Removing the Poppet

[BlackDuck]

I'm giving the kegs a once over to make sure everything looks good. So far, I've decided to replace the o-rings on both posts and the o-rings for both the gas in and beer out dip tubes.

But, how exactly do you remove the poppet from the post? They look to be seated in there pretty firm. I surely don't want it to come firing out and take an eye out.

[Beer-lord]

You can take a pen and push down from the outside, inward to remove the poppet. I usually just tap it on the table a few times and it comes out. Sometimes lots of CO2 pressure pushes it in very tight.

[BlackDuck]

OK....I'll give that a try. I'm off to a wedding reception, so it will have to wait until tomorrow.

[Inkleg]

Yeah, sometimes they can be a pain as the 3 "legs" on the bottom can hook into a small slot. A small hook from the inside to release one of the legs if the table tap doesn't get it loose.

[Beer-lord]

I've just bought a few of the 'universal' kind that I've never used before but they are supposed to be easier to work with. I'll try one on the next beer I keg and let you know what I think.

[BlackDuck]

Mine have the small legs that seem to be locked on a ledge. That's why I was asking. And the replacements that I got are the universal kind. I'll figure it out. Just something new to learn. I'm brewing next weekend, so expect a shitload of questions in four weeks when the system gets christened.


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[Beer-lord]

Most of mine do too.
Here's what the universal poppets look like. I'm told they work in all posts.

10971.jpg (11.37 KiB) Viewed 911 times

[BlackDuck]

That's exactly what I got for the spares. The guy at kegconnection recommended them since they do work on just about any keg.


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[Stinkfist]

I have some that fall right out and others that I think are permanently there...lol those ones I just let stay there....haven't even tried to remove them...though I am guessing you would probably have to bend a leg to get them out...

[Inkleg]

I'll just leave this here. DYI keg line cleaner
Love mine, use it all the time. I have a jumper made up with two liquid posts. After a keg kicks I'll use to to flush the out post and tube with hot water, then pump some PBW through it to clean and then a rinse. I'll break a keg down every now and then to inspect. But as clean as they have always been using the above method, the tear down interval is becoming longer.

Another thing I do after washing a keg is to throw in some Star San, slosh it around for a few minutes, dump it, allow to drain for a few minutes, then seal it up and pressurize before storing. That way on kegging day, if it still has pressure I know it's ok, it's sanitized and it's purged of O2.
Just pop the lid and fill.

[MadBrewer]

I have the univeral poppets on 3 of my kegs. One thing to keep in mind is sometimes the beer out side poppet spring needs to be trimmed becaise the spring is too long and you wont be able to get the disconnect on or you will get no flow out. I actually had to trim both the co2 side and beer side. It probably depends mostly on the brand of kegs you are putting them on.

[Beer-lord]

I've been taking mine apart every time but it only takes me a few minutes. I have a super duper bottle washer I use and wash the keg out with that after most of the gunk is washed out with a hose.
But thanks to Ink's tip about cleaning them and sealing them with C02, I've done that as well. I have 5 kegs now cleaned, sealed and ready for the next beers that go in them.

[BlackDuck]

A little gentle push with a hole punch and out they came. Thanks for the help everyone.

And it's a good thing I removed them. The o-rings on these things were shot. The o-rings on the dip tubes were also shot. It's a good thing that kegconnetion.com sends replacement o-rings with their used kegs. I surely needed them. I'm also going to replace both gas in dip tubes too. They are both real nasty. I'm sure they are cheap, so I think replacing them is the right move.

[Inkleg]

A good o-ring source to have.