One good tap, one gushing tap

[illywhacker]

Hey all,

Just setting up my new kegerator, already christened 'Bertha'. Bertha has two taps and after a bit of trial and error, both have been set up identically; 2.4m of 5mm line, 12psi, 4deg. However while one tap (I haven't named Bertha's taps...yet) is pouring fine, albeit a little slowly, the other is just gushing pure froth. It's driving me nuts. Thought maybe that line's keg was accidentally over carbonated but after purging for ages, definitely not the case.
Only difference is the two lines use different kegs - the good line is a new keg while the other was a second hand and a bit worn about the edges. Could the keg itself be responsible, as the only variable left? What should I look for? I'ts got a real nice brew inside it so I really don't want to waste it trying to find out.

Any ideas out there?

 

[BobtheBrewer]

Why not swap each line over to the other keg and see if the taps are the same? If they are I would be looking at the foaming one for a fault.

 

[Rocker1986]

Are there gas bubbles in the beer line on the one that is pouring out a heap of foam? Probably shouldn't be if it's not over carbonated though.

Can't blame you for not wanting to waste the beer though... I'm pretty sure I wasted about half of my first keg trying to fix the foaming that resulted from over carbing the keg.

 

[dblunn]

Swap the lines over as suggested, perhaps there is a leaky seal at the top of the dip tube picking up gas?

 

[illywhacker]

So I swapped the lines and unsurprisingly, no diff. Suspect you may be right dblunn re the leaky seal. As I said the keg was second hand and in a bit rough condition when I purchased it. I didn't think to check the seals. How do I do this? Is it safe/sensible to remove the poppet of a (depressurised, of course) half full keg?

 

[illywhacker]

Jeez researching a little more on rebuilding kegs I realise I may have inadvertently swapped the poppets round when I was sanitizing. Could that be responsible?

 

[Kev R]

You do have the beer line conected to the post with the long dip tube?

 

[user 36151]

Are they the same style of beer
When i was learning the foam i always over carbed the light colour beers and they would foam while using the same method on a ipa or porter they would never have an issue i set and forget now

 

[dblunn]

Jeez researching a little more on rebuilding kegs I realise I may have inadvertently swapped the poppets round when I was sanitizing. Could that be responsible?

Yep, you can work on them half full, just don't drop anything onto the beer.

 

[Ghizo]

I have had a Similar issue I narrowed it down to the tap.
Didn't waste much beer figuring it out besides you drink it anyway