Help! New Kegerator Owner with Coupler Problems

[buzzé]

Hello all,

My girlfriend just bought me a kegerator, and while a nice thought, it was an Avanti. After much research on these boards, I've noticed that I'm inevitably going to need to buy some upgrades.

I put the whole thing together, and after much troubleshooting, my latest problem is that I'm losing large amounts of CO2 (and beer) from between the coupler and the keg when I tap the keg. I immediately put in an order (last night) for a new coupler (and tubing) from micromatic. This situation leaves me with a bit of a problem, as in I have a half keg of DogfishHead 60 minute chilling and staring at me with contempt, and the parts will not arrive until the beginning of next week.

Is there a way to rig it so I can get my beer out now? Perhaps taping or temporary sealing of some sort?

If not, and now that the keg has been tapped, will the beer go bad if I don't have constant pressure on it? I'm uncertain if I can untap it and still keep it fresh, not being familiar with kegs. Any info above and beyond my questions here will be helpful as well (I've been through the FAQs), as I'm still learning the ropes.

Thank you very much in advance,

buzzé

[bard]

The beer should be fine when the new parts arrive as long as it remains cold.

[kegoman]

if you tap your beer make sure it has co2 as a pressure source and not air. air is a total enemy of beer and will make it go flat in no time. co2 on the other hand is in the beer and as a psi source will offer the beer a maximum life extension.