Beer Forum

Hi all. Recently I picked up three kegs at a stupidly cheap price. One of them has Pin Locks while the other two are Ball Locks. Here's the thing. I tried to screw the Ball Lock fittings on the Pin Lock post and it screws on just fine!

These are older Racetrack kegs so perhaps they made the posts the same size back then? Anyways, my basic question is can I simply swap them since they screw on or is there something else I need to consider?

Thanks!!

Robert

In general, those posts are not interchangeable. You may be able to screw on one post but not the other. Here is a list of post thread sizes. You may be able to figure out what fittings will fit from this.


Firestone V Challenger, Firestone VI Challenger, Firestone Super Challenger
Gas 9/16"-18
Liquid 5/8" -18

Cornelius Spartan & Super Champion
Gas 19/32" - 18
Liquid 19/32" - 18

Cornelius R (pin lock)
Gas 19/32" - 18 (2-pin)
Liquid 19/32" - 18 (3-pin)

John Wood 85, Firestone Challenger
Gas 11/16" - 18
Liquid 3/4" - 18

Firestone A, Firestone R, John Wood RA, John Wood RC (pin lock)
Gas 9/16" - 18 (2-pin)
Liquid 9/16" - 18 (3-pin)

You may want to consider using flare fittings on your beer lines so you can easily switch to the proper quick disconnect when you go from ball lock to pin lock. This would be cheaper than replacing the fittings on the kegs.

Wayne

Hey bugeater, how could I tell which model is mine? It doesn´t say anything on it. I know the majority of my posts are pin-lock cornelius type poppet. I have a firestone, but I don´t really know the details to differentiate between a type V Challenger from a Super Challenger.

I noticed my firestones have a straight dip tube, taking the liquid from the side of the keg.

Is there any source to differentiate these kegs?

Take a close look at the side of the keg. The manufacturer's logo and model is stamped lightly into the side about a third of the way down from the top. You may have to get the light just right to be able to read it.

Wayne