Keg Posts (plugs)- Dismantling And Firestone Vs Corny

[michael_aussie]

I recently purchase some kegs with Firestone Posts.
When I dismantled them I can't get the poppet valves out of the posts.
The other kegs that I have, the poppet valves fall out of the posts. These poppet valves appear to be a very neat fit, infact the three splayed feet on the bottom look like they are a very tight fit.


QUESTION # 1 Given that I don't want to break them and then have to replace them, do you have any suggestions how I should remove them.

QUESTION # 2 Are Firestone and Cornelious posts interchangeable?

QUESTION #3 If Firestone and Cornelious posts are not interchangeable, how do I tell which sort I should have on my kegs?

Firestone

Cornelious

 

[razz]

Good morning Michael. Give them a soak in your favourite cleaner, PBW is ideal for loosening these type of fittings, I've had a few stick over the years. I have both types of posts and they are interchangeable as the threads on the kegs are the same. You may need to give them a tap with a punch to knock them out. There is one significant difference, the poppets can be slightly different lengths and I think the top of the dip tubes can be a bit different. All this means that if you are cleaning two kegs from both manufacturers and you dump all the parts together to clean them you may have a bit of trial and error to get them back together. It's no big deal really, at worst one of the valves may leak when you hook it up.

 

[michael_aussie]

Good morning Michael. Give them a soak in your favourite cleaner, PBW is ideal for loosening these type of fittings, I've had a few stick over the years. I have both types of posts and they are interchangeable as the threads on the kegs are the same. You may need to give them a tap with a punch to knock them out. There is one significant difference, the poppets can be slightly different lengths and I think the top of the dip tubes can be a bit different. All this means that if you are cleaning two kegs from both manufacturers and you dump all the parts together to clean them you may have a bit of trial and error to get them back together. It's no big deal really, at worst one of the valves may leak when you hook it up.

ty Razz,
you're correct about the "mixed" components.. I've already learnt that I need to be careful when all the components aren't the same.

so just to confirm...
I should be able to just punch out the poppets??

 

[bignath]

so just to confirm...
I should be able to just punch out the poppets??

Yep. I had two kegs arrive on my doorstep yesterday and the first thing i did was get out the cleaning stuff and give everything a once over.

The poppets in each of the posts of both kegs were stuck, and all i did was use a small screwdriver to CAREFULLY push down on the top of the poppet and they (wait for it) "popped" right out. Soaked everything in sodium perc. replaced the seals and all is good as gold.

Nath

 

[JestersDarts]

Hey guys -
Just gave two of these a proper clean up last night - the post valves popped out with a good push. Scrubbed everything in sodium perc and came up real nice.
My question is, what spanner size are the posts? I got them off easy enough, but my adjustable spanner is not up to tightening them up nicely (akward restrictive spage between the handles), and want to get a correct size on on the way home from work - I gots me beer to keg.
Does anyone know?

 

[bignath]

Hey guys -
Just gave two of these a proper clean up last night - the post valves popped out with a good push. Scrubbed everything in sodium perc and came up real nice.
My question is, what spanner size are the posts? I got them off easy enough, but my adjustable spanner is not up to tightening them up nicely (akward restrictive spage between the handles), and want to get a correct size on on the way home from work - I gots me beer to keg.
Does anyone know?

JD, i use a pair of multi-grips. They seem to be pretty good at getting into a tighter work area than a shifter. Works well.

 

[Pennywise]

Does anyone know?

Someone asked that same question a few months ago, but buggered if I can find the thread, I don't think it was the topic anyway> I'll keep looking, think it might have been 12mm

Edit 7/8 & 11/16, depending on the size of the nut. My cornies have both

Info from here: http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...showtopic=28972

 

[neo__04]

Weird, I was about to put a post up on this issue last night.

Got a couple of kegs that arent sealing properly that i got off ebay.

Got replacement O-Ring kits for them but couldnt get the poppets out.

After a few hard hits with a hammer and punch, it came out bent

I managed to bend it bad so that it sealed, but ive ordered new tank posts and spare poppets for the future.

It certainly didnt just come out with a little tap for me

 

[JestersDarts]

Weird, I was about to put a post up on this issue last night.
Got a couple of kegs that arent sealing properly that i got off ebay.
Got replacement O-Ring kits for them but couldnt get the poppets out.
After a few hard hits with a hammer and punch, it came out bent
I managed to bend it bad so that it sealed, but ive ordered new tank posts and spare poppets for the future.
It certainly didnt just come out with a little tap for me

All mine were held in my was the three little feet on the bottom of the valve, like they were clipped in a slight ridge to hold em there. A bit of a shove with an allen key..saw them come right out. Certainly no need for a hammer!
But good job on the replacement parts. I have a keg where the beer post leaks slightly when the beerout connect is off. Thats going to get a pull down.. when its empty.


edit:was going to fix that first line... but then i thought... naahh

 

[Siborg]

I've actually had a problem with mine. I bought some kegs from G&G a while back. The first one I tested had a bent post, so the poppet wasn't sealing it properly. I took it off and can't for the life of me seem to find it.

So I buy a brand new one from G&G (the cornelius one) and the bloody thing won't screw down. Thread sizes are the same but I can't fasten it to my keg.

I swapped it with some of my other kegs, and it fits fine. Tried one of the other kegs posts and that doesn't screw down either. I'm thinking the thread may be f**ked thats on the keg. Anyone know how to fix this threading issue?

 

[Sammus]

I dunno but I pulled down 3 kegs for cleaning the other day and put all the posts etc in a container to soak. I thought they'd be all interchangeable, it took me a while to get the right combos back together, there where 2 styles of poppet valves that had to be with the right post, and none of the post threads were interchangeable, they looked roughly the same, but theyd either seize or just not grab at all. And that was after thorough cleaning, when I found the right keg they went on easy. Weird.