how to fix a leak at the tap ?

[seniormint]

Hello all, I have a basic beer meister and when I went to put a new keg in, I first wanted to clean the tap fixture and lines. So as I was unscrewing the bolt that holds the tap fixture in place at the top something came loose as it was hard to unscrew and the tap fixture rotated a little. Now, when I screw it back in and tap the keg it leaks out of the area of where the round bolt tightens to the fixture. To me, it looks like I need a new washer/gasket on the tap fixture that plugs into the top part of the beer meiseter. I know this description is pretty vague but does this sound right ?
Its a round tightening bolt, the tap fixture goes into a metal tube that the beer comes out, so to connect them, you stick it in and tighten this round bolt around it. Now, inside the tap fixture looks to be some kind of rubber washer , I am guessing that is worn out since when I tighten it up and tap the keg, it leaks right outa their.
Any ideas ??

[seniormint]

Well after a lot of hunting on the internet I think I may have found the part, its called a Coupling Gasket that I found on

http://www.wholesaledraft.com/Merchant/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=1212&Category_Code=330

Does anyone know if this is the part that attaches to the faucet part when you connect it to the top of the beer meister ?

[fretlessman71]

Not that I have an answer to your question, but I wanted to say welcome, and that we're not ignoring you - it's just that the right person who knows what you're talking about hasn't read your posts yet! Be patient, and have a look around! :)

[danno]

do you have/did you use a faucet wrench when unscrewing the coupling nut on the shank that holds in the tap? if not, I highly recommend getting one. a good place for it would be a local homebrew store, they're $3 - $4... (ok, using the same site from your link, they're $4.50 (http://www.wholesaledraft.com/Merchant/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1212&Product_Code=1350&Category_Code=320)...)

[seniormint]

Thanks for the welcome guys! Yes I do have one of those wrenches for unscrewing the coupling. I think aside form the fact that the Beer Meister is over 20 years old and still the original parts (yes I do clean it every time I get a new keg), the coupling washer got worn out, when I went to remove the faucet to clean it the other day it got a little stuck so I had to really turn it hard and I think that broke any seal that was left as I don't even see an existing washer in their! (not sure how it stayed seeled all this time)
So I ordered one from the net along with some new beer line cleaner. Hopefully that will fix the leak.

[toneyc]

You might also get a can of food grade silicon spray as a lubricant. Great stuff!

:)
Toney.

[MooseheadMan]

And it had the same issue, except, when the keg was tapped, and the C02 applied, beer sprayed out of the 4 holes on the coupler and from the same place you are describing. I took the assmebly apart, and replaced the metal ring in on the brass(?) part that the coupler screws onto with rubber O rings from a paintball gun CO2 bottle. This stopped the leaking there. After that, I noticed that the grey plastic washer (not really a washer, but for lack of a better word) had a leak there too. With the help of a little teflon tape and a hot glue gun, we are back in business, no leaks!

Hope that helps!!