| Author |
Message |
    
Jon Steinhauer
Senior Member
Username: Jstein6870
Post Number: 1201
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 70.100.80.59
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 02:42 am: | 
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Any suggestions for something that works better than the one they make for it? It makes a pretty unreliable seal.
Thanks.
Steinhauer. |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 8882
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.225.170
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 12:18 pm: |
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Are the lid diameter and design of the Blichmann Fermenator concials similar enough that their gaskets might work as replacements for those from B3? |
dhacker
Senior Member
Username: Dhacker
Post Number: 1439
Registered: 11-2002
Posted From: 72.4.22.214
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 03:17 pm: |
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Seems I remember a similar question a year or two ago (and maybe it was you, Jon)  . . . Is it definitely a function of the gasket's inability to make a seal, or perhaps the shape of the lid distorting when tightened? |
Jon Steinhauer
Senior Member
Username: Jstein6870
Post Number: 1202
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 216.70.45.1
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 04:11 pm: |
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I'm not familiar with the Blichmann, but it does not look the same, and I'm pretty sure it's distortion of the o-ring with tightening. Easing back on the lid doesn't resolve the problem, though. |
mikel
Member
Username: Mikel
Post Number: 175
Registered: 02-2001
Posted From: 75.106.245.132
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 04:22 pm: |
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I have tried a BLichmann gasket on my B3 conical. It fits fine on the tank lip and seals marginally better. It is made of a softer material and is a much higher quality gasket. For normal fermentation it seals fine. I still can't pressurize the conical and with very active fermentation I still get an occasional krausen leak. The B3 lid sealing design really needs to be redesigned. I contacted BLichmann to see if their lid and clamp wold work on the B3 body and was told that because of insurance reasons they won't sell just the lid and clamp. |
Hophead
Senior Member
Username: Hophead
Post Number: 2772
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 167.4.1.41
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 04:58 pm: |
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The gasket/clamp on the blichmann fermenator is very good. They even have a new lid that holds an additional 15gal, all above the seal, to brew 1bbl+ batches... Almost pulled the trigger on that one recently. 
Perhaps using their gasket with some keg lube would give the best seal for b3? |
Bob Wall
Senior Member
Username: Brewdudebob
Post Number: 1531
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 139.76.224.66
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 07:18 pm: |
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My LHBS has a couple B3 conicals and I have a Blichmann. In direct comparison I cannot recommend buying a B3 in good conscience. The B3 welds are awful looking and I would fear contamination from the pits. Blichmann knows what he is doing.
What has B3 done to ensure their product meets your satisfaction? Have you contacted them? You spent alot of money, they should offer assistance. |
Jon Steinhauer
Senior Member
Username: Jstein6870
Post Number: 1203
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 70.100.80.59
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 12:36 pm: |
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The welds on my B3 look just fine. I bought mine over a year and half ago, though, and I do know they have had some turnover in the fabrication area since then. I'm otherwise happy with the B3 conical. For a lot of reasons, I usually find it easier to solve these problems on my own, and obviously, had I found this to be intolerable, I would not have lived with it in silence for so long. Besides, after such a long time, if I were in customer service, I would find it ridiculous that someone suddenly discovered a fault with a product. It's like complaining to the waitstaff that your BLT had no mayo on it, after you ate the whole sandwich. |
Jon Steinhauer
Senior Member
Username: Jstein6870
Post Number: 1204
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 70.100.80.59
| | Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 12:40 am: |
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Hate to double post, but I decided to order some Blichmann seals. They came today, and they look pretty good. I'll keep you posted. |
Don Lund
Member
Username: Donlund
Post Number: 103
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 71.163.224.150
| | Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 06:09 am: |
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I'd suggest you also try to find some cheap little C-clamps, maybe eight of them, and space them around to clamp the lid down against the conical tank flange to sort of simulate the clamping arrangement that Blichmann uses. |
Jon Steinhauer
Senior Member
Username: Jstein6870
Post Number: 1205
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 70.100.80.59
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 10:40 pm: |
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I don't think c-clamps would work, but the Blichmann seal is holding up with what is obviously fewer turns of the crank than the B3 seals (although I used a little CIP silicone). |
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