help, can't get the lid off my fermenter!

Al · Post by Al » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 10:50 am

I have been using a standard fermenter for about 3 years, replaced the main rubber ring seal once & I read on this forum that for a nice tight seal smear on a little vaseline. Beautie, it worked! When it was time to bottle, I discovered that the lid was sealed so tight that all manner of grunting & straining wouldn't shift it. I have resorted to a hammer & screwdriver and managed to smashed off a couple of plastic lugs on the lids without shifting the lid itself at all.
Is it time for a new frementer? Any suggestions welcome, especially from vaseline man.
TIA
Al

mobydick · Post by **mobydick** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 11:16 am

If you still have two lugs left, that are opposite each other try this. Get a 1/2 metre length of 20 mm square metal tube, or maybe timber. Place it across the lid so you engage both lugs at the same time, and twist off. Applying pressure on both sides of the lid should have more success. (Assuming you have the same 30 litre fermenter as me, where 4 lugs protrude from the top)

If you don't have two lugs opposite, you could drive some screws into the wood to engage the lugs that sit below the surface of the lid.

Apart from that, you could try getting a tea towel really hot in boiling water, place on the lid, and hopefully the heat will expand the lid (melt the vaseline?) and you can twist off. Good Luck.

Al · Post by Al » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 11:33 am

yeah!! upside down in laundry tub of hot water worked almost instantly. thanks heaps
Al

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 11:43 am

Mine gets stuck sometimes as well. I use a bit of boiling water in the lid. Let stand for a few minutes then soak it out and the lid slides right off.

Turning a fully fermented brew upside down sounds dangerous! Pour those bottles nice and slow

mobydick · Post by **mobydick** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 11:44 am

I didn't realise you already had the beer out. Anyway, glad you have the lid off

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 11:46 am

Good thing too, imagine the mess!

ryan · Post by **ryan** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 2:24 pm

clingwrap.

The Carbonator · Post by **The Carbonator** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 2:50 pm

The whole thread summed up in one word.

Respect, Ryan

I couldnt agree more.....

Clingwrap.

yardglass · Post by **yardglass** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 2:56 pm

Pail.

Heals · Post by **Heals** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 3:01 pm

Maybe it's a silly question, but how exactly does the CO2 get out when using cling wrap?

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 3:45 pm

Pin hole.

Cheers,
Greg

ryan · Post by **ryan** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 5:10 pm

The Carbonator wrote:The whole thread summed up in one word.

Respect, Ryan

I couldnt agree more.....

Clingwrap.

I`m still looking for the xtra wide wrap you told me was at Coles

Tipsy · Post by **Tipsy** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 6:17 pm

yardglass wrote:Pail.

I was goin to say that Yardy but didn't want to start the whole debate again

I bet Lethal just itching to put in his 2c

ryan · Post by **ryan** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 7:08 pm

Pails are by far better. I`ve got four and only use the clingwrap on my 15l. I have to say the clingwrap is a great idea tho

KEG · Post by **KEG** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 8:25 pm

Heals wrote:Maybe it's a silly question, but how exactly does the CO2 get out when using cling wrap?

with or without a pinhole, it will leak out. it's not like you've got an air compressor behind it after all, it's just slow CO2 production by the yeast.

the positive pressure from it also prevents air from backfeeding into it.

unless fermentation is VERY finished and it gets a severe temperature drop, it shouldn't suck air back in.

Rysa · Post by **Rysa** » Sunday Aug 12, 2007 8:54 pm

Yeah, no pin hole here and it works no worries.

Kevnlis · Post by **Kevnlis** » Monday Aug 13, 2007 12:47 pm

Rysa wrote:Yeah, no pin hole here and it works no worries.

I enjoy the comfort of the blup blup of my airlocks, plus it is much easier to bottle through the airlock without letting nasties fall into the fermentor (unless you have the old S shaped airlocks, then I suggest getting the good ones or using clingwrap.

Noodles · Post by **Noodles** » Monday Aug 13, 2007 1:14 pm

Kevnlis wrote:I enjoy the comfort of the blup blup of my airlocks, plus it is much easier to bottle through the airlock without letting nasties fall into the fermentor (unless you have the old S shaped airlocks, then I suggest getting the good ones or using clingwrap.

What do you mean by bottle through the airlock?
What other type of airlock is there other than the S bend airlock?

Timmsy · Post by **Timmsy** » Monday Aug 13, 2007 1:36 pm

Ive always taken my air lock out when im bottling so the water doesnt get sucked in the brew. I just put a clean cap of a jar of some sought over it

I have to give the cling wrap ago. Busted a lid a couple weeks ago

KEG · Post by **KEG** » Monday Aug 13, 2007 1:38 pm

Kevnlis wrote:
Rysa wrote:Yeah, no pin hole here and it works no worries.
I enjoy the comfort of the blup blup of my airlocks, plus it is much easier to bottle through the airlock without letting nasties fall into the fermentor (unless you have the old S shaped airlocks, then I suggest getting the good ones or using clingwrap.

or you can take the airlock out before bottling