race-track keg lids

Brewing Processes
1

So, what is the story with race-track lids? Some internet searching indicates that they are rare, and can be a pain to work with.

I managed to acquire a few recently, and I am trying to decide if they are worth continuing to use.

So, some questions:

  1. Why do people consider them to be a pain? They seem simple enough to me.

  2. I imagine they use the same post o-rings as standard lid kegs, but what about the lid? Wishful thinking has me thinking that the circumference of the race-track lids is the same as the round lids, and therefore the lid o-ring will be the same. Anyone know anything about this? (I don’t have any round-lid kegs to personally try this out.)

Thanks.

2

I have both race track and round keg lids and interchange the o rings freely.

3

OK, help me out. Looked at pictures online of oval and racetrack - I unfortunately see no difference…

4

Racetrack lids have straight sides and round ends. Oval lids are, well oval.  :wink:

5

This is a racetrack lid.

Keg%20Lid%20-%20Large%20RaceTrack%20-%20%20Gray%20PRValve%20type.jpg

…and this is an oval lid.

Keg%20Lid%20-%20Oval%20Metal%20Nut%20Style.jpg

6

My racetrack lid looks quite a bit different than the one posted above. I’ll try to post a picture when I get home if I have time.

Also, mine came with an o-ring that is flatter and thinner than the standard lid o-ring, but the standard o-ring works just fine.

As far as some people considering them a pain, I think that just has to do with the difficulty of finding a replacement should you have the need.