How can u open, sanitize and reuse a 15 gal beer keg?!
I currently use the 5 gal soda kegs for my home brewing, I have a few full size kegs and would like to know if someone has the instructions for removing the ball valve in the top!. Thanks!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
The ball valve on a full sized sankey keg is under tremendous pressure from the spring and is very dangerous to remove if you do not have the right tools!.
To remove the fitting, the first thing you need is a special tool that compresses the fitting!. Saint Patricks of texas (http://www!.stpats!.com/index!.htm) has the tool for $75, it's called a drop in valve removal tool!.
Cleaning and sanitation will be just like your corny keg only a little more difficult because the opening is much smaller!.
After using the tool to compress the fitting spring, you need to remove the lock rings that hold the valve in the keg!. These are just stainless rings that sit between the fitting and the upper ring of the keg!. A screwdriver can be used to remove them if you have nothing else!. Be very careful not to dent, bend, or break these rings!. When we do this to replace the fittings, we use fresh rings every time!.
With the rings removed, slowly unsrew the tool to release the pressure on the fitting!. When the tool is completely unscrewed, the tool will come off the keg and the fitting should fall out!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
To remove the fitting, the first thing you need is a special tool that compresses the fitting!. Saint Patricks of texas (http://www!.stpats!.com/index!.htm) has the tool for $75, it's called a drop in valve removal tool!.
Cleaning and sanitation will be just like your corny keg only a little more difficult because the opening is much smaller!.
After using the tool to compress the fitting spring, you need to remove the lock rings that hold the valve in the keg!. These are just stainless rings that sit between the fitting and the upper ring of the keg!. A screwdriver can be used to remove them if you have nothing else!. Be very careful not to dent, bend, or break these rings!. When we do this to replace the fittings, we use fresh rings every time!.
With the rings removed, slowly unsrew the tool to release the pressure on the fitting!. When the tool is completely unscrewed, the tool will come off the keg and the fitting should fall out!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
YES! by all means release all pressure from the keg first thing!.
BAM!
http://www!.homedistiller!.org/forum/viewt!.!.!.
http://www!.schoepski!.com/states/illinois!.!.!.
http://www!.brewingtechniques!.com/library!.!.!.
A Sankey keg is sealed by a large steel ball (~1 inch) that is held against a gasket by a strong spring!. The beer
is going to stay in the keg until the ball is depressed!.
The tap is put on and taken off in two steps!. When tapping a Sankey, you first put the tap on the keg and give it a quarter turn clockwise!. That merely installs the tap but doesn't open the keg valve!. The by either turning the collar on the tap or lifting a lever, you depress the ball, allowing beer to flow!. To remove the tap, first turn the collar or lower the lever, allowing the ball to seal, then turn the tap counter clockwise!. If you forget the first step (I have), you might spray a little beer!.
When you remove the tap there will be a little beer on the top of the ball valve!. I sop this up with a paper towel and spray a little iodophore on the valve!. There will be some beer in the tap and lines, but there is a little "pea" in the tap that keeps it from flowing back out!. The line will have beer in it - I just drain it out the end by holding the tap up and opening the faucet!. The pressure in the gas line shouldn't be a problem, but you could relieve it with the relief valve that is on the side of the tap!.
I generally boil the tap every once in a while, but usually just
flush it with sanitizer!.
Hope this helps!.
Just an example of supplies!.
http://www!.micromatic!.com/draft-keg-beer!.!.!.
http://www!.flatfenderbrewing!.com/kegging!.!.!.
http://www!.micromatic!.com/draft-keg-beer!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
BAM!
http://www!.homedistiller!.org/forum/viewt!.!.!.
http://www!.schoepski!.com/states/illinois!.!.!.
http://www!.brewingtechniques!.com/library!.!.!.
A Sankey keg is sealed by a large steel ball (~1 inch) that is held against a gasket by a strong spring!. The beer
is going to stay in the keg until the ball is depressed!.
The tap is put on and taken off in two steps!. When tapping a Sankey, you first put the tap on the keg and give it a quarter turn clockwise!. That merely installs the tap but doesn't open the keg valve!. The by either turning the collar on the tap or lifting a lever, you depress the ball, allowing beer to flow!. To remove the tap, first turn the collar or lower the lever, allowing the ball to seal, then turn the tap counter clockwise!. If you forget the first step (I have), you might spray a little beer!.
When you remove the tap there will be a little beer on the top of the ball valve!. I sop this up with a paper towel and spray a little iodophore on the valve!. There will be some beer in the tap and lines, but there is a little "pea" in the tap that keeps it from flowing back out!. The line will have beer in it - I just drain it out the end by holding the tap up and opening the faucet!. The pressure in the gas line shouldn't be a problem, but you could relieve it with the relief valve that is on the side of the tap!.
I generally boil the tap every once in a while, but usually just
flush it with sanitizer!.
Hope this helps!.
Just an example of supplies!.
http://www!.micromatic!.com/draft-keg-beer!.!.!.
http://www!.flatfenderbrewing!.com/kegging!.!.!.
http://www!.micromatic!.com/draft-keg-beer!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
