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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11123 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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mcl
Joined: 11 Oct 2011 Posts: 155
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Link Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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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 Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11123 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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Link Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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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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My basement/bar/brewery build 2.0
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mcl
Joined: 11 Oct 2011 Posts: 155
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Link Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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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 Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11123 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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Link Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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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
_________________ 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
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
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Link Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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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 Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11123 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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Link Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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Wow! Is that after cleaning/scrubbing?
I'm becoming more and more a proponent towards not using dissimilar metals...
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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milldoggy
Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 569 Location: Pottstown, PA
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Link Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 2:24 am Post subject: |
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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
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Link Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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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
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Link Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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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: 11123 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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mjo2125
Joined: 27 Feb 2017 Posts: 248 Location: Dayton, OH
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Link Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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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
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Link Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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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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