Faucet question

[bywalker]

I purchased a new stout faucet for my 5.2 single towner danby kegerator. Already have an operational stout faucet but got a different one with a smaller spindle to accept a different tap handle.

My question is, do I need to shut off the beer gas and disconnect the coupler from the keg and bleed the lines before I change the faucet?

If not, what are the steps I need to perform to remove the faucet? I have only removed the faucet when the keg is empty for cleaning and thus I obviously shut everything down and disconnect to clean all the kines, faucet and coupler.

This keg is not empty and would like to perform minimal steps to change the faucet as so I don't loose gas or disrupt this fresh keg of guinness.

So basically what are the steps to change a kegerator faucet while my keg is brand new and still attached?

Thanks!

[KillianBoy]

bywalker,
Just switching out just faucet?
Turn gas off at tank, turn off gas at regulator, vent gas at coupler (pull on pressure relief valve till it stops hissing, the only gas you should lose)
Now the hard part, get a big absorbent towel and place under faucet, pull tap and pour whatever is left in beer line into cup, take off old faucet, then put new one on.
Make sure tap is in off position, then turn both gas switches on and you should be good.
You could also disengage lever on coupler (you don't have to take it off keg), then do hard part above and see but not sure how much beer will flow out.
KB

[djc]

Don't make it harder than it has to be. If you just disengage the coupler and open the faucet you will be fine. The line has very little beer in it. The circumference of the line is Pi * the radius squared and multiply this by length to find the volume of the line in cubic inches. 3.14 (5/32*5/32) * 60 = 4.59 cubic inches. Then convert the cubic inches to fluid ounces. It is small. 5' lines at 5/16" diameter yields 2.5 ounces. 5' at 3/16" diameter yields less than an ounce.

[PointPleasantNJBeerguy]

What DJC said..I untap kegs all the time to clean faucets before they kick. Just untap. leave a cup under faucet handle pulled forward for a minute or two to let excess drip off.Then unscrew faucet.
KB you really went for the over complicated route on that one...

[psychodad]

My list

1: Draw a beer
2: Take a drink of beer
3: Lift handle on keg coupler
4: Take a drink of beer
5: Open faucet
6: Take a drink of beer
7: Let the two or three drops of beer in faucet hit drip tray (that's what it is for I think)
8: Take a drink of beer
9: Remove old faucet
10: Take a drink of beer
11: Install new faucet
12: Take a drink of beer
13: Make sure faucet is closed
14: Take a drink of beer
15: Push coupler lever back down
16: Take a drink of beer
17: Refill your glass

Repeat step 16 several times and step 17 as needed.

I don't have a hard part.

[bywalker]

Thanks for the replies! Ok, so if I understand correctly, just unlock and lift the keg coupler and pour whatever is in there out? Then change the faucet and lock it back down? I don't need to shut off the gas or bleed it?

[psychodad]

Yes. That should be all there is to it.

[spdbump]

Just take the coupler off the keg and change the faucet. No need to mess with the gas.