Can't lower CO2 pressure

[ylenroc]

Hi - I'm new here and have learned a great deal at this forum. In fact, I wish I had known about it before buying my setup, things may have been much easier.

Like many posters, I've been battling the dreaded foam problem. I have done extensive reading in this forum (thank you everybody!) and feel as though I now have a good handle on how to balance my system, yet I still have the problem. I have a Kegco 2 tap system with the SS tower and perlick faucets. I also have an "ebay special" tower cooler and 5 foot 3/16" beer lines.

Currently, I have a 1/4 of Yuengling and a 1/6 of Yards Philly Pale Ale on tap. By dumb luck, they both have the same V/V - 2.6 (I had no clue about balancing prior to buying). The Kegco "premium" regulator is giving me a weird problem - I can't lower the pressure. Given that my beer is at 34 degrees (using a beer thermometer calibrated in ice water as described in the newbie section), the pressure should be 10 PSI. I can't get the regulator to go below 12 PSI. I've shut the valves and turned off the CO2 and pulled the ring, but when I open it all up again it slowly climbs to 12 and I can't seem to stop it prior to that level.

This is actually the 2nd regulator that I've used. I returned the first (they shipped me the identical Kegco premium) and at first it seemed to work but now has this issue. Is this a regulator problem or am I doing something really stupid? Should I consider going to the dual primary regulator (Beer Regulator - Dual Primary CO2 Regulator Battery), especially if I want to have two different beers on tap that have different V/V values?

Thanks a lot for any help.

[KillianBoy]

ylenroc,
Honestly you might be better off upgrading to a MM regulator. But have you tried to lower PSI when you have it below 10 PSI? By just tugging on pressure release, without adjusting, you not doing anything to lower PSI, Kegco might just be a cheap Chinese knockoff, I've had problems with a Haier (Chinese) regulator, you have to adjust like mad to get it right. Normal is to turn off the regulator shut-off, then adjust, I have NEVER been able to adjust like a MM regulator, I had to lower to lower PSI, then adjust, then wait and see, turning off the regulator shut-off never worked.
Also you might have frozen top of beer and not getting an accurate reading, 34 degrees is an extremely dangerous temperature (even with a tower cooler), beer might be separating, I'd try and get about 2 degrees warmer.
KB

[ylenroc]

Hi KB,

Thanks - I appreciate the advice/guidance. I have ordered the MM regulator, and adjusted the thermostat on the kegerator with the hopes of raising the temp a couple degrees. At this point, I'm below half way on both kegs, so from what I've read, it may be pointless to keep tinkering. I'll start over with the new regulator and new kegs in the next week or so.

The good news is that a cold draft with a little extra foam beats no beer any day of the week!

Thanks again.

Mike