Newbie that is so confused

[barry_mann]

I am new to this kegerator stuff and i am lost. I get all foam. I purchased one of those advanti kegerators. The first night i put it together. The second night i got a keg and stopped by to get my 5lb co2 canister filled. they told me it would be 2 days. I was too thirsty for that so i bought a 10lb bottle he had sitting behind the counter. when i got home i realized that there was a long walk between my driveway and the kegerator so i rolled it inside. I instantly hooked it up and i had a ton of foam. I figured it was cause of the rolling and let it sit about 24 hours. It still had foam. I lessened the co2 from 12 to 10psi. that didnt help. I went all the way to 3psi and it was acting better. the next day when i got home it was on 1psi and extremely foamy. i then turned it up to 8psi. the next day when i came home it was at 3 psi and of course it was about 90% foam. I then got a wild hair and decided to pull everything apart. After putting it together i have about 95% foam. my regulator changes psi when it sits unused for several hours. I think it has gone lower just about every time. I had no idea temp had anything to do with it so my wife is down at the walmart buying me a thermometer. I have the setting set on the coldest. If there is any suggestions let me know.

Remember i know nothing of this stuff so please explain in very plain english. I have read something about a ball in a coupler that might do this but i am lost. Also my regulator is sitting below the keg. Could this have any influence. I am located about 20' above sea level. PLEASE HELP!!! i am thirsty. I am using a 1/2 keg of budlight.

[barry_mann]

Last night i did a temp check. liquid temp inside the kegerator is 34. The beer comming out is 36. Is this correct. I think it is just comming out way too fast. If i lenthen the hose it should slow it down?

[psychodad]

That temp doesn't sound too bad. How long is the hose from the keg coupler to the back of the faucet?

[sfurst]

I feel your pain...I'll be more than happy to try and help you, as I am still a newbie myself.

The very first think you need to do, is replace the hose from the keg coupler to the tower. I believe that the original hose that comes with the system is a 2 1/2 foot hose and is too short. My microbrewery was nice enough to give me a 6' MM hose, and it works fine.

Even though your temp seems to be fine, I would strongly suggest the Brewer's Edge Digital Thermometer II. I installed one of these, and my temperature has been on the nose ever since.

I also had issues with CO2 regulator and replaced it with a MM regulator, and I've had no issues. I also replaced the keg coupler with a MM one.

I was having the same issues with foam initially, and since I've replaced these items, my kegerator has done a 180 and pours great! I have a microbrew honey lager in mine right now, and I keep it on about 11psi.

My guess is if your temperature is what you say it is, then it's probably the beer hose.