Plastic ball-lock connectors: how often do you replace them

Have u disassembled and cleaned them recently

 

I have never replaced mine, but after a while the little balls seems to start to stick. Then it is time to soak them in PBW to break up any accumulated junk.

@ryane how do you disassemble them?

 

You can't disassemble the balls part, AFAIK, but you can disassemble the plumbing part by twisting the top off with a screwdriver.

That said, if there's a sticking/hard to engage problem, I'd suspect the balls or maybe gunk on the post O-Ring.

 

I have yet to replace one either. However, I break them down and soak in Oxi every time I break the keg down...which is almost every beer.

 

Like vikeman said, u pull the top off using a flat screw driver

 

Don't lose the spring. Tricky Hobbits! I've got one that's a little sticky and I'm thinking I need to clean/replace some of it. You'll find that you get a mason jar or a ziplock baggie dedicated to disconnect parts. It's always good to have a few extra.

 

After every kegged batch, I pour pbw into a keg and fill it with as hot water as possible out of the tap. I run some through the system and let it sit in the lines until the next day, (I disconnect the liquid post and let the solution sit over night, along with the keg). I then sanitize it the next day and repeat the same step. That seems to have done me really well for the 15 or so batches I've kegged. I do check the innards regularly and things seem to stay very clean.

 

When mine have this issue I just lube the oring on the keg and problem solved.

 

Would not recommend even screwing around with the plastic ones...if wanting something better (and pricier) than maybe one of these:

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/STAINLESS-STEEL-BEER-BALL-LOCK-THREADED-P3975.aspx

 

Kegging, even with its occasional quirks, is *still* vastly less time-consuming.

You might have to disassemble and thoroughly soak disconnects once or twice a year. BFD. They'll stay cleaner w/o the 'extra' work of dis-assembly if you're periodically running some hot PBW through your lines (good practice when switching out a keg, at least). Sticky balls can be remedied by soaking the collar in hot water w/o disassembling anything. Just soak a bit, slide the collar up and down a few times and run your finger around the inside. Rinse, and you should be good.

Keeping your o-rings in good shape and using a bit of keg lube goes a LOOONG way toward keeping everything operating smoothly and leak-free, too.

I guarantee I can clean and completely overhaul 14 kegs and 12 disconnects in a lot less time than it would take to clean and sanitize 750 bottles - and the former needn't be done EVERY TIME.

 

I just kegged a new batch 2 nights ago, and my ball lock to the gas line was being so stubborn I almost gave up. I would do as Dunkel said as far as soaking the disconnects. I normally only run sanitizer solution through the keg between beers. Kegging has it's moments, but going from grain to glass on a beer in 2 weeks is pretty damn cool, you have to admit. Also be glad you don't have to keep hoarding bottles! And don't forget to lube those sticky balls to prevent friction down there . sorry, I had to...

 

Most of mine stay refrigerated, so a quick shot of Starsan is all they get routinely...the ones that aren't refrigerated (cobra taps) get stored with Starsan inside the lines. In ~5 years of kegging, I've broke one due to an extremely stiff universal poppet and had one leak due to the top cap coming loose. I think when I replace my liquid lines with Silver Barrier line I will spring for the SS ones I linked to...or not

 

At one point I could get the connector to latch on but no beer was flowing through. I don't know if there was gunk stuck up in there or what. I tried cleaning but had no success. It's a relatively cheap part so I opted to run to the homebrew store. I am now more careful about:

1. Cold crashing prior to kegging to minimize crud in the keg
2. soaking the connector after every batch

I'd agree that kegging can certainly be a little frustrating if you've been told "it's so much easier than bottling!" over and over. But force carbinating and having your own beer on tap is so nice

 

When are you people going to start showering with a 7/8" wrench like I have been telling you forever?