Co2 question / help!

[pbrme_asap]

After I pour a few beers, my Co2 pressure drops down and the beer slows to a trickle. If you wait a while it goes back up on its own to the set 12 psi. Any suggestions to maintain pressure?

[pvs6]

After I pour a few beers, my Co2 pressure drops down and the beer slows to a trickle. If you wait a while it goes back up on its own to the set 12 psi. Any suggestions to maintain pressure?

Well it goes back up so there is some flow right? But it drops if there is too many pours. Sounds like restriction yes? Is the Co2 tank turned all the way on? Is the shut off all the way opened? Then your line is pinch somewhere right? If none for the above then the regulator is restricting flow.

[pbrme_asap]

Thanks for the reply but i can't find that the hose is pinched and the valve is turned on completely. Do you think I should check the lines for blockage after this keg is gone? It wouldn't be prudent to check while a good keg is tapped, correct?

Here's to beer thirty!

[TomK]

You can check the regulator out by venting the pressure relief valve on the keg coupler until you see the gauge pressure drop a couple of pounds, then let it close and the regulator should bring the pressure right back up to your setting within about a second.

Do you have a high pressure gauge on the regulator?


Oh, and au contraire on the "It wouldn't be prudent to check while a good keg is tapped, correct?". If you don't have a consistent supply of CO2 at the right pressure, you're going to develop problems with that keg.

[Gordy]

Turn the gas off, pull the release valve to bleed off the extra gas, untap the keg and disconnect the gas line. Within the keg coupler there should be a duckbill looking check valve. Remove it and clean it under hot water to make sure it opens. Replace with the "bill" facing into the coupler and reassemble. Sometimes these things stick closed not allowing any gas to get through.

[pbrme_asap]

Turn the gas off, pull the release valve to bleed off the extra gas, untap the keg and disconnect the gas line. Within the keg coupler there should be a duckbill looking check valve. Remove it and clean it under hot water to make sure it opens. Replace with the "bill" facing into the coupler and reassemble. Sometimes these things stick closed not allowing any gas to get through.

Thanks for the response. Would it hurt anything to do this with the keg half full? The beer that is in there seems good, it just takes some time to build back good pressure after a couple consecutive pours.

[DCullender]

Do it now. Waiting may damage the beer if you do not keep a constant pressure on the keg.

My suggestion is to untap the keg and put the coupler handle down. This opens the gas port on the coupler. Full plast of gas? No, shut off tank and remove the co2 line from the coupler. Turn on tank, full blast of gas? Yes, check the thomas valve in the gas port of the coupler. No, remove the regulator from the tank and see if something is blocking the gas port on the tank. Don't recommend turning gas on without the regulator, danger will robinson!

Check the port on the regulator for obstruction, then check shut off valve on regulator.

[pbrme_asap]

it ended up being the regulator. 79 dollars to replace it with a high pressure gauge.

[cubby_swans]

dang. You got ripped off there, huh? You could have bought one for $45+ S&H from Micromatic. Would have came out to under $60.

[pgstein]

I am having the same issue myself. My PSI is set to 12, but will drop down to as low as 8. I thought of replacing the pressure regulator. Why a high pressure regulator?

[pvs6]

I am having the same issue myself. My PSI is set to 12, but will drop down to as low as 8. I thought of replacing the pressure regulator. Why a high pressure regulator?

One mans opinion, no good why. Two regs. one measures the up hill supply Ie. Co2 tank & the latter measures the down hill supply what you care about the inside keg pressure. I don't have the first Co2 tank fuel gauge because by most accounts it's not very effective. It was been said that it only gives you a day's warning at best before tank is empty and a lot of people who spent good money for one got napping cause they don't check it everyday. My 5# tank last 10 1/2 barrels and I'm only 20 minutes from disconnect to refill and re-hook up unless it's the weekend and they're closed. I think if you don't know your system and when you're getting close you should invest in a 2nd tank as back-up or weight your tank for liquid weight and know how much is in there. The price of a 5 # back up is close to the reg. cost so why opt. for guesstimating when you could have real time back-up?