What keg should I get?

Advertise with us
shop deals on amazon
Shop deals on ebay
The Homebrew Forum

Help Support The Homebrew Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
A

Ale

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2015
Messages
713
Reaction score
232
Location
Brighton
I hae a Youngs pressure barrel atm. I've just put a brew into it an the tap is dripping. I had to put it on its side which sploshed the beer around and take the tap off to sort it out. I think its stopped dripping now but has a bucket under it just in case. Not decided yet whether to replace the tap or throw it. I normally use bottles so its only the second time I've used it. :doh:

I will get another one anyway or should I just replace the tap? Any recommendations?

And will the sploshing around affect the beer?
 
Ale said:
I hae a Youngs pressure barrel atm. I've just put a brew into it an the tap is dripping. I had to put it on its side which sploshed the beer around and take the tap off to sort it out. I think its stopped dripping now but has a bucket under it just in case. Not decided yet whether to replace the tap or throw it. I normally use bottles so its only the second time I've used it. :doh:

I will get another one anyway or should I just replace the tap? Any recommendations?

And will the sploshing around affect the beer?
Click to expand...
I nearly always bottle now, but have a couple of kegs. Same youngs one and a king keg top tap, which is loads better cos the float sits on the top of the beer nearly till the last inch or so. With the other , you end up tipping the keg to get last 3 or 4 pints out and ends up kicking lots of sediment up. Definitely leave for a bit if you've had it on it's side , just to settle. If you'r not going to keg that often just stick with it and sort out the leak for the next time. Some times over tightening can be the problem. did have the same problem and messed about with the tap by millimetres and sorted it. hope that helps.
 
First, your beer will not be affected by 'sploshing around'.
Second where is your tap leaking from, the joint between the PB and the tap, or the tap itself? If its the former remove the tap and re-install having put PTFE on the threads and a light smear of Vaseline on the rubber gasket. Don't overtighten. If it's the tap itself the correct 'off' position is at 90* to the axis of the tap, not pushed right round . Sometimes 'working' the tap (with the PB on its side) will be enough to reseat the tap into the tap body.
If the tap itself still leaks after adjustment I would buy another tap to try first, they are cheap enough, and you always have a spare if you can't sort out the problem.
 
I've got a couple of kegs but prefer the budget Youngs one, it takes a bit of getting used to to sort any leaks but one you've used it a few times you'll get familiar with it. Worth replacing the lid with one with an S30 valve and getting a Hambleton Bard CO2 cylinder, take all the guessing out of whether it's sealed or not.

I've had no end of problems with more expensive kegs (Rotokeg, King Keg) to the point where I just don't trust them now.

Like others I mostly bottle these days which seems the most reliable, but sometimes it's just nice to have an ale out of the keg with minimnal cabonation.
 
Its the tap itself that is the problem, the seal where it screws in is fine. I tried my local B&Q but no 25mm taps at all. I'll get one tomorrow but no homebrew shops near me so not sure where I'll find one
 
at a push mate, just get a water proof silicon or putty and leather it round the tap , let it go off and deal with it next time. maybe?
 
Ale said:
Its the tap itself that is the problem, the seal where it screws in is fine. I tried my local B&Q but no 25mm taps at all. I'll get one tomorrow but no homebrew shops near me so not sure where I'll find one
Click to expand...



Did you try toolstation?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Have you tried turning the tap to see if you can stop the drip?

With mine, what would seem like totally closed actually goes beyond that point and starts to open it again - hard to explain, but if the tap lever is pushed against the keg it's partially open. Need to pull it back a bit from the horizintal position to be fully closed.

Also, presuming it hasn't gassed up yet? Taps sometimes leak due to too much pressure inside.
 
davereal said:
at a push mate, just get a water proof silicon or putty and leather it round the tap , let it go off and deal with it next time. maybe?
Click to expand...

How do you suggest I get the beer out to drink it then? :whistle:
 
Ale said:
How do you suggest I get the beer out to drink it then? :whistle:
Click to expand...
You have two options available
- assuming you have no bottles available get yersen down to Tesco and buy some 17p 2 litre bottles of FIZZY water and pour it down the sink or drink it, and then put your beer in the bottles; reprime as required
- try the home brew shop in Worthing or the one in Oxford St, Brighton for a new tap; not used either of them, they might have closed down but its worth a try
 
darrellm said:
Have you tried turning the tap to see if you can stop the drip?

With mine, what would seem like totally closed actually goes beyond that point and starts to open it again - hard to explain, but if the tap lever is pushed against the keg it's partially open. Need to pull it back a bit from the horizintal position to be fully closed.

Also, presuming it hasn't gassed up yet? Taps sometimes leak due to too much pressure inside.
Click to expand...

No pressure yet, only moved from FV to PB today. I managed to get it to stop dripping but once pressure builds it will leak again. Needs replacing asap.

I do think I need to say, I can operate taps. THe problem appears to be that the seal is not very good. These ones operate by having a plastic cylinder with a hole in it. When you turn the tap the hole moved back and forward. When the hole is turned to where it should be sealed there is not a seal so it drips. Thats also why it can drip if you turn it too far when closing. While googling for taps it became very apparent this is a common propblem with the Youngs PB.
 
So far (lucky me!) my only barrel leaks have occurred from the cap either through the "O" ring seal or a perished rubber band on the pressure relief system.

However, in expectation of the problem and seeing others suffering from a leaking plastic tap I am considering getting one of these ...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1920...=1006543&device=c&campaignid=707291931&crdt=0

Has anyone else gone the stainless steel route and if so can they recommended it for Ale's problem and is it worth it? :?: :?:
 
Dutto said:
However, in expectation of the problem and seeing others suffering from a leaking plastic tap I am considering getting one of these ...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1920...=1006543&device=c&campaignid=707291931&crdt=0
Click to expand...
Might be worth it if you have a 4" cap type PB.
No good if you have a 2" cap PB cos you can't do up the backnut, and the taps which are supplied for these have a reducing thread.

I have to say up to present I have had no problems with my budget type PBs. I was given one which is 35 years old and it's now in use having replaced the cap and tap, plus a Youngs PB bought in a Tesco sale. I do keep a set of spares i.e. caps, rings and taps to cover for when things go wrong but have not had to use any of them yet other than replace a ring. The spares are pretty cheap and unless you are really unlucky and the PB itself develops a leak, the only things likely to go wrong with these PBs is the tap and the cap and rings, all of which can be replaced.

darrellm said:
Was only trying to be helpful - you wouldn't believe some of the basic stuff that comes up on here regularly.
Click to expand...
+1 on that!
 
I'd like to go the stainless steel route. I may have to bottle it, but as I said I hate washing the bottles.:-(

The HB shop in Brighton is rubbish and not worth going to. Its never open and the owner puts a few beer kits and couple of other things in the bike shop next door (which is filthy) which they sell for her. The one in Worthing is a 50 mile round trip so would rather avoid that. There used to be one called Home Brewers Heaven not far from me but that has now completey closed down. Their website is still running but the unit they were in is closed and they dont answer e-mails. They were only open 4 days during the week from 10.00 to 4.00 so no good for anyone working. In fact it is so poor for HB shops around here I thought I may even talk to a mate about us starting one. He's a more experienced brewer than me as well. With the craft beer revolution its a good time to try to get people into it. Hes coeliac so could have a specialist range of gluten free ingredients.
 
Dutto said:
So far (lucky me!) my only barrel leaks have occurred from the cap either through the "O" ring seal or a perished rubber band on the pressure relief system.

However, in expectation of the problem and seeing others suffering from a leaking plastic tap I am considering getting one of these ...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1920...=1006543&device=c&campaignid=707291931&crdt=0

Has anyone else gone the stainless steel route and if so can they recommended it for Ale's problem and is it worth it? :?: :?:
Click to expand...

Just looked at that one and I dont think it will fit.

I've got a plan now. Take the tap off my fv and use that and get the replacement in time for my next brew
 
Thanks for the advice everyone, its all appreciated (even if I do make the odd flippant remark :whistle: its just my sense of humour)

What I've learned is to make sure you check out reviews etc for your equipment, there are a lot of results for these Youngs PB's having dripping taps. Mine has a black tap with a red cap that goes on it. I see they now sell them with a different tap so I expect the new ones were to replace the ones which leaked. Also, make sure you know the size of replacement parts. It took me ages of searching the internet to find this one has a 25mm thread. From measuring it I could easily have made a mistake and got a 1 inch one (25.4mm). Bottles are probably the best solution, I just hate washing them.

Mine looks like this one, so should be avoided (I hope the person selling these has just not updated the picture but is selling the ones with the new tap):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Youngs-40...beer-c-w-vent-cap-Brand-new-keg-/391303484669
 
Just put the tap from the FV on. When I took the old tap out a lot of gas came out. There was still a slow drip from it but after my efforts yesterday it wasnt as bad as when I first kegged it. I have a S30 cap and CO2 cartridges so put one in. Didnt re-prime though. The new tap is definitely stronger then the old one, you can feel its a tighter seal just turning it. I'll probably just leave that one on there and put a replacement on the FV. I'm going to get a second FV as well with no tap which I will use with a syphon.

Tescos have got a sale on HB equipment atm.
 
I've worked out what the problem is. With the S30 valve cap on the barrel it is retaining too much pressure, which is ironic for a pressure barrel. The pressure is then forcing beer or gas (when its tipped up) out of the weakest part. First it was the tap, but when I swapped the tap for another it moved to the seal where the tap screws in. As pressure increased so did the amount of the leak.

The standard cap that came with it probably releases the pressure earlier.

I've moved it to bottles today and reprimed. I'm hoping it will be drinkable for New Years Eve.
 

Similar threads

Omega
Buying kegs, what else should I buy?
Replies
14
Views
1K
Omega
Omega
Frisp
I have a drinking issue and need some assitance.
2
Replies
29
Views
1K
Frisp
Frisp
Beerwegoagain
New tap and keg installation
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
MashBag
MashBag
foxy
Cask beer from a keg.
2
Replies
36
Views
3K
Mrhoddy
M
Aaron1977
Leaky barrel
Replies
11
Views
644
Dazzelknight
Dazzelknight

Latest posts

Back
Top