Beer line not filling up problem

[delzep]

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?

[Tom]

Is the dip tube seated properly? Or are you connecting your ins and outs the wrong way or something?

[delzep]

Connections are fine. I think it's seated OK, would be leaking otherwise I'd imagine?

[Tom]

Is any beer getting into the line?

[delzep]

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

[Tom]

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?

[LordEoin]

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

[phildo79]

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.

[delzep]

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

[Tom]

If you're struggling to fill a beer glass, you're going to have a wonderful time trying to fill a keg.

[delzep]

Could turn the keg upside down and use the gas dip tube maybe?

[phildo79]

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.

[delzep]

An excuse to use my new shiny stainless steel autosiphon 

[phildo79]

Yeah, I think I will have to get one in case this sort of thing happens again. Just another toy, innit!

[iBrau]

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.