Corny Keg Leak? Or Is The Beer Just Absorbing CO2?

[BrewBlender]

F*#&! The pressure went down again. Is there a way to save 5 gallons of primed beer that's in a leaky corny? I still don't know where the leak is and I don't want to use soapy water because there's beer in it.

Please help save my beer!

[SunkenBier]

I salvaged one after 5 days of slow leek. Just be careful of exposure to oxygen during transfer and drink it all up before it spoils.

[BrewBlender]

Just got back from the homebrew store and I bought a used Corny. So now I can save my brew, fix the old leaky one and in the end have two cornys.

QUESTION: If I'm siphoning from the leaky keg to the new keg, how can I avoid exposure to Oxygen. Drinking it quickly shouldn't be a problem!

This batch has been the batch from hell...probably award winning, they always are!

[DannyW]

Clean and sanitize your new keg, then fill it with either no rise sanitizer or boiling water. Push that out with CO2. Now you have a sanitized keg filled with CO2.

Make up a jumper with a beer QD on both ends. Connect the "out" poppets to each other with the jumper. Push the beer from the beer filled corny to the CO2 filled corny while venting the CO2 corny with the relief valve.

It can get a little more complicated/convenient than that, but those basics will get you there.

Here is the sealed siphon I do so I don't have to stand there and watch it.

[BrewBlender]

I don't know what's going on, but the new "used" corny I bought is not holding any pressure either...at least I don't think it is. I cleaned it then sanitized with Iodaphor, which I then sealed at 40# to test the seal...I disconnected the tank...I put soapy water on all parts and it didn't bubble or show signs of leakage.

About two hours later, the pressure tester read 28#s. Is it possible that the liquid is absorbing the CO2 that fast? If a keg has liquid in it and you apply 40#, how long should it take for my pressure tester to read 28?

The Beer Gods hate this batch of beer.

[bub]

Josh.... relax..... relax

Now... take keg.... chill it to serving temp or slightly below
put CO2 on and leave it on at 12psi...
shake the piss out of it until it stops adding gas (you will hear it stop)
remove gas line and check pressure
put in fridge again for 2 days
check pressure each day... it should be fairly steady 2-3 psi max change
if it is steady you are ok... if not try above 1 more time ... if you still loose gas after that you have a problem if it is steady then don't worry and serve that bitch.
BUB

[Mr. Big]

Used kegs, while they save a considerable amount of money, run the risk of being defective, If the keg has the slightest dent around the lid, it might not seal properly. If you are buying use kegs from a homebrew shop, you should pressure check them in the shop at the time of purchase. The proprietor probably did not check them to see if they held pressure, he just assumed they did. The shop owner is often buying them in lots of 20 or more. I have lots of used kegs, and many do not hold pressure. I use them for parts on other kegs; sort of a frankenstein sort of thing.

[WichitaBrewer]

That's interesting. I've never heard of the actual corny itself leaking. I've had to replace o-rings and fittings before, but the keg itself was never leaking. I'd try to pinpoint the leak first before worrying about anything else. Unless it's a really minor leak, with some patience, you should be able to find it by taking some water around some of the fittings to see where the leak actually is. I often have some leaking out of the top of my cornys, but usually adding a little keg lube to the o-ring in the lid will make sure the seal is good there. So bottom line:

1) Relax, don't worry.
2) Add pressure to the keg and find the leak if possible.
3) Have a homebrew.

Cheers!
WichitaBrewer