I took my auto siphon apart after I transfered my beer to secondary fermentation so I could wash it out. Now I cant get the cane back inside of the tube and the rubber stopper started to rip. Is it junk now or still salvagable and if so how do I get the cane back inside the tube. I just did my dry hopping today and was hoping to bottle within the next week.
Yeah, look... I would get a new auto-siphon. You don't want to deal with a failure on bottling day. That said, I don't fully understand where the point of failure is. Skeice was 100% correct that heating up the vinyl tube (with hot tap water, nothing hotter) will make it more flexible and make it easier to get the rigid plastic piece back into it. But it sounds as though the rubber piece at the bottom of the inner (smaller) rigid piece is torn? In other words, a totally different part of the auto-siphon. Assembling the rigid pieces should not be difficult and should not tear the rubber, although it's advisable to use some water or sanitizer to lubricate the inner piece.
If it's the flexible gasket at the bottom end of the plunger that is partially torn it's likely that you'll need to get a new auto-siphon. You can test this one by just pumping some water to see how well it does. If you see excess bubbling in the tubing, you'll never want to use it again on a post-fermentation basis because of the air ingress into the fermented beer.
Now would be a good time to learn how to start a siphon without the auto. Probably a YouTube video out there.
If its sticking. It sounds like it's still good and isn't broken. Yet. This is where you HAVE to be careful with it. Just lube both the tube, and the plunger bits up with generous amounts of sani, and try again. If you're in anyway doubtful. Fill a sink, and try to do a transfer of that liquid. If it pumps through. Sweet. If not. You are due to replace it. Also. Doing anything dry with a siphon tube is a surefire way to bust the thing, and the plastic those italian auto siphon tubes use is very easy to break or crack if you work with it either dry or get it too hot.
I personally siphon the ‘old school’ way but if you are looking for another option for an auto-siphon here is an option:
was going to mention the stainless steep siphon...they're pricey but hopefully would be the last one you buy. The "start your own" siphon is a good practice. If you fill with water, that means less air you're mixing with your beer. Or if you use carboys, you can always get one of these orange carboy caps and have a siphon that you run through the center port and just blow into the other port (preferrable with 1-2 psi CO2) to get started. Not 100% sanitary if you use your mouth, but definitely gets the job done and I've never had issues when I've done it that way..
Have people had problems with spigots? I can't for the life of me figure out why brewers fuck around with siphons (auto and manual) when spigots accomplish the same thing with a lot less hassle...I guess they just like their glass carboys
