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Thread: Using SS small bottle reducer on Smoky Lake canner--leaking

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Central Ohio
    Posts
    318

    Default Using SS small bottle reducer on Smoky Lake canner--leaking

    I finally found the stainless steel reducer for filling small bottles from my Smoky Lake water jacket canner. Up until now I have been strapping a silicone funnel to the coffee valve, which has worked fairly well. However, now I've got problems with the installation of the SS reducer: I've pressed it into the bottom of the valve per the instructions, but it leaks around the reducer no matter how tight I press it in. Now I've got a leaky valve (probably can't remove the reducer) so I will have to go back to strapping on the funnel. Anyone having the same experience?
    Central Ohio
    Leader WSE 2x6
    Old metal corn crib converted to "The Shack"
    Smoky Lake 6 gallon water jacket canner
    Daryl 5" filter press with air pump
    Deer Run 125 RO

    2023: 140 taps, buckets, 32 gallons
    2019: 100 taps, buckets, 45 gallons
    2018: 100 taps, buckets, 31 gallons
    2017: 100 taps, buckets, 15 gallons
    2015: 100 taps, buckets, 34 gallons
    2014: 100 taps, buckets, 30 gallons
    2013: 100 taps, buckets, 52 gallons

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,547

    Default

    I never used their coffee type valve, I changed it to a 1/2" ball valve, then I have a foot operated on/off valve. I regulate the flow using the 1/2" ball valve, that way as I change container sizes I simply adjust the ball valve. Doing that my 3/8" outlet fitting on the foot operated valve can be any flow from full flow fast down to a tiny stream. I find this way very handy.
    When I bought the foot controlled valve it came with 3 nozzle sizes, but changing the sizes was more trouble than putting in a 1/2" ball valve and just leaving the 3/8 nozzle in place.
    Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Freedom, IN.
    Posts
    184

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by maple flats View Post
    I never used their coffee type valve, I changed it to a 1/2" ball valve, then I have a foot operated on/off valve. I regulate the flow using the 1/2" ball valve, that way as I change container sizes I simply adjust the ball valve. Doing that my 3/8" outlet fitting on the foot operated valve can be any flow from full flow fast down to a tiny stream. I find this way very handy.
    When I bought the foot controlled valve it came with 3 nozzle sizes, but changing the sizes was more trouble than putting in a 1/2" ball valve and just leaving the 3/8 nozzle in place.
    So I think that means no, maple flats has not experienced the issue at hand.😊
    However, our small bottling reducer leaks also. Not a stream, and not constantly, but enough to make a bit of a mess. I'm considering trying to take it back apart and see if I can figure out a fix.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Hopkinton, MA
    Posts
    1,778

    Default

    Yup, I've had the same experience with the SL Tomlinson valve and reducer combo. It leaks and gets all over the nip and eventually your hands and eventually over everything. Total mess. I went back to my original coffee spigot from my homemade bottler. It can't do nips, but with the funnel and precise control it offers, it's worth the switch back.

    I felt like I wasted my money until I found that the Tomlinson valve (without the reducer) is really good for filling bulk containers. The flow is much faster than the coffee spigot and I can fill the container before the temp drops below 185.

    You can take the reducer out by removing the top of the filler, putting the reducer end on a block of wood, and giving it a couple of firm thumps with a mallet or a gloved hand.

    SL Filler.jpg
    Woodville Maples
    www.woodvillemaples.com
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    Around 300 taps on tubing, 25+ on buckets if I put them out
    Mix of natural and mechanical vac, S3 Controller from Mountain Maple
    2x6 W.F. Mason with Phaneuf pans
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    Keeping the day job until I can start living the dream.

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