Kegerator troubles

Thanks for the update...it's a very considerate thing to do, yet many people simply disappear after their problem has been solved.

Here are a few tips to dovetail with Mike's advice:

First, you are correct about the sputtering being caused by air gaps. The current CO² pressure is too low to properly 'pack' the line and CO² is breaking out of solution. We will fix that.

Now, just because your regulator gauge reads 5# or 8# doesn't necessarily mean that the internal pressure of the keg is the same. Regulator gauges are notorious for falling out of calibration and regulators (with age) tend to slowly creep upward.

One of the easiest ways to balance the system for an individual keg is to start with the pressure around 5# (where you are now).

When you open the faucet you should receive beer, but the flow will most likely be less than optimal. Continue the balancing process by bumping up the pressure in 1-2# increments until the beer pours in a full circle from the faucet. (Do these bumps an hour apart to give the system time to stabilize.

When you achieve a full-circle pour (full-circle pour is a steady, stable stream...you'll know it when you see it), bump up by one more pound of pressure. The target rate of flow for a properly balanced system is 2 Oz./second...one full pint should pour in eight seconds.

Once you achieve this balance, I recommend marking the position of the gauge on its cover with a Sharpie®.

 

When you lowered the pressure to 5, some of the CO2 started coming out of solution seeking equilibrium. This is a slow process - it'll take a few days for things to stabilize. If it stopped rising at 10, then it sounds like it's right about where you want it. Close the valve, release the pressure in the line, set the regulator to 10 psi (or wherever you want it to be), then open it and give it a few more days.