kegerator CO2 problem

[london1o1]

I bought a used kegerator about 2 years ago which came with a used 5lb CO2 tank, regulator, and all the tubing. I have been pretty much the only person drinking from it regularly, so it usually takes me a month or two to get through a keg. The last keg I had was a 1/2 barrel of Perkuno's Hammer (my beer distributor couldn't get a smaller size), and I was out of town a lot while it was in there, so it probably took me about 6 months to get through it. I was not surprised that when I returned to it near the end of that time, the CO2 seemed to be gone. I got a new keg, a 1/6 barrel of All Hallow's Ale from Kuhnnehn's (sp?), and had my CO2 refilled. I adjusted the CO2 to about a 7 on the regulator, and the beer poured very nicely. Now, about a week and a half later, the CO2 seems to be gone again. The regulator will not rise from 0, and the beer pours very slowly. I'm wondering if I need a new CO2 tank, a new regulator, new tubing, or if I really should be refilling it every couple of weeks. Please help.

Thank you,
Ben
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[Thirdrail]

sounds to me like you have a leak

[I'mRocketMan]

Yep! That's my guess too! Try 'painting' a soapy water solution on each connection in the CO2 line from the cylinder and]regulator to the keg...

[danno]

definitely a leak. you should be able to dispense a half a dozen kegs with one tank...

[london1o1]

So, essentially, you're saying I need new tubing? And I need to "paint" what where to figure out which tube(s) need(s) to be replaced?
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[london1o1]

I'm sorry. I'm not actually quite that dumb. I get where I'm putting the soapy water solution. But what am I expecting to see in the part(s) of the tube(s) that are leaking?

Thanks again,
Ben
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[Beer Monkey]

you may not need new tubing, could just be a connection thats not on all the way. When you paint the parts that the Co2 flows through, if theres a leak you will see soup bubbles forming, then you can pin point where the leak is. I had a similiar issue when I refilled my tank, my problem was that the regulator wasn't on correctly, was getting a tiny leak that would peak when I was pouring a pint, the soap solution let me figure out where the problem was.

good luck

[danno]

your leaks are most likely not in the tubing itself, more likely a fitting or some other junction. for sure check the connection between the tank and the regulator, I've had issues with those plastic/fiber washers being the source, now I just replace them with a new one every time I change a keg. also, if you overly tighten up a worm clamp, they can cut into vinyl tubing and cause a leak...