Lion introduces "Tap King" - party keg / growlers

[Guysmiley54]

Ok,

I'm having some progress over here. I have been looking at the lid assembly (I have 4 to play with) and noticing that all but one of of the clear parts (with the tube that holds the gas bulb) is warped. When cleaning the empties, I was very careful not to use hot water on the bottles as I read that they will melt easily. I was not so careful with the lids I used sodium percarbonate and boiling water to soak the entire lid assembly (except for one which I had already cleaned seperately when I emptied the beer from it. The others I got from a mate in one go)

Here's a pic of one of the batch that got the boiling water:

After using the only part that wasn't warped, I managed to get it to seal and the bottle got rock hard with the gas. Happy days Still not a 100% success as when I pressed the tap only the gas came out. The plastic tube was attached to the lid and everything seemed in place but no liquid at all came out of the tap itself.

I will come back to this experiment later as I am getting sick of it for now I am also stripping the heads of the triangle screws by using s 2mm flathead screwdriver. I have a triangular tool coming in the mail (hopefully) soon.

 

[Beerisyummy]

So it was good old sexy fingers and the boiling water in the end.

Glad you got that one sorted. A good warning post for others as well.

Try a small allen key instead of the screwdriver. I can't remember the size I was using but it worked fine.

 

[zeggie]

Been reading this thread keenly. Worth modding the Tapking or should I buy a system like this http://www.liquorcraft.com.au/afawcs0133827/CATID=0/SUBID=455/ID=6996/SID=484939048/productdetails.html?

 

[barls]

Been reading this thread keenly. Worth modding the Tapking or should I buy a system like this http://www.liquorcraft.com.au/afawcs0133827/CATID=0/SUBID=455/ID=6996/SID=484939048/productdetails.html?

search tap a boom or tap a draft for feed back on the system you linked

Personally it would be cheaper with the tap king I think

 

[Guysmiley54]

Is it better to have sexy fingers in your end or boiling water? Depends how long your fingernails are I suppose



So it was good old sexy fingers and the boiling water in the end.

Glad you got that one sorted. A good warning post for others as well.

Try a small allen key instead of the screwdriver. I can't remember the size I was using but it worked fine.

 

[jorni]

Ok,

I'm having some progress over here. I have been looking at the lid assembly (I have 4 to play with) and noticing that all but one of of the clear parts (with the tube that holds the gas bulb) is warped. When cleaning the empties, I was very careful not to use hot water on the bottles as I read that they will melt easily. I was not so careful with the lids I used sodium percarbonate and boiling water to soak the entire lid assembly (except for one which I had already cleaned seperately when I emptied the beer from it. The others I got from a mate in one go)

Here's a pic of one of the batch that got the boiling water:

After using the only part that wasn't warped, I managed to get it to seal and the bottle got rock hard with the gas. Happy days Still not a 100% success as when I pressed the tap only the gas came out. The plastic tube was attached to the lid and everything seemed in place but no liquid at all came out of the tap itself.

I will come back to this experiment later as I am getting sick of it for now I am also stripping the heads of the triangle screws by using s 2mm flathead screwdriver. I have a triangular tool coming in the mail (hopefully) soon.

Might be a silly question, but did you reassemble the unit as shown in your picture? You have to put the black cap on first before putting back the screws.

 

[Beerisyummy]

Midas had the golden touch. We all have sexy fingers once in a while.
Fingers crossed I'm good for now.

I just filled a bottle with a pale wheat beer. It'll be interesting to see how a highly carbed beer goes.

To force carb or to naturally carb?

 

[jimmyboy_101]

You'd know about it if they were leaking by now. My naturally carbed bottles were hard as rocks after a day or two.

I'm sure the leaking bottles are caused by incorrect reassembly. Maybe the valves are upside down or the neck o ring isn't seated fully.
without seeing it in person it's hard to say.

Where exactly is the liquid coming from?

I had this issue when i refilled mine last night! Turns out i had misplaced 2 circular rubber seal pads that springs push the white plastic "cups" against when the unit isnt pouring,

I lost mine when i was cleaning them, fairly sure they have gone down the sink. but luckily i could remove them from another lid! When i get home ill take some photos. Hopefully ive still got a set of seals in one of the heads.


I had some issues last night but it was just murphy hanging around being a prick.

First i broke my T6H torx bit so had to rush down to bunnings to replace it. Then i misplaced the rubber seal pads and had a nice fountain moment in my kitchen (dont tell the missus). then the barb broke and i had to pull it apart again to replace it. All practice though I got really good at pulling it apart and putting it back together. My pro tip is have another head for spare parts incase you break something

And now i have a delicious Apple, Pear and Honey Cider in the fridge

 

[OneEye]

So I lost the white bit from mine down the sink also, talented bunch of lads we are!

I'm missing the white bit from the gas side but I've modded my TK to use an external reg and gas source. Will this still be a problem? What does that gas side spring do anyway (the one with the blue cap in the bottom)?

 

[Beerisyummy]

The blue bit is a non return valve for the gas.
The unit may still work in your situation.

 

[craigr]

Can anyone point me to the Moss 12g CO2 bottles from Ezychargers? I can only find LISS ones http://www.ezychargers.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=544.
Or can anyone confirm whether or not these LISS ones fit/work to replace the cartridge in the TK bottle?

I've got a Belgian Ale fermenting ATM that I want to trail in these TK bottles.

 

[Rocker1986]

It appears the unthreaded ones aren't on there at the moment. I found them the other day and placed an order for a box of ten, so they do sell them. I don't know about the Liss ones, haven't seen them mentioned on this thread as yet.

 

[jimmyboy_101]

Shoot em an email they are probably out of stock at the moment

 

[Beerisyummy]

Liss, Mosa. They are the same thing from different companies.

Just go to your local hospitality store and make some mods to use the standard 8g bulbs.

Why bother dealing with Ezychargers? Duck Fat!

 

[Beerisyummy]

Might be a silly question, but did you reassemble the unit as shown in your picture? You have to put the black cap on first before putting back the screws.

That's quite funny!

At first I thought it was a silly question. Then I realised that the plastic plates don't just sit there like that normally without screws to hold the springs down.

That is one seriously F'ed TK bottle head unit.

 

[willmaxi]

Hi, I'm only new to home brewing but have just bottled 'some tap king bottles.

I fitted them out with new c02 cartridges, hopefully it works.

Greg

 

[jimmyboy_101]

Another piece of advise,

Make sure the syphon tube is pointed downwards when you put it all back together. Mine is at the top of the keg which obviously doesnt work to well.

Not a massive drama, just need to prop the keg up a bit but still would be better if it was down the bottom

 

[mattyc]

There has been mention of LISS carts and so I took a bit of a look.

The attached shows the 12g (use third column) in four different guises. I didn't email the Co yet but I think I might......

Sod it, just emailed them anyway. Also, if you take a look at the chart there are weights and other measurements that may tell us which ones Ezychargers is selling......




Edit: Email and stuff

 

[Rocker1986]

The Mosa ones I ordered from there arrived last week, compared the shape of the neck to the original one from the TK and they are pretty much exactly the same. Unfortunately they didn't arrive in time for me to bottle my latest brew into the TK bottle but will be putting some of the current batch fermenting in there.

 

[primusbrew]

Thanks to everyone for the info on how to reuse the Tap King. Has anyone had any success with the Liss cartridges yet? Ezychargers still seem to be out of the unthreaded Mosa ones.

 

[barls]

Plenty of experience here using the 8g cartridges. Poured one on the weekend and plenty of gas also cheaper


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[FreeBaseBuzz]

So, has anyone used the 12g Liss cartridges from ezycharges yet? I'm assuming they are the same size as the ones that come with the tapking, but was hoping to get a confirmation before ordering a couple boxes from ezychargers.


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[driftdaddy]

Plenty of experience here using the 8g cartridges. Poured one on the weekend and plenty of gas also cheaper


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Sorry if this has been covered already, but how are you mounting the 8g cartridges in the TK head?

 

[barls]

In the thread entitled. 8g cartridges in the tap king. Sorry can't post a link as can't figure out how to do it in tap talk


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[FreeBaseBuzz]

In the thread entitled. 8g cartridges in the tap king. Sorry can't post a link as can't figure out how to do it in tap talk

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Its at Using-8g-CO2-soda-bulbs-in-your-Tap-King

From taptalk. Hit ... then webview, then hit the link at the bottom right, then open in safari..



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[barls]

Cool knew it was somewhere just hadn't used it


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[FreeBaseBuzz]

Hi guys,

I just took Beerisyummy's starting point and decided to record the pressure by adjusting the regulator.

I have butchered my head a fair bit, so hacking it up further was no issue. I basically cut off the retaining latch, leaving the adjuster cap free to rotate. This should probably be hot-glued in place if you wish to set up a head for lagers/pale ales and one for English beers.

So, we have the following:

+0.25 turn - 100kPag
0 turn - 78kPag
-0.25 turn - 60kPag
-0.5 turn - ~45kPag
-1 turn - 20kPag

At 3°C serving temp, we have the following:
+0.25 turn - 100kPag --> 2.8volCO2
0 turn - 78kPag --> 2.5
-0.25 turn - 60kPag --> 2.3
-0.5 turn - ~45kPag - 2.1vol
-1 turn - 20kPag --> 1.7vol CO2

Two things I'm going to next find out: if it's comfortable in the 3-3.5vol range for wheats, etc; and if further restriction needs to be put in the little hose bit on the tap (e.g. 3mm tube) to slow it down at higher carbonation. Even at the existing carbonation it might help?

PS - not sure what the maximum pressure of these units would be. The regulator will obviously be ok, and pretty sure the bottles would be fine with a couple of hundred kPag, but not sure if there is a weak spot somewhere.

Enjoy...


To ask a really silly question... Which way is down? Clockwise? Or Counterclockwise?


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[barls]

I asked the same question. The answer was about three post after where you got the info from.
Below is what it was


Righty tighty, lefty loosy!

It's just like a normal regulator. Turn the knob clockwise while looking down on it, or facing it, or holding it your hand, or whatever. As it tightens down you'll hear the extra gas releasing into the bottle to bring the pressure up. Pretty sure you'll need to give the tap a quick blast to relieve any excess pressure if you go the other way.


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[mattyc]

Two little black o'rings in a row now. Thats a tad annoying! I'm having to try and re-carb the kegs and hope that infection etc doesnt take hold.

I've replaced the co2 but have yet to find replacement o rings. Admittedly, I havent looked yet tho

I've just finished my first refill and noticed something once I got the bottle out.

This is what a "good" one looks like, AFAIK... Yes it's dirty, No I haven't cleaned it yet!!

This is what's happened to one of the bottles prior to my reusing it. I'm hoping that I can just re-roll the o-ring up into the correct position......

And this is what the one I've just finished looks like.

Any thoughts from the masses?

Chargers were Liss brand, no extra lube used, no loss of pressure whilst inserted (like that doesn't sound bad!!)

And what sort of lube should I be getting? (flame suit on and skin thickening in progress!! Dear Lord, even that sounds bad! )

 

[pist]

MatttyC, it's likely that one is now stretched and will need replacing, or your gas will end up leaking out as soon as you pierce it. I've had similar issues with the O-rings, it seems a bit hit and miss as to whether or not you can reuse them without replacing the O-Rings. This seems to vary between units too from what I can see, as some people have reported issues with this, and others have had none.

Do yourself a favour, and mod it to run an external reg/gas cylinder/bulbs. They are real easy to pull apart and just as easy to put back together. It didnt take me long to get frustrated with this, and have since hooked up a sodastream cylinder and keg king reg. Im thinking this cylinder is prob going to last me a while too...ive done 5 or 6 bottles on it so far and the cylinder pressure gauge has not moved from its original position.

This is my TK unit, the external bottle makes life so much easier, especially when changing between differenty beer styles, you can dial in your pouring pressure to suit. It's also much easier to get replacement cylinders too, most woolies/coles/big w/Kmart that retail sodastream products will have them: