Foamy Transfer

[John Sand]

I kegged my Irish Red this afternoon, auto-siphon from bucket on the counter into keg on the floor, SOP. Except that the transfer line kept foaming up, requiring more pumping to clear. About halfway through that stopped, the rest flowed nicely. I fermented this with 04 at around 60 degrees. Maybe it just held more CO2 at the cooler temp? Anyone had this problem?
It finished a little high too, 1.060-1.022. So I looked at my notes from last time I brewed this. Coincidentally, it was two years to the day between brew days and sample days for each batch. And the prior was also 1.022 after two weeks. For that batch, I warmed it for a week and got 5 more points. I'm keeping this one at room temp in the keg for a few days, and saved the sample to see if the reading falls.

[BlackDuck]

Check the spot where the tubing connects to the auto siphon next time. Some times there can be a bubble that forms on that connection point causing cavitation. This air pocket could have caused some foaming. Eventually, it may have worked itself out, which could have been the point at which your foaming stopped.

Whenever I use my auto siphon I simply pinch the tubing right at the connection point to release that air pocket. Not sure if this is what caused your situation, but it's a possibility I think.

[Kealia]

I've had that same air pocket that BlackDuck described. I noticed it at one point during transfer and did just what he suggested to clear it up. Now I look for that each time I siphon to make sure it isn't causing excessive foam or aeration during transfer.

[John Sand]

Thanks guys.

[Gymrat]

I bought a little hose clamp. I use it to cinch the tube down on the auto siphon. It eliminated that air bubble completely.

[jimjohson]

I tried that but it turned out MY problem was caused by the seal on the cane part had a crack. Don't really understand why that'd cause foam, but it's all I can come up with

[John Sand]

Thanks Jim. We'll see if it happens again. One of my picnic taps has a crack, it can be foamy too.