removing the spear and circlip 50lt keg

[stillts]

Great tips, thanks. Just scored a couple of kegs that I plan to use for storage.

Related to this topic, what are others using to seal the keg again after removing the valve to store their product?

Thanks,

Stillts

[Wellsy]

Hey stilts, just be aware there are a couple of types of kegs, the CUB type ones can be an exercise in pigheadedness but you get there in the end. Just did a couple this weekend and the circlip can be a bugger. I found driving a screwdriver under it and lift it close to the end enabled a small hook or pointy nosed pliers to get hold of it.
Be careful making those small cuts, when I tried that the keg leeks a little cos the cut goes to the end of the triclamp lock.
I use a triclamp, and end piece to seal mine. Got them and the seal from Stig.

[stillts]

Cheers Wellsy! Yeah having some troubles with the spring clips. I will have another go at it when I can

[stillts]

Hey Wellsy,

What size screwdriver did you use. Not having much luck so far. A smaller flathead with a sharp point?

Thanks,

Stillts

[Wellsy]

I would call it a medium sized screw driver mate.
I hammered between the circlip and barrell under the circlip. Then as I lifted the screw driver upwards a little you could see the circlip move.

As the circlip goes from flat ( call it 90 degrees) up to 60 you can see the end move towards the centre of the barrel. Don’t rush and you start to see you are on the right path. If you have the end of the circlip near the small cutout of the spear then you can get a little hook behind it.

[stillts]

So…. Got )$&(/ clipout…. Now struggling with spear.

Is there a trick to cub spears?

[stillts]

Update: got circlips on both kegs out, but spear only turns about 3-4mm cw or ccw. Tried tipping boiling water on them, but same thing. Spears do not want to turn.

[Wellsy]

Spears turn a quarter turn but put a screw driver under as you turn to lift them mate.

They lift a little then can turn some more.

If you turn t(em clockwise and anti clockwise easily it confirms the spear is moving easily. There is a small slit you can see in the edge of the spear and when that lines up you can lift it a little, not easily I used a screw driver as a lever while I turned. Once in the sweet spot it simply lifts a little then unscrews and you go WTF and wonder why it took so long.

Don’t ask me how I know this lol

[stillts]

Where do you lift the spear from Wellsy?

Do you mean in the centre in the ball valve?

[stillts]

Got it out. Thanks for tips everyone.

Used pinch bar as a lever for screwdriver.

That was my trick, then as you said Wellsy, the rest was easy!

Cheers

Stillts

[stillts]

A photo for anyone interested

[harold01]

Now the fun starts

[Wellsy]

sorry mate just responded to the pm before i saw your success.

It can be frustrating cant it lol. Hurry up and wait my eye it takes days just to get at the keg lol