So last night I fixed my problem, but I have no idea how I did it. I monkeyed around with everything for a while, and finally got no air leaking. I really had to crank down on the shanks. I took the tower off the top of the unit and had it in my lap. I was gripping the facet with all my strength to keep the whole shank from turning in the tower when I was wrenching on it. Maybe the fit was so tight that after putting them on and tightening each one down 10 or more times that they finally loosened up? Nobody's had this problem?
Oh well. All I know now is I'm pouring Sam Winter and homebrew, and I'm happy.
