Adjusting the regulator

[laxation]

I have a regulator I borrowed from a friend and havn't used it yet (beer is fermenting now...)
He never did much brewing so isn't really an expert and I'm not sure if it's broken

I have only used it to put some gas in the empty keg and test for leaks.

How do I adjust the reg to get the 12psi needed for kegging?
I'm pretty sure it is this one except the left guage doesn't work. Not sure if this has any effect on the handle.

When I turn the handle fully right (clockwise), it gets hard to turn but never locks.
I was planning on starting it fully shut and then slowly opening it until I had the pressure I was after

How do I get the rigth pressure?

 

[mattyh77]

Either the gas is empty or broken reg.
Looks like your doing the right steps.
Make sure knob is fully unwound (counter clockwise) then turn gas on and slow turn the regulator knob clockwise. Gauge on right should go up. If it doesn't, depress the ball lock valve and see if gas is coming out. If it is then the regulator is broken.

 

[nosco]

You can get spare parts to fix it ($10ea for the gauges and $15 for the diaphragm and seal) but for the price you might be better off getting a new one. I noticed they have a MkIII now for $60.

 

[laxation]

Either the gas is empty or broken reg.
Looks like your doing the right steps.
Make sure knob is fully unwound (counter clockwise) then turn gas on and slow turn the regulator knob clockwise. Gauge on right should go up. If it doesn't, depress the ball lock valve and see if gas is coming out. If it is then the regulator is broken.

Turning full counter clockwise ... does that shut it off? So if I turn the gas on at the bottle nothing will come out?
Maybe I've been turning the wrong way...

I have had the reg full clockwise, then I plug in the ball lock to the keg and turn the gas on at the cylinder. Shoots up pretty quick,but I don't leave it on for long - just turn it off after a second at the cylinder again (because I don't know what I'm doing and was only doing it to check for leaks anyway)

should i be able to have the cylinder on and use the regulator handle to turn off the gas?

 

[laxation]

You can get spare parts to fix it ($10ea for the gauges and $15 for the diaphragm and seal) but for the price you might be better off getting a new one. I noticed they have a MkIII now for $60.

jesus christ i borrowed all my mate's stuff (2x kegs, gas bottle, reg, 2x mini kegs) and now it turns out the kegs are no good, the reg is ******

i thought i was going to get away with this for cheap!

i guess at least it got me to get a move on kegging... was easier to sell the mrs on it this way too

 

[mattyh77]

Turning full counter clockwise ... does that shut it off? So if I turn the gas on at the bottle nothing will come out?
Maybe I've been turning the wrong way...

I have had the reg full clockwise, then I plug in the ball lock to the keg and turn the gas on at the cylinder. Shoots up pretty quick,but I don't leave it on for long - just turn it off after a second at the cylinder again (because I don't know what I'm doing and was only doing it to check for leaks anyway)

should i be able to have the cylinder on and use the regulator handle to turn off the gas?

Do this test then. Disconnect the gas line from the keg. Turn regulator knob fully counter clockwise and turn gas bottle off. Release the pressure relief valve. All guages should be zero. Turn gas bottle on and slowly turn regulator knob clockwise. Does the right hand side guage go up? Is there gas in the line if you depress the valve in the ball lock?

 

[laxation]

Do this test then. Disconnect the gas line from the keg. Turn regulator knob fully counter clockwise and turn gas bottle off. Release the pressure relief valve. All guages should be zero. Turn gas bottle on and slowly turn regulator knob clockwise. Does the right hand side guage go up? Is there gas in the line if you depress the valve in the ball lock?

Who knew lefty tighty?!?

I did that, full left it stayed at zero and then slowly went up as I turned the regulator right. Thanks for that, now I know how to use it!

Also, nothing came out when pulling the PRV with valve full left. So I guess that's good!

 

[Mr B]

So you now know how the reg works.

If you want to test the kegs for leaks, you can put a bit of pressure in them and spray the lid/seals/posts etc with Starsan (sanitiser) or similar.

If it bubbles it leaks,

Next step would be a really good clean. Something like sodium percarbonate will do the job.

Make beer, sanitise and fill, then carbonate. Bit of reading will sort you out