New to Line Cleaning...

[bornearly]

I've been using a recirculating pump and line cleaner. There's one account that has Micro-Matic FOB's installed. I know what they do, but not how they work. I don't know how to do the cleaning of the lines with these in place. There are nine line in all and there appears to be "blow-off" tubes that void into midair above the kegs.

Can someone advise?

Thanks in advance.

[draught guy]

Most fobs have instructions on them or posted in cooler for bar backs or bartenders.When you clean the lines you have to clean the fob also or they will gunk up.I clean lines with a can not to familiar with pumps;When you use a can you plug tavern head into can you can either open fob "bypass" wich doesnt clean fob,or refloat ball when plugged into jug the void tubes sometimes have a 1/4" drain line attached if not you have to put a glass beneath drain when you purge the air or you will make a big mess.If you set fob to open or bypass you need to fill fob with solution and work vents and ball floater to ensure fob is flushed either way you will probably be making several extra trips to cooler to reset fobs for cleaning and or flushing .Where do you clean lines at? I am in Atlanta and pumps are not in this market yet and from what I hear I am glad.

[bornearly]

Thanks for the reply draught guy. I clean lines in New Jersey.

Using a circulating pump is similar to the can, I guess, except you are using an external source of pressure rather than the CO2. Plus there is the benefit of circulating the solution thru the lines.
So if I want to just circulate and not consider cleaning the FOB's, would I just use the "bypass" and then turn the pressure on and circulate? I can clean the FOB's on the next visit.

[Scott Zuhse]

Never want to bypass the FOBs while cleaning. There will be a lever that you can turn up to prevent the float from seating. This is the cleaning position as well as the mechanism to assist in freeing a float that is ornery.

While circulating, vent the FOBs briefly and then due the same when you rinse. This will assist in preventing the vents from sticking. Always use a cup to catch the fluid coming out of the vent. Is this the FOB you are cleaning?

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[bornearly]

Yes Scott the picture is the one I am cleaning. There are nine installed at this one location. Looks like the lever on the lower side is the one to use. Is that correct? Also, how do I vent them?

Maybe you could email me a .pdf of the instructions.

davetriton@yahoo.com

Thanks for the info.

[Scott Zuhse]

The lever near the bottom is for cleaning and the lever on top of the FOB is for venting. A request for the instructions is in the works.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[bornearly]

Thanks for the help with this. I did the cleaning today and with Scott's help and the help of the others on this forum there were no problems.

Thanks again to everyone that helped.

[royalflush]

Doesn't the beer distributors clean the beer line in NJ for the retailers?

[Larry Tapper]

Ya and the steak distributor cleans the grill.

L. Tapper

[draught guy]

In Atlanta the distributors clean the lines once a month except for A.B. My company has contracts with all distributors but A.B. and each night he prays it will get turned over to the customer to pay for line cleaning.