Another Tons of Foam

[ASaranko]

I just purchased a kegerator from my boss about a week ago. I finally got the CO2 filled and a pony keg of bud light to get it all rolling. I bought the keg and let it sit in the kegerator overnight the next day until about 4 pm when I decided to tap it and get a drink after work. All I have been able to get since then is foam and only foam. Once settled the beer tastes flat, confirmed by others also. I have tried multiple pressure settings from 6 psi to about 18 psi and still get all foam at each. The beer line is 5/16 ID and is 5 feet long. The brand of the kegerator is Rapid. I have tried different levels of the CO2 bottle being opened along with different settings on the regulator. What else could be causing this foaming problem? He previously had not had problems like this but the kegerator has sat for about a year. It is new beer line, and I have soaked the faucet in BLC and washed and replaced. I would like to get it running for this weekend and not opposed to spending some money if need be. What could be causing this?

[TAPMAN]

Are you sure that the beer line is 5/16 id? It should be 3/16 id. Also, what is the temperature of the beer? While 40-45 might taste cold, it must be below 40 for it to pour properly. Correct temperature is essential. Tapman

[ASaranko]

Ya I just got the line and it is 5/16 id which I read was big but that was the size coming off the coupler but might possibly be able to force a piece of 3/16 id on the tower but don't think I can on the coupler. The beer is at about 36-38 degrees. I will try to buy a second thermometer to double check the temperature though.

[ASaranko]

Ok well here is an update, I think my temperature may be off and I am trying to fix that now, I obtained a commercial grade restaurant thermometer and a pen style to measure water and air temps. I also ordered a new coupler because mine is pretty old and the handle is cracked so figured who knows if anything else is wrong, the correct size hose barb for the coupler for the beer line(3/16) and a correct fitting for the bigger tower connector( also 3/16 hose barb now) so I will shortly be able to run 3/16 beer line only and the temperature should be being taken care of once the unit cools down some. I also noticed there is a ton of extra CO2 line outside of the unit. There is probably 5 ft extra CO2 line so a total of about 10 ft, would this cause any type of problem at all?

[lunkhead]

Originally Posted by ASaranko

There is probably 5 ft extra CO2 line so a total of about 10 ft, would this cause any type of problem at all?

No kinks or leaks in the line, no problem.

[ASaranko]

Ya the line is fine but it changed diameters a bit cause they spliced into it. I ordered some stuff from MM so decided to just order more line for that so if anything it looks better. Plus won't have tons of line behind it. Well looks like the thermometer I had was not that good so I trashed it and the temperature is about 38 liquid and about 32-34 air temp. I am still getting about 3/4 glass of foam. My stuff from MM (coupler, line fittings/new line, etc) should be in Friday so I will hook it all up after work and hopefully that cures the problem. I am thinking the keg may be bad also but not sure, luckily I started with a pony for this reason so may pick up another this weekend to see. Any other ideas what it could be?

[ASaranko]

Ok so I replaced the coupler and beer line and left it alone a couple days with a new keg in it. For the most part it pours fine but after about an hour of my friends and I drinking it starts just pouring foam again. Any ideas of why this could be? no one is opening the kegerator at all and we are pouring with the faucet wide open. So I can really only get about an hours worth of it then back to step one waiting for the head to go down to drink it, so any ideas would be nice!

[cubby_swans]

what kind of beer and at what pressure are you setting it at? Also, how long is the beer line you put in?

[ASaranko]

It is bud light, 5-6 ft beer line, pressure is at 12 psi