Strange Behavior!

[RumBrewer]

Ok, So I feel a little stupid asking this, because I've read and read enough that I can answer about 80% of the q's I see.
First things first.
Keg filled with 5 gallons of feints and a stripped run cut to 40%
Still is a MileHigh Mighty Mini.
I have it on FULL reflux... that is to say cooling water goes out of libeg, into CM jacket then return line. Column is insulated with a towel and packed with chore boy scrubbers.

5 hours in, and I just filled jar #11 with 300ml @91% ABV. All 11 91%, but smell is different. (Not the question.)
Temp has been 74c since the beginning and isn't changing.
The still has completely stopped "Flowing" and stops for about 4 seconds, then steady stream for about 2 seconds. Once in a while there is a puff of steam after the liquid.
So... What gives? I know the Libeg isn't big enough on this still, so beyond that, what could be causing this?
Too much heat? Not enough?
Too much Cooling water? Not enough?

Thanks!

[LWTCS]

Is your heat cycling?

[RumBrewer]

Is your heat cycling?

Propane.

[LWTCS]

Do you feel good about the packing density?

[RumBrewer]

I THINK SO. It's tight, but not so much as to restrict flow.
Packing the Libeg was a BITCH!, and if you think that could be the issue I wouldn't argue. It's not blocked, not by any means! But it's tight enough that it's not like blowing through it empty. Kinda like the blockage of a trumpet.

[MuleKicker]

the packing should not create restriction.

[RumBrewer]

the packing should not create restriction.

It's the smallest amount of copper I can get jabbed up the tube. It's a 3/8 stainless, I put a TINY strip of copper up in it. I don't think you could actually call it restriction? But I'll take it out and see.... IF I can figure out how the hell to get it out of there!

[MuleKicker]

if you can tell a difference by blowing in it with/without packing, id say its worth a try.
Does the sound of the boil change pitch when this is happening? or the sound of the burner? Just currious. I wouldnt think it would if you are running propane. but could indicate bad regulator or something along that line causing surging.

[RumBrewer]

Ok, Got the packing out of the condenser, no change... except it blew more steam... this thing is on the verge, the packing makes it functional.

The sound doesn't change. Nice steady ticking from the boil, burner has hundreds of boils on it (Beer) and it's steady and reliable as gravity.

Looking at 7 1/2 hours now, collected my 6th liter and still putting out 91%!

[RumBrewer]

10 hours of surging, it never did stabilize.
Also, temp was 74c for 9 hours, then gradually went up to about 78 during the final hour.
There is minimal distinction between jars, but if you skip 4 jars, you can tell a difference... That is to say 1&2 are same, 2&3 are same, 3&4 are same, but if you smell 1&4, you can tell a diff.
But the funny thing... at least to me.... is that it ran at 91% through the whole run, only dropping to 90% when the temp hit 77-78c

[LWTCS]

Hmmm. Maybe you need to push more heat? Is your column insulated?

[RumBrewer]

Hmmm. Maybe you need to push more heat? Is your column insulated?

Column is insulated, if I push any more heat the condenser can't handle it.

[LWTCS]

PP thinks ya might be better off running separate cooling for each condenser. Says his displayed similar behavior till he plumbed home runs.

[RumBrewer]

PP thinks ya might be better off running separate cooling for each condenser. Says his displayed similar behavior till he plumbed home runs.

Ok, so, today, I ran a little batch of grain wash, and it seemed to run more smoothly than the spirit run.
I also noticed a BIG improvement when my cooling water got to bath temp. (I was smoking and not paying attention and it got pretty warm) But it did really run nice with cooling water at about 100F

I'll hit the hardware store tomorrow.