down the drain.

[Lberg]

I had to chuck my latest brew down the drain as it got infected

The cap on the barrel just doesn't seem to be sitting on correctly. Its relativly new (and has worked well before) and I always make sure theres plenty of vasciline on the ring but it just looks like its cross threading every time I put it back on. So when I put any gas in there it hisses like crazy and holds no pressure no matter how many times I try it.

There no obvious sign of any damage to it so I'm a bit at a loss as to whats happening.

Any suggestions?

[MightyMouth]

I doubt it got infected due to a leaking cap, If I were you I would look at doing a serious clean on equipment, taking all taps etc off and then a very thorough sanitisation.

[Lberg]

I'm in the process of doing that. I can't really afford to flush away another 40 pints. I'd cry.

What can I do about the pressure on the barrel it just doesn't want to seal. I don't really want to buy a new cap. The O ring looks in good nick as well I just cant see why its not playing ball.

[JohnJeye]

it can only be the screw thread on the cap or the rubber seal on the lid. Both should be easy to diagnose. If the cap has a valve on this could be faulty. Check if its attached to the cap properly, its easy to tighten. If the rubber has perished then its no good.

[stevezx7r]

What sort of cap is it? I assume it's a standard Youngs Budget barrel? If so, as JohnJeye says, check/replace the small seal in the middle of the cap - the blowoff "o" ring and check/replace the large inner "O" ring inside the cap. If that does't work it sounds like either the cap or barrel have a hole somewhere.

But, as MM says, it's unlikely that is what has caused the infection. You should still have beer, just flat beer.

You could always try melting hot wax over the lid once everything's in place....No?

[Lberg]

its a standard 4" hambleton bard. theres no cracks or holes on the barrel or cap and it had its blow off ring replaced a couple of months back. I might replace the black o ring on the inside but it looks as good as it did when i first got it.

When I put gas in it it sound like its escaping from the treads i'l buy an O ring and hope that it will fix it.

[jubby]

Put some pressure in the barrel and squirt a mild solution of washing up liquid mixed with water over the cap and valves. The bubbles will indicate where it's leaking from. Is the cap screwed on squarely? cross threaded maybe?

[JohnJeye]

The valve screws in just like a nut and bolt, could make sure this hasn't come loose. Easy to tighten though if you take the cap off the barrel, hold the nut on the inside of the cap and tighten with some pliers, the screw thread should be flat on 2 sides so you can get a good grip without damaging the thread

[Lberg]

I've done all the obvious checks. it still seemed to be losing pressure some where. hopefully it will sort its self when i get new o rings. I dont want to bin the barrel it was a present from swmbo. Id feel more horrible than losing the last 40 pints.

[Frenchie Laurence]

have you tried to tighten less strongly? sometimes too much squashes the rings and make it worse, especially if you have vaseline. As for the infection it is unlikely to come from the tap unless you messed about with the lid with dirty frustrated hands dropping stuff in etc.
Flat beer? yeuk!.....be patient, get it sorted and it will all be fine. That means your beer will have matured nicely in the meantime.

[Lberg]

The infection was just bad luck from something i must have forgotten to clean properly.
The cap is pretty much sorted. It needed some TLC a few tightens here and there and I took the o ring out and back in again. it oddly seemed to have sorted it out.

[Aleman]

one trick I found with Rotokegs and King Kegs is to use 2 O rings to seal the cap, which meant I could not use so much force to do the lid up . . . Which distorts the cap causing it to leak along the threads.