Just pulled the trigger on a new Kegco Z163 S-2 from Beverage Factory. Thanks for all of the input in threads past. Updated the tower and the taps. eliminated the CO2 canister. I'll post some pics and reviews when it's all set up. My next research is pressures and temperatures or my Keg of BCBS and Modern Times Booming Rollers! w00t!
Minor update: Do some research about 5lb CO2 canister pricing. The ones at your local Airgas can be rather spendy versus the cost of one from BeverageFactory, or even Amazon. Sure you're trading in a new tank, but the cost difference may save you several dollars.
At the retail level, the CO2 refill industry likes to prey on new customers. The more you know, the smoother (i.e. cheaper) the process becomes. This is a place where being arrogant and overbearing can sometimes pay off.
After a few twists and turns, I have a keg of BCBS and Booming Rollers fairly well dialed in. 36 degF, 10 PSI, ~5 feet of hose. I'll let it settle over night and test again tomorrow. My issue however is this. One of my Perlick 630SS taps is way too loose. When I put my tap handle on, it opens the tap. I installed them as they arrived from the factory, so I didn't really mess with anything. After that, I tried tightening the bonnet nut down with pliers and it doesn't seem to help. I loosened, and re-tightened. No help... Any thoughts? Google doesn't seem to be of much assistance.... Thanks.
Follow up thought as I sit here. I actually have 4 630ss faucets. 3 of them don't seem to close right. It's like they go 3/4 of the way and stop. one of the closes all the way solid with a good feel. The other 3 feel rubbery, they sort of spring back to closed but not latched. i've taken them apart, they're all the same looking, no visual differences. I've tried different tightnesses on the bonnet, messing with the internal o-rings. I'm at a loss.
I don't think Perls ever snap back into the closed position even when working correctly. They do have a rubbery feel I guess now that you mention it. There is a sort of sweet spot with the Perls. If they are over tightened pulling the handle is like rowing in mud. And they can be pretty sloppy if too loose. There is perhaps a half of a turn of the nut between good and not so good. You shouldn't need to mess with any of the o-rings. Just be certain the plastic retaining ring is in place. It holds the stem in position. If it is not there the faucet probably wont work at all. Lastly if you have heavy or really tall handles that can make the faucet feel strange. The handle is a giant lever so try not to grab the top part and jam it like your shifting a Peterbilt. Kind of a pet peeve of mine to be honest. It also makes you look like a Neanderthal at the bar. Cheers.
Mine have metal training caps... The one big tap handle simply opens the tap by itself. Stupid goose island.
Anatomy of the 630, Bill is talking about the teal piece which is plastic. In the closed position which is shown the threaded rod the handle attaches to is angled towards helping close the faucet. Unless the goose's beak is made of lead and pointing forward, it should want to stay closed normally.
Cool, good pics. In the view looking down from where the handle would be, is that black washer distorted or do they all look like that? I assume you also have the ferrule that goes on top of the assembly before you screw the handle on? It is the piece above the bonnet in my graphic.
Oh, I see what I was thinking was distortion. It’s the half round that is machined into the sides of the body below the washer. Is the metal (used to be plastic) collar that sits on top of the ball symmetrical - is there a possibility it could be 180 degrees out of its correct position?
I just received my kegco 163 from the shipper yesterday. I had originally ordered the 309, but it wasn’t available and they offered to substitute the 163. The cooled tower is compelling! Looks beautiful. It isn’t quiet enough for use in the home though. I was hoping to set it up in the corner of my dining room, but the fan is just way too noisy. I contacted kegco/beverage factory and they’re supposed to call me back. Did you experience any issues with noise? Do you have any updates on your impressions of the kegerator, now that you have had it for a while? Thanks, Dave
It’s an appliance. You shouldn’t expect it to be any better than putting a fridge or freezer in your dining room, and likely it will be worse because they aren’t really designed as rigorously as fridges. Probably the wrong room IMO. The tower cooler isn’t just compelling, it is required if you want good pours.
