Hi guys, I'm hoping someone here can help me with this problem I'm having with my kegerator... I'm on my 3rd keg (first 2 were flawless) and I've got something really strange going on. I cleaned my lines after the last keg and when I attached the new one I'm not really getting any beer flow. When I open the faucet I'll get about 1 tablespoon of beer out then nothing but air. If I close then reopen the faucet I'll get another tablespoon. I can do this to fill a glass, I'm not getting a good flow. I've taken the coupler off, cleaned it again making sure there are no obstructions which there aren't. I'm getting good air flow from my CO2 tank and water flows through the beer line without issue. If I put the tool into the coupler (to move the ball or something like that) to clean it air flows out quickly so I know air line is good. I keep my pressure around 12 PSI. I thought that maybe I had some ice build up so I disconnected it from the keg and left it on the counter overnight, I reattached the air and beer lines and tested it again, good flow with water and air. When I reconnected the coupler to the keg this morning I'm still getting the same issue, about 1 tablespoon of beer when I open the faucet then nothing but sputtering air. At this point I'm at a loss, does anyone have any ideas what may be causing this to happen? Thanks
Have you checked the gas check valve to make sure it isn't sticky or stuck closed? Is the gas check valve on the gas side and not the beer side?
Originally I thought that you had reversed the CO² line and beer line on the coupler, but that would result in no beer at all. Question. If you disconnect the coupler from the keg and then engage the coupler handle as if you were tapping a keg, do you hear a good amount CO² escaping from the bottom of the coupler? Remember, the beer line goes into the top of the coupler and the CO² attaches at the opening toward the bottom.
Realizing you haven't checked back in, but while the advice is flowing - if something is making you think you froze the coupler, I'd also check the keg. Give it a shake and see what you get.
Hi IceAce Yes if I open the coupler valve I hear good air flow... such an odd thing. it's still going on now and it's been a few days. Yes the beer line is on top, CO2 line on the side/bottom
if you take the coupler off the lines, and deploy the probe (as if you were tapping the keg) can you blow through the probe and get air out the beer line? This checks that the back flow ball in the coupler isn't for some reason preventing flow. During operation the ball should go up to the spring and allow beer (or your breath in this case) to pass.
OK that's my problem, I disconnected the coupler from the keg, removed the beer line and deployed the coupler as if I was tapping a keg. I turned the gas on and nothing came out the beer line part of the coupler. I also tried it with the coupler close (taking the coupler off the keg). I'll have to see if I can figure out what's wrong with it. Thanks for the advice!!
I think you are confused. In the situation you are describing (gas line on, probe deployed) you should hear and feel CO2 coming out, but not out of the hole where the beer line attaches. When everything is working properly the gas goes into the head space of the keg (above the beer) and pushes down on the beer which in turn goes up the dip tube (beer pick up at the bottom of the keg) and comes out the top of the coupler. You said you tried this previously and you were getting CO2 coming out, correct? The test I asked you to do is different and is checking whether or not beer can flow freely through the coupler or not. Also in addition to that, what does your beer line look like, any chance it is against the cold plate and frozen?
Methinks you have a bad keg. Please bring it back to the point of origin and swap it out for a new one.
