Has anyone tried the universal poppets yet? http://www.midwestsupplies.com/universal-poppet-fits-most-kegs.html
One of the things that I like do on a regular basis is take the fittings apart for inspection (o-rings, posts, dip tube, etc…) and clean the parts with a hot rinse then a hot soak in PBW solution after use. The keg should then be sanitized, pressurized and pressure tested. When ready to keg the next batch the keg should still be holding pressure.
Although I don’t disassemble quite often I do something similar. When the keg kicks I rinse and then fill halfway with sanitizer. I have two pieces of hose, one with a pressure connector, one with a liquid connector. I hook an airhose to the pressure side and blow a good amount of sanitizer through the out port, this rinses/sanitizes the pickup tube. Then I store it with air pressure on the sanitizer. When it’s kegging time I check to see that it held pressure. Also, I believe storing under pressure keeps everything nice and seated.
This^^^^^^^ is my method of choice.
A clean and sanitized keg is a happy keg. 8)
Man, I have a keg that doesn’t seal. It sucks because I basically don’t want to use that keg. It’s around the lid; kinda bums me out.
beersk - here’s a previous discussion of a similar situation: http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=6345.0
I don’t think we found a bulk source for the wider softer lid o-ring, but there’s a link in here to both kegworks and Williams who sell o-rings that are supposed to help seal older, leaky kegs.
Sweet, thanks d00d. For that O-ring, I need about tree fiddy…
1 Turn the lid 180º (I have one that will only seal in one position… there’s a black arrow on it now)
if that doesn’t help:
2 Check the seal and the lid for obvious defects. Lubricate.
if that doesn’t help:
3 Pressurize the keg to 100 psi and let sit for a while to force the seal
Here is some good info on them. http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/poppet-valves-228223/