I started keging a year ago… and for some reason , I am suddenly having issues with my poppits not sealing when I pull the liquid disconnect off of my pinlock kegs. Is there are trick to pulling off the disconnects, or it is possible the poppits have gone bad? Any suggestions? (The puddles in the bottom of my fridge is starting to get old!)
Thanks for the help!
Sometimes it helps to “excercise” the poppits. Take something pointy, and push them in, briskly and briefly…usually they will pop (excuse the pun) into obedience… If they offer repeated problems…it’s time to replace them.
Look on the side of your keg and figure out which model you have… then go on line, or proceed to your LHBS and get new poppits. Remove connector stud…(3/4" deep socket I think, or close thereto) and replace the poppit. It’s not hard…just figure it out.
7/8" or the newer 11/16".
Each style of post needs its own poppet. I learned to take apart only one keg at a time.
There is also a new “universal” poppet. Anyone have experience with it? http://stores.kegconnection.com/Categories.bok?category=*Parts%3AKeg+Parts%3APosts%2FPoppets%3APoppet+Valves%2C+Ball+Lock
Check the type of keg - usually stamped on its side. Then review the different posts http://www.chicompany.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_3_260 and make sure you have the correct post and poppet. If so, examine the top of the poppet for wear along the O-ring surface or the inside of the post for nicks and dings. A little keg lube spray can seal it too. (Pull the pressure relief valve first. Then press down on the poppet and give it a quick spray.) Or just leave the disconnect in place!
I use a little dab of olive oil instead of keg lube.
Although I like the organic idea, I would think that could get rancid and invite critters…
In the kegerator? Nope.
I use olive oil instead of keg lube as well, though I’ve been thinking of switching to keg lube.
Try mineral oil if you like using oil. It’s food grade and won’t go rancid. Don’t buy the pricey stuff they sell for treating your wooden cutting boards. By the cheap stuff they sell as a laxative. Same stuff, it just doesn’t sound as appealing.
I use keg lube. It does the trick for me. After cleaning and sanitizing the keg, I apply a light coating to all the posts. Works evert time.
Cool…
So
1st, Exercise the poppits (Failed)
2nd Take the post apart clean, sanitize and apply keg lube…
3rd replace Poppit with popper poppit style.
My guess is that the poppit replacement will be necessary…after some work I removed the keg from the fridge (of course it was in the back…) and relieved the pressure and exercised it where I could observe it…it seems to keep “spring returning” slightly off center. Took the post apart a few times to re-seat the poppit and it continues to have the same issue. On inspection of the poppit to a known working one, the ears looked the same…so I do not think they are bent.
So I shall replace the poppit and see if that fixes it… Do the posts ever wear out and become the issue? (Just my paranoid mind working)
Thanks, for the help!
Yes the posts wear out. The poppit wears grooves in the mating surface of the post. This has been the common cause of leaks for many of my old kegs
What’s the advantage to using olive oil or mineral oil over keg lube?
At least then you wouldn’t have to aerate your beer. ;D
You do realize that only about 10 people on the forum get this joke?
Maybe you need some footnotes.
But then it probably wouldn’t be a joke.
On the other hand mineral oil may have the same effect as 5.2 buffeting additive.
Good point Gordon. ;D
Now that’s funny. 
Well, I do write for the advanced brewer… ;) (And I got your 5.2 joke too)
;D
As far as I know there isn’t really an advantage unless you are using a spray bottle.
I don’t know of any advantage over the other except that I actually have olive oil. So I uses it.
BTW I got the lame jokes.
More people got it than you might think.
Why would I aerate my finished beer?
+1 to Euge. There’s no advantage other than I always have olive oil handy.
Sadly, I don’t think I get the 5.2 joke. Is that a measure on the Richter scale? Might be hard to buffet my beer that much.