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Replacing heating elements

 
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kal
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Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11116
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter


PostLink    Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 6:56 pm    Post subject: Replacing heating elements Reply with quote


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Kal

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Last edited by kal on Sun Apr 25, 2021 4:22 pm; edited 10 times in total
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mcl




Joined: 11 Oct 2011
Posts: 155



PostLink    Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 3:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I finally got around to replacing my BK element with the SS ones. It was a huge pain. I use a inverted keg so I have less of an angle inside the kettle to get leverage. Also, in the hopes of keeping rust down I used switched to aluminum nuts a long time ago. The nuts were stuck on pretty good. I ended up having to use a torch to heat the nuts and they finally broke loose. I ordered a element socket for the next job as my vice grips were a pain.

Just sharing my experience nothing else.
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kal
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Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11116
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter


PostLink    Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 7:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Did you use tools similar to what I recommended above? Mine came off really easily but then I had used a stainless nut (not aluminum) and it was with Blichmann kettles (not keggles). With two dissimilar metals (in both of our cases) there can be some corrosion which can make things difficult to remove.

Kal

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mcl




Joined: 11 Oct 2011
Posts: 155



PostLink    Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 8:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't have a element socket. I now have one on the way.I think the different metal caused the biggest issue. I replaced the aluminum nut with ss as well.
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kal
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Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11116
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter


PostLink    Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 8:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

FWIW, Until I got the better tools I can't get mine undone at all. There just wasn't enough leverage trying to use a regular element socket tool or a regular wrench on the outside. The element socket on the breaker bar is really what did it for me.

After wrestling trying to get it off for a good 20 mins with a regular wrench using all the force I could, I ordered the element socket and breaker bar and it was literally a 2 second job with barely any force. It's amazing how much simpler it is with proper leverage (from the long breaker bar) and the right socket.

Kal

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We ship worldwide and support our products and customers for life.
Purchasing through our affiliate links helps support our site at no extra cost to you. We thank you!
My basement/bar/brewery build 2.0


Last edited by kal on Sun Apr 25, 2021 4:23 pm; edited 1 time in total
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mcl




Joined: 11 Oct 2011
Posts: 155



PostLink    Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 9:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just ordered another SS element for my HLT. Here is what the aluminum nut looks like from the BK. I am replacing them with SS nuts as well.


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kal
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Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11116
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter


PostLink    Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 10:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow! Is that after cleaning/scrubbing?

I'm becoming more and more a proponent towards not using dissimilar metals...

Kal

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milldoggy




Joined: 23 Dec 2010
Posts: 569
Location: Pottstown, PA


PostLink    Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 2:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Finally replaced my camcos, used for 5 years. I had welded the coupler on. They would not budge even standing and jumping on my socket wrench. Used an old trick from working with cars. Heat it up! Uses my plumbers torch and heated up the coupling. Came off easy as cutting hot butter. Just wanted to share in case someone else has the same issue.
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rcrabb22




Joined: 23 Dec 2010
Posts: 462
Location: Illinois


PostLink    Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 3:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I replaced my element in the HLT with the SS element as well. My HLT element had the same amount of rust as Kal's picture.

I used a large pipe wrench on the SS nut inside the kettle and the standard element socket tool with a large screwdriver inserted the perpendicular holes to steady it. It took a bit a muscle to break the nut free but one good "umph" with the pipe wrench and it loosened enough to use the element wrench to go the rest of the way.

One tip is to loosen the wire connecting screws before installing the element. One of the screws was cranked down so tight the whole element started to twist in the direction I was turning the screw. I had to use the element wrench to steady the element to finally break the screw free. I was worried I would need to uninstall the element.

I also replaced the silicon o-ring and it was flattened from the first install.
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RyanTheSimp




Joined: 28 Mar 2017
Posts: 18


Drinking: El Jefe (Hefeweizen), Belgian Cream Ale

Working on: Electric Pale Ale, Smoked Bacon Red Ale


PostLink    Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 7:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kal wrote:
Wow! Is that after cleaning/scrubbing?

I'm becoming more and more a proponent towards not using dissimilar metals...

Kal


Kal if you ever need an expert or scientific reasoning on corrosion topics, fill free to reach out. My day job is of a corrosion scientist in the energy industry.
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kal
Forum Administrator



Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11116
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter


PostLink    Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 7:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good to know! Thanks!

Kal

_________________
Our new shop with over 150 new products: shop.TheElectricBrewery.com
We ship worldwide and support our products and customers for life.
Purchasing through our affiliate links helps support our site at no extra cost to you. We thank you!
My basement/bar/brewery build 2.0
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mjo2125




Joined: 27 Feb 2017
Posts: 248
Location: Dayton, OH


PostLink    Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 9:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My day job is of a corrosion scientist in the energy industry.[/quote]

just curious - oil refining?
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RyanTheSimp




Joined: 28 Mar 2017
Posts: 18


Drinking: El Jefe (Hefeweizen), Belgian Cream Ale

Working on: Electric Pale Ale, Smoked Bacon Red Ale


PostLink    Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 11:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mjo2125 wrote:
My day job is of a corrosion scientist in the energy industry.


just curious - oil refining?[/quote]

No but am qualified to advise that industry on their internal and external conditions. I deal with natural gas infrastructure corrosion concerns, mainly in transmission, distribution, and storage.
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