Newbie Kegerator question *HELP!*

[NotSo]

I'm running a small bar for about 60 coworkers (I'm the junior guys- it's not by choice!) and our Kegerator sucks. I need some basic help with the setup. Our regulator gauges were busted and therefore the last keg got way overpressurized (in about 4 years, no one has gotten this thing to dispense properly- it's a sin). So I bought a new regulator from Micromatic and got a new keg. I hooked everything up properly and I'm working on getting the temp set properly on the keg. Here's my issue; I'm either an idiot (possible but I'm generally fairly tool and tech savvy) or I just don't get pressure regulators. Here's what I think; I have all lines open and I SHOULD use the set screw on the front of the regulator to set the pressure to the keg. One gauge should read that pressure- I'm shooting for 13psi for Yuengling- and the other gauge should read what's left in the CO2 bottle. Now, if that's true, once it's set I should be able to open that CO2 bottle full open and it will dispense beer and CO2 by itself. What IS happening is I can't set a pressure that stays constant on the beer gauge. It fluctuates. There's a small relief hole next to the set screw that constantly lets air out, relieving the pressure to the keg so that it eventually drops to zero. Further, if I open that bottle full open it will continue to raise the pressure on the keg into the 30's (BAD!!). Anyone got any ideas? Do you think the regulator is bad or I'm just keg-dumb?

Please help.

Dave

[nobahdi]

I'm no expert, but any air leaking is bad. Find out if it is really leaking from the regulator or maybe one of your connections isn't tight enough. Either way, your keg may already be ruined.

[welper]

I'd say the regulator isn't regulating.....

[Beerimus_Maximus]

Sounds like you've got a bad regulator. I work with a lot of compressed gas (mostly nitrogen) and in my experience this small hole on the regulator is a relief valve designed to bleed pressure if your low pressure side exceeds rated pressure. So basically, one of two things happened..... Either you bought a faulty regulator (which does happen and should be returnable) or when you initially installed the regulator and opened your CO2 line, the regulator was fully dialed in and exceeded its pressure rating (which it shouldn't do.....faulty regulator). This is what you do.... check all your CO2 connections tight. Fully back off the regulator set screw. In a small squirt bottle mix dish soap and water, shake it up real good so it is bubbly. Open your CO2 shutoff valve on the tanks. Spray soapy solution on those connections, listen for air noise. If you hear air noise or your soapy solution continues to bubble, you've found your leak. Next verify you high pressure gage reads pressure in the CO2 bottle. Then, slowly dial up your regulator. I would start with 5 psi. Soap all connections and listen. See if it will maintain a cool 5 psi. If it maintains 5, then you probably had a leak before and ended up tightening it prior to and you should be able to dial your full 13 or 14 psi. If not, replace the regulator. That is my best advice, but make sure when you soap your connection that you are thorough. A small leak is very easy to miss. It may aid your search for the leak to raise pressure above 5. But, judging by what you have described I would guess faulty regualtor. Best of Luck.

[CoreyD]

Sounds like you had the screw all the way in or were trying to adjust the pressure while it was pressurizing the keg. Does your regulator have a shutoff valve at the bottom? Turn the screw all the way back counterclockwise, close the shutoff the dial back to 13psi. When you open the shut off with the keg tapped it will fluctuate a little then settle to 13psi(unless it is a defective regulator).