keg lube

Brewing Processes
1

I am currently lagering a Baltic Porter.  I hooked CO2 to it while it was in the fridge just to do two things at one time.  I went out to the garage last night to enjoy a cigar and checked on it - no pressure.  I had a leak.  I had done a leak test using star-san spray on the posts and center opening.  But not a thorough test after connecting the tank.  And now with no CO2 to pressurize the system I may not know what the problem was, but in thinking about it, I came to wonder about the application of keg lube.

How often should I lubricate the rubber O rings?  I have never done it, but I only have one or two brews on each of my 3 corny kegs.

2

Did you check that the lid was seated properly? Mine can get slightly off kilter and leak.  I lubricate all the o-rings at once when I take the posts off to fully clean the keg.

3

+1
I lube up the o-rings about every 2-3 cleanings.  You’ll develop a feel for how the o-rings, well feel when they need a fresh coat.  I use the lid ring as my guide.

4

+1

I try to lube them every cycle.

5

I have also found it beneficial to seat the seals by giving it an initial burst of high pressure.

6

I’m assuming you have a system where everything is hooked up all the time? Regardless, to answer your question- I favor olive oil and a conservative application to pretty much the entire post including the poppit on the “in” side after cleaning. For the large lid-ring freshly wet with starsan and a max blast to seat the lid always takes care of that problem.

7

I try to use keg lube as little as possible, because I can’t stand it when it gets on my hands.  Very hard to get off.

Glad I have it on hand, though, as today I needed some plumbing grease and did not have any.  I threw some keg lube on the gaskets and I was able to reassemble an old faucet and now it works like new.  Gotta love that keg lube.

8

I use just the tiniest of a smidge between two fingers, then run the big 0-ring round and round between those fingers to barely moisten the o-ring while distributing the lube equally.  Of course for the gas and liquid posts it’s a fractionally relevant (smaller amount of lube) application.  Then I sanitize the o-rings via immersion in Star San prior to assembling the keg.  I break down, clean, sanitize and lube my kegs after each use.

9

I too hate the stuff on my hands. I put on a set of disposable gloves and apply after cleaning every time I wash out between brews.