Tansfer beer keg to keg

[RBoucher]

Greeting all... i have a fairly simple question.

Id like to transfer beer from a 5 gallon keg to a 8 gallon (pony) keg. I thought this would be as simple as connecting the two couplers together, then slowly pressurizing one keg while bleeding the other.

However, i have found that my couplers purchased from Micromatic have a one way ball valve inside them that only allows beer out of the keg. Not in.

any ideas on how else i might accomplsih this?

(i have heard using gravity to siphon is better than using the tank becuase it keeps the kegs at equilibrium, but that still doest solve the coupler valve problem)

thanks in advance for any info!

Bobby

[pvs6]

The check valve ball can be removed allowing unrestricted 2 way flow. What are you planning on doing with the Co2 line on the filling keg?

[RBoucher]

looking at the coupler last night, it didnt appear to come out easily.

There is a white plastic piece in the top that looked like it was seated in there pretty good. Is that where it would come out? I cant imagine it would come out through the bottom. If you can provide any info on how to remove that check ball, that would be great.

As for the air line, i was just going to disconnect it and remove the one way valve in it and let it bleed air out as the keg fills... thats if i use the tank to push the transfer.

If i use gravity to siphon, i connect the two airlines together.

thanks!

[cubby_swans]

I have a wire cleaning brush that came with my cleaning kit, just poke it through from the opposite side of the coupler. That plastic piece, and the ball, will pop right out. It is not fixed. You could use just about anything that would fit.

[RBoucher]

cool... ill see if i can just grab it with a pair of needle nose pliers and pull it out. Its not very deep if i recall.

Any advice on how to not ruin the beer and make it flat/foamy when i transfer it?

[cubby_swans]

If you have needle noses that will reach, those will work fine.

A) I would purge the destination keg of as much air as possible, first, with co2. This will prevent oxidation of the beer. co2 by itself is denser than air, so you can pressurize, let it sit for a few minutes, and then degas air in the keg with the coupler pull pin. Probably repeat this step once.

B) After you transfer the beer, I would apply pressure to the destination keg after you transfer. Probably de-gas the keg one more time to make sure you got all the air, and then pressurize one last time. After you have applied pressure, you can uncouple or whatever.

[RBoucher]

That shouldnt be an issue as it was recently a keg of Miller Lite i just emptied a few weeks ago, so it should be full of nothing but CO2.



The reason for the transfer, is my Freezerator only holds two 5 gallon kegs, and one 8 gallon. The only beer served in this area in 8 gallons is Miller Lite, Bud Lite, Coors Lite, and Bud.

Out of those, i only like Miller lite, but would rather drink Ultra, so my plan is to buy three 5 gallon kegs, and transfer one of them to the 8 gallon keg.

The final goal is to have Michelob Amber Bock, Michelob Lite, and Michelob Ultra on tap.

on a side note. I didnt buy long shanks when i built it so it takes a few quick pulls to chill the shank and get foam-free pours. The problem with those chest freezers is the heat exchage is done on the front surface of the unit, so heat builds up on the front, thus warming up my Perlicks. and shanks.

would longer shanks make much of a difference? Or is there a water pump of some sort i can wrap some hose around them to cool them better.

[cubby_swans]

The problem with those chest freezers is the heat exchage is done on the front surface of the unit, so heat builds up on the front, thus warming up my Perlicks. and shanks.

would longer shanks make much of a difference? Or is there a water pump of some sort i can wrap some hose around them to cool them better.

Just put a small DC powered fan in the unit, to circulate air. Then, the temperature will be even, throughout.

[cubby_swans]

That shouldnt be an issue as it was recently a keg of Miller Lite i just emptied a few weeks ago, so it should be full of nothing but CO2.

I hope you've had that empty refrigerated, the whole time.

[psychodad]

Remove the ball from the coupler on the keg you want to fill as discussed above. Connect the co2 lines together, this equalizes the pressure in the two kegs. Connect the two beer lines together and put the empty keg below the full one. Pull the relief on the lower keg.

Beer should flow to the empty keg without foaming or exposure to oxygen.