Mini Keg Bungs

[soupdragon]

Hi All

I have several of the 5l mini kegs, some re-used commercial kegs and some standard ones without the tap.

One or two of the standard kegs that take the grey bungs have started to leak from the where the dip tube fits through the centre of the bung once the keg has been tapped.
Just wondering how long the bungs last before they need to be replaced? The oldest of my kegs all use these grey bungs and ( up to now ) the newer kegs with built in taps that use the smaller black bungs are holding pressure without problem...

So, what's the expected life of the bungs?

Cheers Tom

[stu-le-brew]

One or two of the standard kegs that take the grey bungs have started to leak from the where the dip tube fits through the centre of the bung once the keg has been tapped.
Just wondering how long the bungs last before they need to be replaced? The oldest of my kegs all use these grey bungs and ( up to now ) the newer kegs with built in taps that use the smaller black bungs are holding pressure without problem...

So, what's the expected life of the bungs?

I some times get a slight leak at the top of the bung, it only occurs when installing the tap into barrel, it is usually OK if I turn the whole tap assembly (clockwise when viewed from the top). I think you could change the bung in a keg by first chilling the keg, invert the barrel and vent the pressure (careful where you aim as the beer in the tap has to go somewhere) return to up-rite and remove tap then change the bung. You may need to leave for a few days to settle again.

I have thrown some bungs away in the past, but mainly because they would not come clean, rust/beer stain just under the top of the bung, so I don't think there is any life limit

hope this helps - shame to waste beer because of a leak

[soupdragon]

HI Stu

I turn the whole tap clockwise whenever I fit it, just to make sure that the dip tube hasn't worked loose.
I've had a thought though. The kegs/bungs involved have been filled for at least 3-4 months now and if I'd remember correctly I used 13g of sugar per keg for priming. Might it just be that the kegs are slightly over pressure and the excess is just escaping now that the bung seal has been disturbed?
Am I correct in thinking that you use a smear of vaseline/petrolium jelly on the dip tube to assist fitting into the keg? I'm sure I read it in an older thread. Would that help prevent the leak?

Cheers Tom

[stu-le-brew]

Hi Tom,

13g for priming should be OK, assuming the beer had finished fermentation totally. The only thing to see if its over pressure is to vent some beer as soon as you tap the beer, if you get tons of froth then that could be the cause - you could maybe try the invert keg trick so you don't waste too much beer but get rid of some excess gas

I did use food grade grease to help with inserting the bung but I have stopped this as the grease goes very sticky after drying, so now I leave the bung in boiling water till the last second and it does go in. I am not sure of how tasty Vaseline/petroleum jelly would be in contact with beer and I doubt it would help with the seal

Time for a beer I think !

[soupdragon]

Hi Stu

I'm not actually losing any beer just co2. The 1st pint and a half do have quite a head so maybe it's just a bit of over pressure?

Cheers Tom

[stu-le-brew]

It could be that the problem is with the down tube, one mod I make to the down tube on all new taps is where the top of the tube forms a seal with the bung there is sometimes a flashing line on both sides of the tube, this is made during the manufacturing process, simply take a sharp knife and shave this till its smooth.

I have also had gas leak from where the gas cartridge is connected, that's at the back of the valve, this was cured by tightening the hexagonal nut inside the back of the valve

hope this helps

[soupdragon]

I'm sure I checked for flashing on the dip tube a while ago but I'll double check next time I swap it to another keg.

Do you have the exploded diagram of the tap? If so what part number is the hexagonal nut you're referring to? If you don't have it I could mail it to you.....

Cheers Tom

[stu-le-brew]

from the parts diagram I have its part number 2 ' cewindering' its inside part number 11 'grundgehause' it has a hexagon inside it just needs to be tightened a touche

bon chance

[soupdragon]

Thanks Stu.

I'll check that too when I need to change the bulb. The last couple I've fitted have passed a bit of co2 out of the back of the holder so that should cure it

Cheers Tom

[soupdragon]

It could be that the problem is with the down tube, one mod I make to the down tube on all new taps is where the top of the tube forms a seal with the bung there is sometimes a flashing line on both sides of the tube, this is made during the manufacturing process, simply take a sharp knife and shave this till its smooth.

I have also had gas leak from where the gas cartridge is connected, that's at the back of the valve, this was cured by tightening the hexagonal nut inside the back of the valve

hope this helps

Just a bit of an update.......

I've swapped over to the new dip tube that Fass-Firsh sent to me. One thing I've only just noticed is that there's an extra O ring just the other side of the shoulder where the screw thread is. So there's one that seals onto the base of the body of the tap and one that seals against the bung when the tap is in position. No sign of a leak so far on a keg that had been leaking just 10 minutes earlier before I swapped the dip tubes......

Stu........

Does the hexagonal nut ( where the gas bulb is attached ) need to be screwed clockwise or anti-clockwise to cure the gas leak and how far will it need tightening? I'll be needing to fit a fresh bulb soon so I'd like to get it right Cheers Stu

Cheers Tom

[stu-le-brew]

Hi Tom

its clockwise when viewed from the back of the tap, just nip it up a little

good luck

S

[soupdragon]

That's great, cheers Stu

Cheers Tom

[BenB]

So I've got some leaks from my grey mini keg bungs but transpires I've used 27g per keg not the 13 or so recommended so perhaps not surprising

[BenB]

Okay, so I officially hate grey mini keg bungs! Took 3 kegs of beer up for Christmas. One (black and red bung) was perfectly carbed as I poured it down the sink (turns out it was my AG#1 the tannin content of which had not improved after a couple of years!!!). The other brews had the grey bungs. And both had leaked. First pint was fine, after that it was flat. Not a happy bunny. Going to try and source some red/black bungs or just bottle the beers for next year. Got a leak with my KK too!

But I did get an automatic bottler for Christmas which makes up for these errors a little. And a crate of Ampleforth Dubbel (which tastes like an Old Ale to me and has very little Belgian flavour- not that that's a bad thing though).

[themadhippy]

try and source some red/black bungs

just bought some from http://www.brewuk.co.uk/easy-keg-bung.html