Removing spear from European Sankey Kegs?

[brewerTristan]

Hello all,

This is my first post here, though I've been a long time listener. I figured if I can't get an answer to this question here, I'm screwed.

So, I recently began acquiring kegging equipment to relieve my slavery to bottles. I've got a good chest freezer and will get a temp control unit soon. However, my height of my freezer is not high enough to fit cornie kegs. And, I recently acquired two 1/4 barrel European sankey kegs for quite cheap. I know they are a pain to clean, but they are the perfect size for my freezer and I'd really like to dispense from them, but I'm having a horrible time getting the valve out and haven't found any definite info concerning European kegs in particular (they don't have the stainless steel ring the American ones have). The farthest I've got is some info that said they screw out, but I have no tool suited to achieve this. Can anyone help me out? I'm sure some people out there have done it. If not, I suppose I could cut my loses and turn them into fermenters and/or kettles.

Thanks,
Tristan

[Henning1966]

sounds like to me after a little googleing and what not. (very important) Release all pressure out with a screw driver. Then take a cressent wrench fit the jaws so the opening of the jaws engages both flats on the coupler and unscrew it.

[brewerTristan]

Hey, thanks! I got that far, depressurized and unscrewed it. However, there is something else keeping it from coming out. I think it's some kind of safety device. Any idea how to proceed from here?

[codewritinfool]

I had that problem too and never did figure it out so I just cut the lid out. After I had it in pieces I still couldn't see exactly what the hold up was.

If you ever find out I'd like to know, just for curiosity's sake.

[Brancid]

I recently found one for a HLT. We used one of those adjustable oil filter wrenches; the kind w/ the strap. I didn't have any safety stop on it though. It just unscrewed all the way and I pulled it right out. Try getting a nice grip and using a BFH.

My question is, how are you going to dispense beer with it? They do sell 2 or 3 gal cornies. Those are pretty pricey though. I've seen sanke kegs that have had cornie tops welded on to them, that may be an option.

Good luck, and if you do figure out a way to make it work please let us know.

[awalker]

Hey, thanks! I got that far, depressurized and unscrewed it. However, there is something else keeping it from coming out. I think it's some kind of safety device. Any idea how to proceed from here?

You are correct it is a safety device.
Get a decent sized screw driver or similar and depress the middle of the valve.
When its pressed down enough it will pull in the three pins that are sticking out stopping it being fully removed.

The problem is in doing this you could damage the centre making the valve useless after you put it back in.
Ideally you want a bar as big as the valve so it is pushed down square so does not damage it like I did.
I was hitting the bejesus out of it with a hammer as well mind

I am using mine as a fermenter so its not a problem.
But if you do get it out in one piece you can remove the is safety device so next time it just unscrews.
Hope that helps.

[brewerTristan]

Yeah I figured that was the way to do it, but it didn't work. I placed a penny over the valve so it would engage the outer ring as well and pushed it, I think, to the very bottom and nothing happened. Is there something that needs to be done while depressing the valve? I thought it would just pop out, but I had no luck. I'm pretty sure I haven't damage the valve yet either, as it still closes properly. How far down does it need to be pushed? Thanks for all the help thus far. I feel like I'm getting closer to solving the problem.

[codewritinfool]

A nutdriver may also work then.