Removing Sankey keg valves...

[dixiedrifter]

Here is a simple guide to removing sankey keg valves.

Step 1: You must depressurise the keg first. Depressurize the keg by pushing down on the ball in the center of the valve. This can get messy, especially if there is any beer in the keg, and it takes a bit of pressure so I did not take a pic.

Lie the keg on its side and point the valve away from anything important, like your face, or the house.

Step 2: Using a screwdriver thats had a little work done on it by a bench grinder, hammer it in the little opening of the spring and pry the spring upwards. Ignore the big glaring warning on the top of the keg about removing the valve.

Step 3: Get the screwdriver up in under the ring and follow it around and remove the ring. Notice the end of the spring and how the screwdriver head is shaped. Both are tapered.

Step 4: Notice the valve is in its locked position. To remove the valve it will be necessary to beat on it with a hammer to move it to the unlocked position.

Step 5: Lift up the valve. It should easily come loose with just the tip of your finger, and will come loose with great force on its own if you forgot to depressurize the keg first!

Thats it. With a little bit of practice you can have one loose in less than a minute with nothing more than a screwdriver or hammer.

[mikeac]

Just a reminder to de-presurize the keg with somthign other then your hand...apparently there could be a lot of pressure in there

[HookLine]

Excellent tutorial.

I vote for this one being made a sticky.

The only thing I would change is to give a clearer warning at the beginning about the dangers of not completely releasing the pressure, and a good explanation (including pics) about how to do it safely (outside, with the valve pointing away from you, wearing safety goggles, etc).

[cannon.co.tn]

Nice pictures. This would have made my first attempt much easier.


You can use a smaller screwdriver to start the removal so you don't have to grind an otherwise decent screwdriver

[bourbonbob]

I've removed the stems from 3 sankey type kegs now, I have become rather good at it, the last one I done took about 30 seconds.

[dixiedrifter]

Actually using your finger to push down on the big ball in the center is probably the safest way to go since there is nothing that can slip... if it don't want to push down you need to use some sort of tool. It don't really matter. Just remember, if there is any beer in the keg, you will get drownded.

Yeah and a pair of gloves helps out too. First one I did I cut my finger pretty good on the retaining ring.

The screwdriver was already toast from over torquing it so I just ground it down.

BTW, you can't (you can but it makes it harder) use a normal screwdriver as it won't engage the spring correctly

[Husker]

One thing I have found that works good to remove pressure from a keg, is to put a thick towel over the valve opening, and then use a hammer handle (I like using a ball peen, since there is no claw with sharp edges). The ball peen gives you a good handle to hold on to, and the end of the wooden handle will push the ball down pretty easily (unless the pressure is EXTREME).

This will release the pressure, without having your hand (finger) around any sharp edges), and will keep most of the stinky old beer from shooting all over you (P.U.)

H.

[BW Redneck]

Excellent tutorial.

I vote for this one being made a sticky.

The only thing I would change is to give a clearer warning at the beginning about the dangers of not completely releasing the pressure, and a good explanation (including pics) about how to do it safely (outside, with the valve pointing away from you, wearing safety goggles, etc).

I second that.

[CoopsOz]

Props to Dixie, good tutorial.

[junkyard dawg]

Nice work.

[HookLine]

A good demonstration video here (by absinthe, I think):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G7Ypf5Ojno" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

And some others:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_eXacIlsKE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npUA8DvngVw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Don't forget to relieve the gas pressure inside it first!

[blanikdog]

The first time I relieved the pressure in a keg I had the keg standing upright. With my second keg I left it on its side.

The second time took far less time as I didn't have to shower and change my clothing immediately afterwards.

blanik

[Lothar]

You can use a smaller screwdriver to start the removal so you don't have to grind an otherwise decent screwdriver

One thing I have found that works good to remove pressure from a keg, is to put a thick towel over the valve opening, and then use a hammer handle (I like using a ball peen, since there is no claw with sharp edges). The ball peen gives you a good handle to hold on to, and the end of the wooden handle will push the ball down pretty easily (unless the pressure is EXTREME).H.

Thanks everyone! With this tutorial it only took about 10 minutes without any special tools on my first try.

[adama_bill]

I like the screw driver idea ~ I've sure broken a few drill bits trying to make a hole in that s/s retaining ring (as per some youtube videos).

[heynonny]

One can use an about 7/8- 1" open end wrench, catch it on one of the two little 'nubs' sticking out of the valve-plug unit to relieve pressure. This way you can relieve thepressure -s-l-o-w-l-y, and then stick a piece of wire (a short piece of insulated house wiring works well) down to keep the valve open. Like blanik says, do it sideways in theres anything inside. I use two icepicks to get the circlip out and then use a small screwdriver to remove it -hey-

[chaos]

Here is a simple guide to removing sankey keg valves.

Step 1: You must depressurise the keg first. Depressurize the keg by pushing down on the ball in the center of the valve. This can get messy, especially if there is any beer in the keg, and it takes a bit of pressure so I did not take a pic.

Lie the keg on its side and point the valve away from anything important, like your face, or the house.

Step 2: Using a screwdriver thats had a little work done on it by a bench grinder, hammer it in the little opening of the spring and pry the spring upwards. Ignore the big glaring warning on the top of the keg about removing the valve.

Removing Sankey Valve 1.jpg

Removing Sankey Valve 2.jpg

Step 3: Get the screwdriver up in under the ring and follow it around and remove the ring. Notice the end of the spring and how the screwdriver head is shaped. Both are tapered.

Removing Sankey Valve 3.jpg

Step 4: Notice the valve is in its locked position. To remove the valve it will be necessary to beat on it with a hammer to move it to the unlocked position.

Removing Sankey Valve 4.jpg

Removing Sankey Valve 5.jpg

Removing Sankey Valve 6.jpg

Step 5: Lift up the valve. It should easily come loose with just the tip of your finger, and will come loose with great force on its own if you forgot to depressurize the keg first!

Removing Sankey Valve 7.jpg

Thats it. With a little bit of practice you can have one loose in less than a minute with nothing more than a screwdriver or hammer.

would u happen to know if the 50L kegr have the same set up? and do u have any idear on how to obtain these?

[ozone39]

A 2 5/8" hole saw fits around the whole thing...

[ScottishBoy]

I like the screw driver idea ~ I've sure broken a few drill bits trying to make a hole in that s/s retaining ring (as per some youtube videos).

If you dont want to sacrifice a screw driver, you can also use a 10 penny nail. I went after it with a bench grinder to put a point on it like a screwdriver which just happens to fit the little divot on the throat. Stick it in and pry to the side and the SS coil will pop right out and you havent lost anything or had to sacrifice a tool. Then just follow it around like the tutorial said.

[elliott]

Hi all, just picked upan old miller keg at the scrapyard. looks like the same sankey valve, but no spring thingey. i assumt it unscrews, but i can't get it to budge. anyone have experience with one of these?

[maheel]

what one is it?

or left to right which one ?

[elliott]

haven't tried it yet but this link might do the trick:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/how-rem ... ing-76393/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

oops! maybe that isnt a link. not too good at this computer stuff. elliott

[Ono Nadagin]

Since I just did This for the 1st time myself last week, I wanted to add something I learned that was not mentioned in the videos.

I was able to get the retaining spring clip out and was able to turn the valve so the tabs met the holes and could lift it up to where the tabs were even in the holes but that is as far as it would come out... I made a little tool hung it from a rafter on a cable then put the tool under the little tabs you used to rotate the vale then let the keg hang from the ceiling and with a little downward force it came out.

Now if was basically 'dried beer glued' in... the portion of the valves had some sticky dried beer on it and as it came into contact with the inside of the neck of the keg it hung up enough I couldn't get it out by hand.

Having said all that I think pouring some warm soapy water onto the top of the valve a few times allowing it to penetrate as much as possible would have softened the dried on beer enough and also lubricated the machined surfaces of teh neck and valve would have come out by hand.

[absinthe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mywdx-l2VJY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[758759754]

Someone said it above, but I'd like to say that a wrench/spanner is the best tool for opening the valve. If I recall correctly, it was 22mm. Put the one end under the little tab and use the bump to push it in. Best part, if you lie down the keg, it naturally puts you out of the way of danger.

Check out this video for a better description of what I'm trying to say:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mywdx-l2VJY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Right around 2:25