Afternoon,
I am trying to clean my keg and I cannot get one of the posts to come off. Is there some special tool or trick to getting difficult posts off a keg?
I am worried I damaged it since I seemed to be stripping the nut for the post.
You should just need to grab the right wrench and take it off. I’m not aware of any special tools (I certainly don’t have any).
Silly question, but you are turning it the right way right?
Looking at the picture again, I haven’t seen that kind of post before. If you are using channel locks or something like that, I would suggest getting the right socket or box end wrench for it so you don’t destroy the surfaces too bad.
You could try heating it, maybe hold it in the sink under the hottest water you can or maybe put something hot on it so it expands and then turn it off.
You need a 12pt deep socket. Those points look a bit gnarly honestly. I use a longer ratchet handle and hold the keg with my legs.
I occasionally need to use a hammer and tap the wrench while holding the keg down firmly on its side, to get a post to loosen.
Yeah, I have those on a few of my kegs. A deep socket to fit works best. Use a long handle too for better torque. You really have to crank on them sometimes.
Fill will hot PBW, and set upside down for a while, make sure to run some out so that the post is full of PBW. This is in case any beer has caused the post to stick with hardened sugar. Seemed to help me a couple times.
Then, deep well 1/2 inch 12 point, long handled 1/2 inch breaker, and a mallet. Righty tightly, lefty losey.
Good luck!
Looking at the teeth that are left on it (it might just be the picture) I would replace it once I got it loose. Some of them look to be ground down to almost nothing.
The suggestions give so far are all good ones.
Good luck with it.
Paul
That’s an old style fitting. I swapped out mine with new fittings. I bought a special wrench off craigslist. It works great on those fittings.
Keg posts don’t need to be cranked on super tight. Just tight enough is good enough.