fermeting in a 15.5 gal keg

[ggltd]

thanks bud, you are the best. I can't wait for my next brew day and make use of your trailblazing.

[ggltd]

I got all the parts and have begun assembly. One other question. Does the 3/8" tube OD x 1/4" compression fitting (#8239K22) need to be drilled out to allow the thermowell to pass through? Or did McMaster-Carr send me the wrong part?
Thanks, Gary

[ggltd]

One extra part? The brass Vacuum Pressure Adjustable relief valve (#48935K25). How is this used / connected?

[dstar26t]

I got all the parts and have begun assembly. One other question. Does the 3/8" tube OD x 1/4" compression fitting (#8239K22) need to be drilled out to allow the thermowell to pass through? Or did McMaster-Carr send me the wrong part?
Thanks, Gary

Yes,

The compression fitting had to be modified by drilling it through to a 25/64" ID.

[dstar26t]

One extra part? The brass Vacuum Pressure Adjustable relief valve (#48935K25). How is this used / connected?

I didn't use that one, I used this one: Back Pressure Relief Valve (McMaster #99045K46)

You could thread that brass one right into the cross though.

[slanted & enchanted]

I just use an orange carboy cap. I leave the white cap on one stem and slip a blowoff tube over the other (an airlock works too but my fridge is short). when i transfer i put a long racking tube in one stem, and hook up co2 to the other. that way i can adjust the racking cane to not pull up yeast/trub. works great and is dirt cheap (if you get a free keg, that is).

[dstar26t]

I transferred a modified Janet's Brown (yep) off the yeast and harvested said yeast the other day. The receiving keg was sanitized, hops added, sealed and purged with CO2 before counter pressure transferring to avoid all oxygen. After transferring the beer, it took ~5 psi to move the yeast and it was still slow coming out. The fermenter had been chilled to 50F to flocc the yeast so that probably had something to do with the sluggishness. I'm working on a simpler and easier to use version of the modified keg coupler with the help of Derrin from Brewershardware.com. I'll update as it happens.

[slanted & enchanted]

how do you guys clean/sanitize those kegs? do you take them apart?

that's what always scared me about kegs with the stem still attached. I pull mine out and discard it. I use a small sump pump cleaner (like a bigger version of the fountain pump one i think Tasty uses) for cleaning then sanitizing. there are a lot of nooks and crannies in the stem, so i've been leery of using it with it still intact.