Sticking faucet

[JSH]

Hello all,

I have a Danby 1/4 barrel kegerator. I've had it about a year, and have been going through many kegs of Bell's beer.

I am having an increasingly annoying problem where the faucet is extremely difficult to open on the first beer/pour of the day. Sometimes it gets so hard i need someone to hold the tower so it doesn't break.

I do notive a little bit of dried "residue" at the end of the faucet shaft(where it comes out the body). I suspect it is dried beer???

I'm looking for any tips to stop this from happening.

[topgun3208]

get some "blc" beer line cleaner and soak that tap. they will stick at times but shouldnt be that hard to open. when is the last time you cleaned your lines, coupler etc?

"If I had to live my life over, I'd live over a saloon"

[JSH]

I use the beer line cleaning solution from micromatic(including the pump). I clean the lines and disasemble/clean the faucet after each keg. I soak the tap for an hour - should I do it longer?

[topgun3208]

if you need someone to hold the tower while you open the faucet, it might be time to order a new faucet or something. you shouldnt need to soak for an hour either, mine soaks for 10-15 minutes while im cleaning the lines and such. as I mentioned in my above post, they will stick if unused for a few days, but not in the way your tap is.

"If I had to live my life over, I'd live over a saloon"

[Beer Dr]

Check to see if you have the tap marker (handle) turned down to far. The jam nut (lever collar) for holding the marker straight should not be touching the lever bonnet. The bonnet is the nut that holds everything to the faucet. If it is touching, this will cause your sticking Faucet. Back everything off at least one turn if this is your problem.

[JSH]

Yep, I have already loosened the jam nut based on advice from a friend.

The beer I have is from Bell's - www.bellsbeer.com. It's awesome but I know the bottles have sediment in them. Could this also be in the keg? Is this sediment gumming up my faucet?

[Beer Dr]

Is it an older faucet? If it is inside where the shaft assembly slides in and out may be worn letting the beer get along side the assembly and drying over night. Try a new faucet. You stated that you saw some residue at the end of the shaft, this is a signal this could be your problem. In the mean time, till you get a new one, pour a little warm water over the front part of the faucet before your first pour of the day. You'll be suprised!

[Scott Zuhse]

This is not that uncommon. Beer is like glue when it dries. Pour warm water over the faucet. Try a stainless faucet - resists film build up.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[YuenglingFan]

I have a similar sticking problem, but not so bad that I fear breaking the tower. I do fear that it will ruin the valve though. Is this anything to worry about? The tap is brand new, and I only notice the sticking after a couple days without use. I am sure its caused by the dry beer, but will this damage the tap???

--------------------
John
Cincy, OH

[Scott Zuhse]

Pour warm water over the faucet prior to opening it. This may prevent damage from forcing the faucet open.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[USMC - Retired]

quote:Originally posted by YuenglingFan

The tap is brand new, and I only notice the sticking after a couple days without use.

--------------------
John
Cincy, OH

A couple of days without use???!!![:0][:0][:0] You system should never go more than 24 hours without use at a max!

Semper Fi,
The Gunns

"Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin

[topgun3208]

quote:Originally posted by USMC - Retired

A couple of days without use???!!![:0][:0][:0] You system should never go more than 24 hours without use at a max!

Semper Fi,
The Gunns

"Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin

Im hip to that, my wife complains that I yank more on my tap handle than I do on her [:0]

"If I had to live my life over, I'd live over a saloon"

[JSH]

Ok,

I tried the warm water trick and it did seem to help. Thanks for that.

As for how regularly you should yank on your tap handle....well....maybe I'll just leave that alone ...