Tri clamp question

[steve541]

I have my mile hi 2" reflux column mounted on a 5 gallon keg. I have seen pictures where the clamp is fitted and looks like its back to being round. Mine is more tear drop looking. Should I crank it until it gets to being round or is it ok? I also have the gasket in.

[Dnderhead]

good as is, when fitted over the flang. they become round or close to it.

[steve541]

Thanks! Just a bit nervous maybe paranoid. I keep hearing people tell me I going to blow up.

[Hawke]

Which gasket do you have?
If it has the ridge on both sides, one of them needs to be flattened for it to seat correctly on the keg.

[steve541]

The gasket has a ridge on both sides. What do you mean by flattened out. Should I trim off the ridge on one side? It just dosen't look like it has sealed. I can see part of the flange about 1/2 inch not covered by the clamp.

[cob]

steve541 the way you worded your question made me wonder if you had the correct size tri-clamp. if you remove the gasket and assemble the column to the pot with the clamp does it look right despite being loose? if it looks right remove 1 ridge from your gasket like hawke said .

[Nightforce]

Steve541,

The top of the keg is ferrule is flat (no doubt you've noticed that) and the gasket needs to have one side of the o-ring ridge shaved off. I got a silicone one and a teflon one. I found that a super sharp single edge razor and some verrrry careful trimming worked. Teflon was easier, just shaved that one down to almost flush and took a spare ferrule and a piece of 220 then 400 grit sand paper and used the ferrule as a holder to sand it down smooth, like lapping a heat sink if you've every done that. It worked great on the harder teflon.

Also, look on the tri-clamp itself. Mine is stamped near the hinge point with the size clamp it is. Wouldn't hurt to check it.

[goinbroke2]

What nightforce said, same thing here. I tried cutting one ridge off but after almost removing a finger and scared of wrecking my new seal I put a piece of 80 grit sandpaper on the work bench then slid it around in a figure eight pattern to slowly wear the ridge off. When it got close, I changed to 220 grit. Remember to hold it lightly and not press too hard or it won't wear even and don't go back and forth, go in a figure eight pattern (lapping).

[steve541]

Great. I can cut the ridge off and or get a new one. The clamp fits perfect without the gasket so I'm going to shave off one of the ridges. Thanks

[heynonny]

St. Paddy's o' Texas sells a gasket for keg to TC flange, , ,

http://www.stpats.com/index.htm

Scroll down to 'Specialty Tools' 'Barrel Tools' scroll down a lil' past half way, , , ,

-hey-

[steve541]

well, I sanded it down and I'm still not 100% fealing good about the look. Onlt a test will tellThanks again for all your feedback

[Bob421]

I had to take my Teflon gasket to about half thickness to get the clamp to engage correctly.
I used a spare ferrule and sandpaper on a piece of glass to keep it flat.

[steve541]

I am having good luck with adhesive sandpaper on a flat surface using a roll of black tape to keep the presure even. The tape helps keep it in place because its a bit sticky on the sides. Back to sanding I guess