Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:45 am
Hi MM,
I am no expert but I have a half dozon cornies and have dealt (successfully) with a few leaks already as I am learning the reconditioning process. Here is what I have onhand:
-seal kits (one large ring, 2 medium rings, 2 small rings)
-ball lock posts (hopefully you and your friend are using all ball lock, pin lock is not common)
-poppets (the spring plugs that go in the posts)
-pressure releif valve (I have one bad one and wish I had a replacement onhand)
I have had leaks from posts, from a pressure relief valve, and from the lit itself. Sometimes you just need to flip the lid around 180 degrees and it makes a better seal, sometimes your o ring is bad. It looks like you have just about everything you need though.
What I learned to do every time I clean and prep a keg for use it a pressure test. I clean my kegs (almost always break them down and soak the parts in PBW unless I know I just cleaned it then I might do a rinse, starsan, refill) and then I shake then up with a gallon or so of starsan. I hold it upside down and look for the big leaks, if it seems sealed I then set it down and put a CO2 line on it for a second, just a quick charge of C02, then shake it up. The Starsan should bubble through any leaks. If you really want to play it safe, drizzle soapy water over the entire top of the corny and look for bubbles. I hate bringing any soap around my brewing equipment though so I tend just to trust the starsan.
If you are ready to fill it, fine, even better, let it sit for a few days on pressure. Then when you go to drain the starsan back out you should get a nice "whoosh" from the pressure releif valve as your CO2 vents. If you don't have pressure left then you probably have a slow leak. Good think you didn't find that one by losing 10 pounds of CO2...over two different fills...until finally finding the leak (yeah, I did that, it sucked).
On Tap: Dark Mild (x2), Honey Hefe
Fermenting: A.Bastard Clone, Wee Heavy, S/70, Eng. Barleywine
On Deck: ?