Please help a novice with kegerator flow issues

Discussion in 'Home Bar' started by Gmarcus3732, Jul 13, 2017.

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  1. Gmarcus3732

    Gmarcus3732 Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2017

    Just replaced the tower ftom the kegerator with one mounted on my new bar. There's about 6 ft of beer line to run about 2 ft to the tap.
    It will pour the 1st pint fine, but 10 to 15 minutes later it'll only fill the pint halfway before the flow dies.
    Beer and gas lines are un-obstructed.
    Co2 is in the green.
    Keg has only poured about 10 pints, so its pretty full.
    Beer has good carbonation.

    What else would I check?
     
    #1 Gmarcus3732, Jul 13, 2017
  2. DougC123

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

    Check the duckbill valve on the gas line. Rinse it off, make sure it is flexible and opens easily when you squeeze it.
     
    #2 DougC123, Jul 13, 2017
  3. Gmarcus3732

    Gmarcus3732 Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2017

    Will do.

    Thanks!
     
    #3 Gmarcus3732, Jul 13, 2017
  4. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,831) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    Are you sure your gas is on? First of all, I don't know a duckbill valve from a duckbill platypus . . . but from your description, it's possible the headspace gas is pushing out your beer until it goes to zero. Then over a period of time the beer equalizes (off-gasses) with the headspace, giving you enough gas for another pour (and a half). If this is the case your beer is gradually becoming flat and the whole show will eventually stop. It's easy to check, remove your gas fitting and manually depress the plunger . . . there should be an immediate and constant rush of gas.
     
    #4 PortLargo, Jul 13, 2017
  5. DougC123

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

    The slow fill you describe is exactly what a gooped up valve will do. More obvious with a full keg as there is little head space to store any volume of gas.
     
    #5 DougC123, Jul 13, 2017
  6. Gmarcus3732

    Gmarcus3732 Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2017

    Thank you for the advice.

    I ended up replacing the coupler altogether, and now I get no flow at all. Not even foam.

    I have a plumber friend coming to check it out.

    Again: thanks so much for the advice.
     
    #6 Gmarcus3732, Jul 25, 2017
  7. DougC123

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

    You have the gas line going into the side, with a duckbill valve, and beer line coming out the top? You have gas, and the bottle is on?
     
    #7 DougC123, Jul 25, 2017
  8. Gmarcus3732

    Gmarcus3732 Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2017

    I'm at work now, so I cant verify, but I'm pretty sure that's how I connected it. I will check when I get home.

    After re-reafing my last post , I just want to make sure noone thinks I was being sarcastic.

    I really am grateful for the help. I'm sure I'm the one who fouled up, and the advice was sound.
     
    #8 Gmarcus3732, Jul 25, 2017
  9. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,831) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    No sarcasm noted. But this should be an easy trouble shoot: With the coupler disconnected from keg, manually depress the plunger. What happens? If CO2 isn't rushing out (impossible to miss), the tank is empty or valve is closed/plugged. With gas disconnected, vent your keg headspace. If there is gas rushing out (impossible to miss) then the gas side of your keg is working correctly. The problem will be on the liquid side. For @DougC123 , not real familiar with commercial couplers . . . jump in if I got any mechanics wrong here.
     
    #9 PortLargo, Jul 26, 2017
    DougC123 and IceAce like this.
  10. DougC123

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

    You're not missing anything, should be plain as day.
     
    #10 DougC123, Jul 26, 2017
  11. Gmarcus3732

    Gmarcus3732 Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2017

    Okay...finally had a chance to give this my full attention for several hours. After re-checking lines, connections, pressure settings, et al, it turns out the beer line was twisted closed immediately behind the tap end of the tower (head slap).
    I now have beer flowing, but it's all foam, even after 24 hours.
    I've got the pressure down between 5 to 8 psi with no change.

    Any suggestions to fix the foam issue?
     
    #11 Gmarcus3732, Jul 31, 2017
  12. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,831) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    #12 PortLargo, Jul 31, 2017
  13. Gmarcus3732

    Gmarcus3732 Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2017

    Thanks!

    You guys rock!
     
    #13 Gmarcus3732, Jul 31, 2017
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