Need Kegerator advice

Discussion in 'Home Bar' started by easye418, Mar 25, 2015.

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  1. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    Not sure of the effect of the circulator, I am of the opinion that you don't need it at all. The tower cooler gets you all the circulation you need. Differing foam on the first beer is typical of set ups without tower coolers. Does your cooler hose go all the way up to the back of the shanks?
    10' of line is a good place to start to slow the flow. You still need to balance properly however. You can cut the line back in 6" increments to get the speed you want.
     
    #81 DougC123, Apr 9, 2015
  2. easye418

    easye418 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 Texas

    @DougC123

    Honestly, no clue if it goes to the shanks. Where would this be in the tower? Do you have a diagram?

    I have the hose going up the tower cooler, not to the top though. My tower "sweats" like crazy tho on the outside.
     
    #82 easye418, Apr 9, 2015
  3. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    The shank is what your faucet is attached to, so the highest point in the tower. The hose needs to go all the way up to the shank. You can see this by popping off the top of the tower and looking inside. Did you build this cooler or is it factory installed? The temperature of your beer needs to be consistent from the keg to the shank to minimize foam.
     
    #83 DougC123, Apr 9, 2015
  4. easye418

    easye418 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 Texas

    Doug,

    The beer temperature measured at 38.3 when I got home. I pushed the tower cooler as far up as I can to the shank. I would say its roughly 6 in away from the actually shank.

    https://drive.google.com/folder/d/0BwNfHOEp5EYUa05HajcwcGNfUlE/edit

    Pictures are all in this google drive.

    Still foaming pour, but need to evaluate tomorrow since I just pushed the tower cooler up there. The beer tasted alright...kinda watery. I would like to achieve colder beer.
     
    #84 easye418, Apr 10, 2015
  5. easye418

    easye418 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 Texas

    Retested again... Temp is good. 37.9-38.3. Plenty of foam when it pours, but it feels slightly flat. I have it at 14, but should it matter if I vented the keg? Do I need to carb it up?
     
    #85 easye418, Apr 10, 2015
  6. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    The cooler needs to go all the way up to be the most effective. When did you vent, back in the days of slush? Shouldn't matter at this point, the beer will absorb what it can over time. Your line looks like clear beer, I don't see any pockets of CO2. Describe the flow at this point - burst of white followed by solid beer color, etc. if you want colder beer turn the dial towards colder again. Have you checked the door seals?
     
    #86 DougC123, Apr 10, 2015
  7. easye418

    easye418 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 Texas

    @DougC123 I assume seeing all beer and no pockets in the line is a good thing towards being balanced?

    Its a burst of white than solid beer, but when I close the tap it is also very choppy. Very fast pour.

    Here is a video of me pouring the 2nd glass (botched the first video attempt and excuse the gripping at the top of the tap handle, I didn't want to block the camera).

    https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwNfHOEp5EYUazhsd2ZvY2QxMzg&authuser=0

    Download the video if it is not converted on Youtube yet.

    Thanks!
     
    #87 easye418, Apr 10, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2015
  8. easye418

    easye418 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 Texas

    @DougC123 I vented on Monday. FYI.

    Can you recommend a beer line for me to purchase? KB thinks its a good idea.
     
    #88 easye418, Apr 10, 2015
  9. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    I do too, I mentioned that a few pistes ago. As long as it is beer line it really doesn't matter all that much IMO. That pour is waaaay too fast, the line will definitely correct that. As I also mentioned, you don't need a circulator and tower cooler, I would ditch the circulator. He always prefers to get rid I'd the tower cooler which makes no sense to me because you will still have first beer foam.
     
    #89 DougC123, Apr 10, 2015
  10. easye418

    easye418 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 Texas

    @DougC123 I will ditch the circulator fan. I am ordering a 10 ft line today.

    If I am still on the same keg, should I just burn through the keg and then make the switch?

    I'm sure this has been a frustrating process, but we are getting places! I do agree in the beginning I was trigger sensitive and was changing knobs and dials all around constantly.
     
    #90 easye418, Apr 10, 2015
  11. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    I would change it as soon as you get it so you can enjoy what's left.
     
    #91 DougC123, Apr 10, 2015
  12. easye418

    easye418 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 Texas

    @DougC123

    Fair enough. I'll keep the conversation here.

    Where would I disconnect the beer line from first the shank or the coupler? Any detailed steps for this? Turn C02 off?
     
    #92 easye418, Apr 10, 2015
  13. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    Best to turn off the CO2. Uncouple, and put the coupler over a bucket. Then actuate the handle like you are tapping the keg, and open the faucet. The beer in the line will drain out and you will be set to go. Doesn't matter which end to take off first. I would reinstall from the top down, that is where it is more tricky. To get the top end off by the shank it is easier to unscrew the shank from the tower and pull the assembly out through the hole in the tower. Do your removal and reinstalling outside the tower, then slip it all back in. During reassembly make sure you thread the new line through the faucet nut or you will be redoing it.
     
    #93 DougC123, Apr 10, 2015
  14. easye418

    easye418 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 Texas

    @DougC123 Care to elaborate the faucet nut part?
     
    #94 easye418, Apr 10, 2015
  15. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    It is the brass nut against the white plastic you see when you look down into your tower - it holds the faucet into the tower. Clearly visible in some of your pictures. If you don't have a faucet wrench pliers will work.
     
    #95 DougC123, Apr 10, 2015
  16. easye418

    easye418 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 Texas

    @DougC123 Gotcha. Will report back when I have the equipment. Tested Beer temp again. ~38 degrees, which is good.

    Given the status of the unit, what do you think about the deal for $320 (even tho I wasted most of the $109 dollar keg)?
     
    #96 easye418, Apr 11, 2015
  17. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    Still a good deal.
     
    #97 DougC123, Apr 11, 2015
  18. easye418

    easye418 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 Texas

    @DougC123 I'm on my 2nd pint... Its drinkable since I've had a few now. I feel it has an alcohol taste to it. Like KB mentioned, the beer may have separated, potentially?
     
    #98 easye418, Apr 11, 2015
  19. easye418

    easye418 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 Texas

    @DougC123

    The equipment has come in the mail. What is the proper way to put the hex nut on? Washer then nipple or vice versa?
     
    #99 easye418, Apr 16, 2015
  20. easye418

    easye418 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 Texas

    #100 easye418, Apr 17, 2015
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