Second hand kegs

[carrobrew]

Hey all,

Im after some advice. I’m looking at getting into kegging, and I was waking past my neighbours today and he had two corny kegs sitting out the front.

I asked and he was throwing them out so I happily took them off his hands. They seem in decent enough condition but will need some cleaning.

From the attached photos do you see anything wrong with them? Is there anything I should replace on them when I do buy the kegerator?

 

[Donz]

should be fine, .. replace the entire pressure valve and all posts, gooooood clean, replace all seals and maybe replace pick up tubes as well.

 

[Grmblz]

Disagree, no need to replace valves or posts, these are not cheap Chinese kegs, they're gold especially the full stainless (I've got 3) just replace seals, and only if they're leaking, be aware the full stainless one (18ltr) is not a corny and needs different seals to the blue one which is a standard corny. From memory Grain and grape had the odd seals, sorry can't remember the name of them MHB is the man for all this sort of stuff.

 

[carrobrew]

Thanks for the help guys.

I think when I do get the kegerator I'll clean mega thoroughly and test for leaks as suggested and then see if anything needs replacing.

What do you recommend for cleaning? Also any tips for how to clean right at the bottom?

 

[razz]

Hi carrobrew. If they have been used for homebrew then give them a good rinse and clean with hot PBW, hot water rinse and then use cold sanitiser. For cleaning out the bottom of the kegs a good hit with the garden hose or pressure washer first. Then use the PBW. Take all the parts out and soak them in PBW for a few hours then check them to see if they are any good, cracked seals etc. Replace what you need to replace.

 

[Grmblz]

Anything except bleach (it causes pitting and you end up with a pin hole in the vessel) I'd start with a 24hr soak in PBW using very hot water, and a skinny arm (wife?) to get to the bottom with a scouring pad if it's needed. if that doesn't work then sodium hydroxide used hot (caustic soda) but for fks sake be really really REALLY! fkin carefull with it, wrap around glasses an absolute minimum.
Rather than wait for a kegerator how about a pluto gun and fridge off gumtree, will get you up and running for little dollar, and you'll have the benefit of a silent (almost) fridge as opposed to a 747 taking off, just read the posts about how noisy they are/can be.

 

[carrobrew]

Anything except bleach (it causes pitting and you end up with a pin hole in the vessel) I'd start with a 24hr soak in PBW using very hot water, and a skinny arm (wife?) to get to the bottom with a scouring pad if it's needed. if that doesn't work then sodium hydroxide used hot (caustic soda) but for fks sake be really really REALLY! fkin carefull with it, wrap around glasses an absolute minimum.
Rather than wait for a kegerator how about a pluto gun and fridge off gumtree, will get you up and running for little dollar, and you'll have the benefit of a silent (almost) fridge as opposed to a 747 taking off, just read the posts about how noisy they are/can be.

Haha, might have to get the wife to help out. Although she is pregnant and not dealing with smells very well at the moment so we will see, I'll tell her it is for the greater good.

I've got safety gear but they don't seem too dirty so hopefully can just get with PBW. I haven't had a good inspect yet but on the post it looks like there is either dirt or possibly rust? What is the best way to deal with this? Just elbow grease?

Yeah I have heard the noise can be a factor, I have looked into fridges but one of the drawcards with the kegerator is the size of it. We have a tiny house which is already full so space will be an issue. Plus I think they are sexy...

 

[Grmblz]

Green scourer and elbow grease.
"Plus I think they are sexy... " It's your coin, but anything I've found sexy has usually ended up costing me lots of money, and hasn't worked very well

 

[carrobrew]

Green scourer and elbow grease.
"Plus I think they are sexy... " It's your coin, but anything I've found sexy has usually ended up costing me lots of money, and hasn't worked very well

Hahaha. I found the sexy things around my house worked really well for the first few years and then decided they didn't need to anymore....

 

[Neil Buttriss]

buy a round cobweb broom from the green shed, they do a great job on kegs and you dont need skinny arms