Trouble pressure transferring from SS brewtech bme to corny keg?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by adit, Dec 15, 2017.

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  1. adit

    adit Initiate (0) Dec 15, 2017 New York

    In an attempt to reduce oxygen exposure, I've been trying out pressure transferring my finished beer into keg. The whole set up works until until the ball lock–I'm able to push out beer successfully when I unscrew the QD. But, there's no beer flowing once I attach the ball lock connector to the keg even though I've cleared the headspace and have a open gas out connector attached to relieve pressure additional as beer pushes in.

    Roughly the set up is:
    Co2 Tank (regulator set to 2 PSI) -> hose -> junction -> hose -> brewtech bme -> hose -> ball lock -> keg

    You can also see photos here:

    Would appreciate any ideas on what the issue might be!
     
    #1 adit, Dec 15, 2017
  2. jbakajust1

    jbakajust1 Pooh-Bah (2,552) Aug 25, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Make sure that your diptube isn't so long that it hits the bottom. If it does, shorten it by an inch. I have had that issue before when trying to fill. Also, that kink at the hose where it connects to the QD is going to slow it down significantly. Try holding it up so it flows freely.
     
    #2 jbakajust1, Dec 15, 2017
  3. TheBeerery

    TheBeerery Initiate (0) May 2, 2016 Minnesota

    Your butterfly valve on the conical is shut and your line is kinked. :wink:


    You have your liquid out and gas in poppets in properly? It’s most likely not depressing them.
     
    #3 TheBeerery, Dec 16, 2017
  4. adit

    adit Initiate (0) Dec 15, 2017 New York

    Haha, if only it was just my stupidity at work here :stuck_out_tongue:
    And thanks for the suggestions guys–the kink actually looks worse than it is (it's a soft silicone tube that holds it shape once there's actually liquid in it).

    @TheBeerery I think you may be on to something with the poppets. Do you have any suggestions on how to make them depress more easily? Keg lube? Work down the springs somehow?
     
    #4 adit, Dec 16, 2017
  5. TheBeerery

    TheBeerery Initiate (0) May 2, 2016 Minnesota

    For this transfer just remove them on both sides and add after the transfer.
     
    #5 TheBeerery, Dec 16, 2017
  6. Brewday

    Brewday Zealot (721) Dec 25, 2015 New York

    What is that other spout (blue handle) above the butterfly. I would shorten the hoses and run the gas out into a bucket of sanitizer so it's submerged. You could also crank the pressure up to 6-8 or even more.
     
    #6 Brewday, Dec 16, 2017
  7. Scope4Beer

    Scope4Beer Zealot (677) Sep 28, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    That's a sampling port with a ball valve to get samples for gravity readings.
     
    #7 Scope4Beer, Dec 18, 2017
  8. Scope4Beer

    Scope4Beer Zealot (677) Sep 28, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I've done two transfers with this fermenter using the exact same setup as you. The first one was a porter (no dry hops) and it worked like a charm. The second batch was a dry hopped IPA (6 oz of pellets without a bag and turns out I couldn't cold crash it as successfully as I thought with the ice chest and pump). I had the same problem as you with flow on the transfer stopping at my liquid ball lock connector. What I ultimately found was small hop debris clogging the connector when I disassembled it.
     
    #8 Scope4Beer, Dec 18, 2017
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