Fix It! Repairing Loose Cornelius Keg Handles and Bases
Pictured: Loose Handle/Bottom Ball Lock Keg via Adventures in Homebrewing
Part of Our Homebrew Tips and Tricks Series. Check out the complete list – Homebrewing Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts! This is a Top Post! See: All Top Posts
A loose corny keg handle or base can be an annoyance. If your keg is in otherwise good shape, it may make sense to repair a loose handle or base.
Finding Loose Handle Kegs, How-To Continues Below:
Why would you want to find a loose handle or base keg. The answer is… they can be a great deal!
Adventures in Homebrewing is the one shop I know of that periodically sells loose handle or base kegs.
- Availability of these is touch and go.
- When they’re available available, these are generally one of the best Ball Lock keg deals around.
- If you’re interested, based on past experience, I’d suggest picking these up sooner rather than later.
Loose Handle/Bottom Ball Lock keg w/PRV Lid
This technique comes via Facebook friend Jason Connect with HBF on Facebook]. Thank you Jason!
Fixing Loose Keg Handles or Bases
Jason’s technique for repairing loose handles on Cornelius kegs:
- Use automotive brake cleaner to clean the metal and rubber.
- Scuff both the metal and rubber with an emery cloth.
- Get an appropriate adhesive that works with rubber and metal. Consider: 3M 08008 Black Super Weatherstrip Adhesive via Amazon. HBF Reader Scott says Gorilla Glue also works great for this: “Gorilla Glue works great for reattaching rubber keg parts. It’s an expanding polyurethane so it really gets in there and grabs.” Thanks Scott!
- Reattach the handle using the adhesive. Follow the product specific instructions for application and curing.
- Search Amazon for 3M Weatherstrip Adhesive
- Search Amazon for Gorilla Glue
- Loose handle and/or base kegs can be some of the best deals out there. Search Adventures in Homebrewing, Search Austin Homebrew Supply
- Top Post: Bulk Keg Orings and Keg Repair Part Numbers
- Related Categories: Draft, Kegs, Keg Parts
Our In Depth Keg Reconditioning Guide!
Keg Deals!
Other Problems? Fix It!
- Keg Repair Part #s – o-rings, poppets, lids, oversize gaskets for fixing leaky lids and more
- Damp Kegerator? Fix Kegerator Condensation
- Step by Step: Finding and Fixing Keg CO2 Leaks – find and fix CO2 leaks
- Kegerator Foam Problems? – Fight the First Foamy Pint!
- Kegerator Tips & Gear – equipment, reviews and resource posts for putting together your kegerator, upgrading your kegerator and keeping it in top shop
- Curated List of the Best Keg Deals
- What’s the Difference Between Ball Lock Kegs and Pin Lock Kegs?
What’s the Difference? Pin Lock vs Ball Lock
What’s Out There?
Rebuild Your Keg!
Also: Kegerator Tips & Gear | Keg Repair Part #s | Recent Keg Finds
Our Top Draft Resources!
- The Most Difficult Spot to Check for CO2 Leaks
- Keg O-Ring Materials Selection! – EPDM, Silicone and Buna-N?
- Why Do I Have Bubbles in My Beer Line? Diagnosing and Fixing Kegerator Foam Problems
- Five Benefits of Using Corny Kegs As Fermenters
- Rebuilding & Reconditioning Homebrew Kegs!
- Food Safe Replacement Keg O-Rings in Bulk
- Hands on Review: Kegland DuoTight Fittings & EVABarrier Tubing!
- Why Won’t My Homebrew Keg Carbonate? Fixing Draft Beer Carbonation Problems
- What Does a Flow Control Faucet Do?
- Upgrade Your Kegerator – 6 Improvements!
- Serve Homebrew on Any Kegerator & Convert Commercial Kegerator to Homebrew
- Tips and Gear for Growler Filling
- What’s the Difference Between Ball Lock Kegs and Pin Lock Kegs?
- Checking for Draft System CO2 Leaks – Using The Pressure Gauge Method
- Tip: Consider Oetiker Stepless Clamps for Kegerator Gas and Beer Lines
- Hands On Review: Inkbird ITC-308 Dual Stage Temperature Controller +WiFi Version
- Universal Poppets Tips and Tricks!
- Convert Your Mark II Keg & Carboy Washer to a Recirculating Draft Line Cleaning Pump!
- Step by Step: Finding and Fixing Keg CO2 Leaks
- Kegerator Beer Line Temperatures & Reducing Foam with a Recirculating Fan
- Kegging CO2 Use Estimations and Calculations
- Step by Step: Balancing Your Kegerator Draft System
- Building a Simple Ball Lock Draft Line Flushing Setup
- Build a Recirculating Draft Line Cleaning Pump
- Home Brew Keg Roundup – New & Used, 5 and 2.5 Gallon & More!
- Damp Kegerator? Fix Kegerator Condensation
- Portable Draft Beer Serving Options!
- Homebrew Temp Controller Roundup! – Kegerator and Fermentation – concepts, applications and models
- Bulk Keg Orings and Keg Repair Part Numbers
Make sure the components you use are compatible and rated for your intended application. Contact manufacturer with questions about suitability or a specific application. Always read and follow manufacturer directions. toppost:keghandlerepair tag:tpr rs:5 rp:tips#19
Will the weatherstrip keep water from pooling inside of the base of a corny keg, from washing/cleaning/sanitizing it? I’m worried about old water collecting in the bottom of the corny.
I think you’d want to work to get a good seal on the entire base to try and avoid this.
Recommend removing all posts and o-rings before repairing the handles, the smell tends to stick to all rubber, which will then get into the beer. Ruined a batch the hard way.
Liquid Nails worked great for me.