Leaky MLT

[Ó Flannagáin]

So when I first built my MLT it had a really small leak that dripped every second or so. I wanted to brew so bad I used it anyway and just stuck a bowl underneath the drip, if it filled up much I'd dump it back into the MLT.

I noticed that after I poured my grains in, the liquid became thicker/stickier and the dripping stopped. So, being the lazy bum I am, I didn't really try and fix it for a while.

A few months ago I decided to redo my MLT's ball valve. I didn't like how I had first done it, it looked extremely rigged and I couldn't hook up a tube to the end of it so I had to just let it pour into my kettle. I went out and did a lot of measuring and got all the right pieces, lots of washers and so on. I hooked it up and it leaked like crazy! I tried everything. It was on there REALLY tight. I decided "screw it" and just used it anyway like I did with my first setup. It worked, the sugars sealed it after the mash was about 10 minutes or so underway.

What I'm wondering is.. how do I fix it so there is no leak ever? I thought I was the only person with this problem until a close friend of mine just built his first MLT and it did the same thing. He followed directions he found online, not my directions.

[mdd134]

can you show us any pics of the inside?

I just built another one that is a 12gal, I will take it apart and show you some pics when I get home.


but on mine I put the gasket then a washer and it squeezes the gasket and makes a seal on the inside.

[Ó Flannagáin]

I would, but I don't want to take it apart again lol. I've got it to wear it barely leaks at all and I"m scared if I take it apart and put back together it will start leaking a lot again. I have the gasket in there though, like you said.. I believe. I kept taking it out and putting it in, because I couldn't tell if it was leaking more with or without it.

[mdd134]

I hope you can see this ok

there is a white seal in between the cooler and the washers

http://www.brightok.net/~mdollar/homebrew/mltseal-900.jpg

I then tightened it and the seal squeezed between it and it doesnt leak, I have extra seals if you need some. When you come over we can check it out.

[Ó Flannagáin]

Sounds like a plan

[MrMarbleHead]

How tight are you making it? If you tighten it down too much then it can distress the o-ring and deform it and cause it to leak. A friend of mine was doing that and it was driving him nuts and told him to stop using the pliers to tighten it up, just torq it with your hands till it is tight but not too tight and see if it leaks. Mine moves around a lot but it doesn't leak. I am sure to check to make sure that it is still hand tight before i use it just to be sure that it didn't loosen up at all.

[Barley-Davidson]

Keg lube will help keep the seal from getting torqued out of shape and leaking when you tighten everything down.

Don't know if that's what's causing yours to leak, just puttin it out there.

[Monster Mash]

Mcmaster part #7545A472 is GE food grade silicone sealant, it is safe to use in your MT.

[Ó Flannagáin]

Mcmaster part #7545A472 is GE food grade silicone sealant, it is safe to use in your MT.

That's what I was wondering a while back. Sweet, monster, I'm gonna pick some up!

[Monster Mash]

Just make sure you get the series 100 sealant, the stuff you get at Lowes or Home Depot is not food grade. 108 is the clear stuff and is what most people use on thier mash tuns.

[sanders5x]

I hope you can see this ok

there is a white seal in between the cooler and the washers

http://www.brightok.net/~mdollar/homebrew/mltseal-900.jpg

I then tightened it and the seal squeezed between it and it doesnt leak, I have extra seals if you need some. When you come over we can check it out.


Are those Stainless steel washers?

[mdd134]

yeah but I dipped them in Zinc to be on the safe side. :P

[BeerBilly]

Great idea with the keg lube...yet another use besides o-rings and sex.

[DrunkenSatyr]

LOL