Pressure leaking from my King Keg valves.

[JohnF]

2 HB ss pin valves arrived today. I used one 8g co2 bulb on one keg and so far the pressure has held.
When I run out of my 8g bulbs I will remove the pin and use the larger syphon bottles.
Thank you all for your input and advice.
Cheers
John

[JohnF]

I have two virtually new HB S30 valves, without pins, and a CO2 cylinder. Despite trying every thing gas is escaping from the cylinder and I am sure it is coming through the valves. Within less than 10 minutes all the pressure has gone.The rubber rings on the valves are like new. What can I do to stop it?
Thanks for any advice.
John

[guypettigrew]

Have you checked where the leak is coming from by using soapy water?

Guy

[Jim]

I've had a barrel leak from the welded seam. It was below the tap so easy to see (because beer was leaking out), but if it had been near the top I'd probably have spent ages mucking about with o-rings and valve seals before I found the real problem, so as Guy says, get the soapy water and brush out and find where the bubbles appear.

[JohnF]

I have used soapy water around and on the valve, the tap and cap and can see no sign of bubbles.
However, some gas must have escaped as the pressure has dropped in about 1/2 hour to almost no pressure.

[vacant]

If soapy water is proving difficult, I tested my corny kegs by filling a plastic storage container and rolling them about checking for bubbles. If you haven't got a suitable container, maybe roll it around in a rubbish bag filled with water (in the bath or outside!).

[JohnF]

Thanks vacant. I'll try that. Cheers.

[JohnF]

I put the barrel containing a brew in a container and could see no bubbles at all.
Damn me if the pressure has still dropped so I have no idea how that can be.

[guypettigrew]

The other alternative, odd as it may seem, is the beer is absorbing the gas. I get pressure drops in my King Kegs occasionally. It happens when the beer isn't doing much in the way of a secondary fermentation.

Guy

[JohnF]

The other alternative, odd as it may seem, is the beer is absorbing the gas. I get pressure drops in my King Kegs occasionally. It happens when the beer isn't doing much in the way of a secondary fermentation.

Guy

Well that is something else to think about. Actually the cap has been off the beer so often now that the beer is tasting awful so will probably have to ditch about 1/2 a barrel.

[JohnF]

I have dumped half a barrel of beer.
I have put the barrel pressured into a tub of water and can see no bubbles.
I have the new type taps and see that the tap should not be turned fully off but left at a 3 o'clock position. Anyone else do that?
I have filled the barrel with water and pressured it to see if it lasts the night.

[Jim]

I have dumped half a barrel of beer.
I have put the barrel pressured into a tub of water and can see no bubbles.
I have the new type taps and see that the tap should not be turned fully off but left at a 3 o'clock position. Anyone else do that?
I have filled the barrel with water and pressured it to see if it lasts the night.

Bear in mind that the water will absorb some gas.

[RobP]

According to the Hambleton Bard site the new stainless steel version can be used for either 8g bulbs or the larger 240g cylinders.

Guy

With the SS ones there's a reversible pin. Use the pin to pierce bulbs, reverse it for the cylinders.

I have endless problems with my S30 valve. I think there must be a better solution, I wish someone could come up with one. For what it's worth, I find when it starts becoming a problem, buy a complete set of seals and replace all of them. Don't buy seals and keep them until needed because they seem to deteriorate in the packaging.