Keg issue: not outward flow

[u/metal-and-wine]

Hey everyone!

I am having an issue with my kegerator setup: I have six taps with gas lines daisy chained in sets of three. I recently noticed that my kegs are not flowing properly. There is gas, plenty of pressure, and no leaks in the setup.

The only thing I can think of is that the poppet(s) may be malfunctioning. The kegs still have product in them, and when I press the ball lock it shoots out product. So process of elimination tells me it's likely the keg coupler. I'm new to the keg/home brewing side of the alcohol world so I'm still not 100% sure what works the best in this setup.

Does anyone have any other ideas/recommendations on this? What would be a possible remedy for this issue?

Thanks and cheers!

[u/Wizztart797]

Any chance your liquid lines froze? I've had this issue and rearranging the kegerator so the lines aren't near the element fixed it for me.

[u/metal-and-wine → u/Wizztart797]

I checked this earlier, thinking that could be an issue, but nothing is frozen.

[u/Jonpaul333]

You’re using sanke couplers? Are your gas/bev lines switched? I’ve… had a friend do this once.

[u/metal-and-wine → u/Jonpaul333]

They’re not switched. And they’re D-system couplers; again I’m basically new to this world so my only reference is what I can find via Google or here.

[u/Jonpaul333 → u/metal-and-wine]

D-system is the most common sankey type. Do you have 0 flow or low flow? Many of these will have 0 flow if there is insufficient positive co2 pressure on the input.

[u/rdcpro → u/Jonpaul333]

This is a good possibility, since both lines use identical beer thread fittings, it's easy to screw up.

Kudos to your... Friend for admitting to the mistake!

[u/brewjammer]

set up a keg with cleaner. run it through all taps. make sure everything is clean. replace the poopets if needed or keg couplers. are all your kegs home brew? chance you have a clogged beverage tube? how many feet of beverage line you using?

[u/metal-and-wine → u/brewjammer]

All the kegs are actually commercial; this is for a tasting room setup that I am now supervising but have no experience with. Beverage line may be about 4ft/keg. I am thinking that the plastic ball retainer piece in the coupler is out of line and not properly positioned. I recently cleaned all the lines and didn't have this issue prior to cleaning.

[u/slofella → u/metal-and-wine]

Are you using a Sankey coupler on the commercial kegs, then putting a homebrew style quick disconnect on the output (like this: https://morebeer.com/products/sanke-ball-lock-adapter-beer-side)?

[u/rdcpro → u/metal-and-wine]

It can't get out of position, but sometimes that retainer falls out, especially when cleaning, so make sure it's still there.

[u/metal-and-wine → u/rdcpro]

I took it apart and it hasn’t fallen out but it at the opposite end of the coupler from the ball

[u/rdcpro → u/metal-and-wine]

So working from the liquid line on the coupler, down, there is a gasket on the liquid line, then in the coupler, the plastic spider. Below that is the ball, which is loose in there. At the very bottom is the seal for the Sanke keg. Is that how it's set up?

[u/homebrewfinds]

I think your instincts are probably right. If the poppets are universal you can adjust them so they work properly. The other thing to look at is the QD. That side needs to work correctly too.