Calling Beer Engine experts

[Jim]

Glad you got sorted out.

Now you can enjoy the full beer engine experience!

[Chassyh]

Hi all here I am again with beer engine questions.
I have recently purchased 2 second hand Angram type CO pumps. They work very well out of the box but seem to ‘groan’ whilst in operation. I thought it may be the springs, but after some lubrication of them, the groaning continues on the downstroke.

I have noticed this happening in some pubs, without seeing if the offending engines were Angrams, anyone have any ideas to stop this? Thanks

[BarnsleyBrewer]

work very well out of the box but seem to ‘groan’ whilst in operation. I thought it may be the springs, but after some lubrication of them, the groaning continues on the downstroke.

Beer engine or bedroom advice?

[PeeBee]

Hi all here I am again with beer engine questions.
I have recently purchased 2 second hand Angram type CO pumps. They work very well out of the box but seem to ‘groan’ whilst in operation. I thought it may be the springs, but after some lubrication of them, the groaning continues on the downstroke.

I have noticed this happening in some pubs, without seeing if the offending engines were Angrams, anyone have any ideas to stop this? Thanks

A likely culprit is the "flap" valves in the cylinder. Any handpump would have them. Those valves do wear out or otherwise not effect a very good seal (in bad cases some handpumps will suck beer back from the glass - if the nozzle is submerged as is commonly the case with "swan-neck" or "northern" nozzles - but some pumps can be heard sucking back air too). You can imagine the "flap" will make a noise if it is not sealing, or a bit loose when open - like blowing across a blade of grass held between your thumbs (if you ever did that sort of thing).

The "flap" valves don't have to be worn. They can operate in a less than optimum manner even if new or replaced.

[PeeBee]

work very well out of the box but seem to ‘groan’ whilst in operation. I thought it may be the springs, but after some lubrication of them, the groaning continues on the downstroke.

Beer engine or bedroom advice?

I suddenly feel like I'm taking the question too seriously with my last reply.

[Blackaddler]

I've just finished stripping and cleaning a couple of EWL items.

I made the mistake of removing the cylinder first. I found it impossible to undo the nut until I bolted the cylinder back onto the chassis.

Jim's advice, to clamp the big nut at the bottom into a vice or similar (I used a workmate), and twist the whole pump, is a good one.

The water jackets were pretty mucky on the outside, but Cilit Bang [the one with mould remover] did a great job of cleaning off the black, hard to remove stuff.

All back together now, and working fine.

[Goosey]

Reviving this subject: I have a couple of EWL pumps and just don't seem to be able to undo the big nut at the bottom of the cylinder. Just to make sure we're talking about the same part, it's the eight-sided nut shaped plastic moulding that looks just like a part of the cylinder, in fact it all looks like one piece. So I should be able to undo this by putting the nut in a vice and turning the whole pump?

[Jim]

................So I should be able to undo this by putting the nut in a vice and turning the whole pump?

That's exactly what I did with mine.

[Goosey]

Okay thanks Jim, will have another go. I'm just scared of knackering the plastic!

[Jim]

Okay thanks Jim, will have another go. I'm just scared of knackering the plastic!

Just go gently. Also watch out for the inner cylinder and all the o rings falling out.

[Goosey]

Okay will do. Thanks again.

[IPA]

Okay will do. Thanks again.

Hi Goosey. You are still here then. I thought you had gone back to England.

[Goosey]

Hello! What made you think that then?