45 PM
I'm not thrilled with mine tbh.  The coke dripping out of the box onto the floor was forgivable, the worn rings and and fact I still haven't managed to get the posts off (not even with a hammer) is frustrating though.  They should have been more up front about the condition given it says right on the page "The kegs are ready to use".  I'm crap at diy and own hardly any tools, so its costing me more in run arounds to woodies and friends houses trying to get these actually ready to use than it might have to just buy a new one.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: CARA on May 27, 2015, 03:24:29 PM
All you need is a simple socket set. I bought about 50ish and over the course of half a day had them stripped, soaked, scrubbed and back together with nothing more complex than vice grips and a 22mm socket. True, a few were a bit more "syrupy" than others and the rubbers stink of sugar but at the price I couldn't be happier!
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: LordEoin on May 27, 2015, 09:26:57 PM
me too, this is the only tool i needed. 22mm
(https://d2t1xqejof9utc.cloudfront.net/screenshots/pics/f1bda71a76d94ce1daa87d42bb4ed2a3/medium.png)
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: hopapotamus on May 27, 2015, 10:09:44 PM
any chance of someone throwing up a few pics of how to recondition the kegs i.e.  replace o-rings ect. , whats best for cleaning the outsides of them and what to use for cleaning the inside when they are sorting theirs out , i think there are a lot of us are new to kegging and would be good to keep our kegs well maintained from the start.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: Shanna on May 27, 2015, 11:02:15 PM
Quote from: hopapotamus on May 27, 2015, 10:09:44 PM
any chance of someone throwing up a few pics of how to recondition the kegs i.e.  replace o-rings ect. , whats best for cleaning the outsides of them and what to use for cleaning the inside when they are sorting theirs out , i think there are a lot of us are new to kegging and would be good to keep our kegs well maintained from the start.
There are tons of videos on youtube, just search for cleaning cornelius kegs - like the following https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCwa-qHnA20

Shanna
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: belfastjacko on May 30, 2015, 10:51:42 AM
My corny arrived today (well yesterday but I was out) it's immaculate, obviously second hand on the outer, but the O ring looks like it was recently replaced. All the fittings look to be in good nick. It came pressurised so I know it's air tight. Now to start buying the rest of the equipment needed. And maybe a second keg.
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: sub82 on August 03, 2015, 07:20:10 AM
Was hoping to use my HBC corny for the first time today. Went to sterilize last night - filled with water and turned upside down and water is just streaming from the lid. The O-ring looks ok but the feet are a bit worn.

I've tried a few shims but the legs just bend around these and still won't form a seal.

Any ideas or will a blast of CO2 produce enough pressure to form a seal?
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: Leann ull on August 03, 2015, 07:42:22 AM
Usually pressure will pop them closed, also try turning 180
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: delzep on August 03, 2015, 10:18:26 AM
When you fit the lid, lift the whole keg up by the lid handle to let the weight of the keg help the seal, then gently close the lid handle and stick on the co2
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: PCBrewer on August 03, 2015, 10:48:54 AM
Ordered two.
Haven't used them yet but seem in reasonable condition, despite one having a largish dent in the bottom.
alot of labels and stuff stuck on the outside of them, but should come off ok if i could be bothered.
Inside they were reasonably clean. came up well after a soak with oxy and a rinse out with saniclean
o rings and seals seem in reasonable condition, but haven't tested them yet. all the posts and dip tubes etc seem fine.
if they work fine when i keg up  a batch , i will probably get two more.
You cant go far wrong at  €40ish each
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: sub82 on August 03, 2015, 01:37:47 PM
Quote from: Ciderhead on August 03, 2015, 07:42:22 AM
Usually pressure will pop them closed, also try turning 180

Quote from: delzep on August 03, 2015, 10:18:26 AM
When you fit the lid, lift the whole keg up by the lid handle to let the weight of the keg help the seal, then gently close the lid handle and stick on the co2

Thanks lads will give this a blast later and hopefully won't have to bottle!
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: Leann ull on August 03, 2015, 03:06:46 PM
See their price has tanked again :)
Title: Re: HBC reconditioned cornies
Post by: sub82 on August 03, 2015, 11:00:24 PM
Quote from: sub82 on August 03, 2015, 01:37:47 PM
Quote from: Ciderhead on August 03, 2015, 07:42:22 AM
Usually pressure will pop them closed, also try turning 180

Quote from: delzep on August 03, 2015, 10:18:26 AM
When you fit the lid, lift the whole keg up by the lid handle to let the weight of the keg help the seal, then gently close the lid handle and stick on the co2

Thanks lads will give this a blast later and hopefully won't have to bottle!

Worked bang on! Cheers lads! Beer successfully kegged!