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#1 djinkc

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Posted 10 April 2017 - 04:32 PM

I thought tap rebuilds were in order for a while but everything looked good when I tore them down.  Bad foam but it subsides after about 10 pours.  I think this is the problem......

 

I carb and cold condition in a freezer with no taps - just a diy manifold at about 38df - same as the serving kegerator.  The regulator is an off brand and I never believed the pressure reading.  I played with it for a while and it worked fine for several years.  I could move a keg to serving and be pouring reasonable pours  as soon as the crud on the bottom was gone.  For years it has been set really high - somewhere between 15 - 20 psi.  I quit paying attention to the psi since it worked.  

 

I'm wondering if it has crept up on me.  I serve at ~11psi.  If it was carbed higher is that letting CO2 break out in the serving line?  Thoughts?



#2 Bklmt2000

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Posted 10 April 2017 - 04:44 PM

I thought tap rebuilds were in order for a while but everything looked good when I tore them down.  Bad foam but it subsides after about 10 pours.  I think this is the problem......

 

I carb and cold condition in a freezer with no taps - just a diy manifold at about 38df - same as the serving kegerator.  The regulator is an off brand and I never believed the pressure reading.  I played with it for a while and it worked fine for several years.  I could move a keg to serving and be pouring reasonable pours  as soon as the crud on the bottom was gone.  For years it has been set really high - somewhere between 15 - 20 psi.  I quit paying attention to the psi since it worked.  

 

I'm wondering if it has crept up on me.  I serve at ~11psi.  If it was carbed higher is that letting CO2 break out in the serving line?  Thoughts?

 

Quite possible; if you carb at a higher PSI than you serve at, you'll get CO2 breakout.  The bigger the PSI difference b/w carbing and serving, the more foam you'll see when pouring.

 

I'd consider replacing said regulator with a new one.



#3 positiveContact

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Posted 11 April 2017 - 03:59 AM

Quite possible; if you carb at a higher PSI than you serve at, you'll get CO2 breakout.  The bigger the PSI difference b/w carbing and serving, the more foam you'll see when pouring.

 

I'd consider replacing said regulator with a new one.

 

to clarify a little if your carbonation equilibrium is too high this will happen.  you can carb at a higher PSI but not let it get to equilibrium and not have that problem.  that's how I carb anyway.

 

but back to DJs described problem I don't think it's CO2 coming out of solution in the line alone.  that would really only affect the first pour.

 

DJ, are you noticing the flow rate decreasing by that 10th pour?  I'm kind of wondering if the headspace is getting charged with CO2 coming out of solution and you are pushing too hard.  just an idea.



#4 positiveContact

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Posted 11 April 2017 - 07:09 AM

is it possible you are running the fridge colder than normal?  or that the taps are heating up more?  I'm trying to think what would cause foaming for 10 pours and then go away.  temperature seems possible.  how much of your serving line is outside of the fridge?



#5 djinkc

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Posted 11 April 2017 - 07:15 AM

is it possible you are running the fridge colder than normal?  or that the taps are heating up more?  I'm trying to think what would cause foaming for 10 pours and then go away.  temperature seems possible.  how much of your serving line is outside of the fridge?

 

Assuming that my conditioning pressure has increased, I'm thinking it's taking that long to equalize with the serving pressure.



#6 positiveContact

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Posted 11 April 2017 - 07:23 AM

Assuming that my conditioning pressure has increased, I'm thinking it's taking that long to equalize with the serving pressure.

 

maybe I wasn't understanding your situation.

 

if it's the first 10 pours on the keg and then any time after that it's good (days, weeks, etc.) I agree that the conditioning pressure is probably overcarbing the beer.

 

if it's the first 10 pours of every drinking session that would probably be something else.



#7 djinkc

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 04:36 PM

This never really went away although I went to precarbing for only a few days at *4 psi* and taking the kegs off CO2 and that still wasn't right.  I still have some overcarbed stuff to work through - wheats mostly so the foam is still an issue.

 

Ordered a new 0 - 60 psi gauge and hooked it up tonight without adjusting the regulator screw.  Turned the gas back on ......... 32 psi.  Think that could have been the problem?

 

:banghead:  :banghead:  :banghead:

 

I have another regulator setup that gave me the same problems that is on the shelf - guess I need to get another low pressure gauge.



#8 Bklmt2000

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 05:06 PM

This never really went away although I went to precarbing for only a few days at *4 psi* and taking the kegs off CO2 and that still wasn't right.  I still have some overcarbed stuff to work through - wheats mostly so the foam is still an issue.

 

Ordered a new 0 - 60 psi gauge and hooked it up tonight without adjusting the regulator screw.  Turned the gas back on ......... 32 psi.  Think that could have been the problem?

 

:banghead:  :banghead:  :banghead:

 

I have another regulator setup that gave me the same problems that is on the shelf - guess I need to get another low pressure gauge.

 

Quite possibly; the only way to really know is probably after you get to your next batch to keg, and you deploy this new regulator.

 

If that batch were to carb and dispense normally, then I'd say your now-old regulator was the likely culprit.

 

Hopefully this will solve the problem.




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