New product sheets and manuals in the new design
The product sheets for all five spear types A, S, D, G and M have been revised, and the new manual AOB-MAN-01 for the flat spears type A (JM-AX-02) and type G (JM-GX-02) is ready. The manuals for S, D and M will follow in the next few days, all in the new corporate design.
The manual is aimed at keg manufacturers, breweries and companies that refurbish spears. It is divided into seven chapters: safety and warranty, product overview with components and materials, tools, installation, removal, technical data, care, troubleshooting and service, plus the technical drawings JM-AX-02 and JM-GX-02 in the appendix.
Type A and type G have the same internal parts and are installed in the same way. Only the body makes the difference: a round flange with Ø 74.5 mm on type A for A keg couplers, a triangular flange with Ø 70 mm on type G for G keg couplers. Both have the 2″–14 TPI thread to BS 84.
Each product sheet shows the spear as an exploded view with all components, in cross-section and as an assembly drawing with parts list, materials and dimensions. All five have been moved to the new corporate design.
What is inside the spear
Parts in contact with beer are made of AISI 304 stainless steel, seals of EPDM to EC 1935/2004, tested by SGS to FDA 21 CFR 177.1210.
Installed in eight steps, removed in six.
Type A and type G have the same internal parts and are installed and removed in exactly the same way. Only the body differs: on the A the flange is round, on the G it is triangular.
Have ready: mounting/dismounting gun KSQ-AX-01, screw-in/screw-out and decompression tool XQ-AX-01, mounting disc LJT-AX-01 with a ½″ torque wrench, clean water. Wear safety glasses and gloves, and work only on a keg that is completely depressurised.
Installation
- Wet the sealWet the body seal with clean water. When wet, it slides into the keg neck without damage.
- Check the keg neckThe keg neck and thread must be clean and undamaged. Clean them if necessary.
- Check the sealThe body seal must be undamaged and correctly seated on the designated sealing surface or in the designated groove, as applicable. If it is visibly damaged, replace it straight away. As a rule, the body seal is a single-use seal: every time the spear is removed, it gets a new one.
- Fit the gunPress mounting/dismounting gun KSQ-AX-01 vertically onto the CO₂ valve until it audibly clicks into place. Do not press the trigger yet.
- Unlock and insertHold the tool firmly and turn the body anticlockwise until the down tube is free. Tilt the tube and guide it through the keg neck.
- LockTurn the body clockwise back to its starting position. As soon as you feel resistance, press the trigger. The gun releases.
- Tighten to 80 ± 5 NmTurn the spear clockwise into the keg neck, evenly and without jerking. To do this, fit mounting disc LJT-AX-01 onto the spear and tighten with a ½″ torque wrench. The screw-in/screw-out and decompression tool XQ-AX-01 can also screw the spear in if necessary, but only the torque wrench ensures the specified torque.
- Check alignmentRemove the tool and look down at the spear from above. The tip of the triangle on the CO₂ valve must point exactly at the line on the body. The safety lock is then locked.
Removal
- Vent the kegPlace screw-in/screw-out and decompression tool XQ-AX-01 so that its pin sits in the opening in the spear head. Press the lever down: the pressure plunger in the middle pushes the seal down and opens the CO₂ valve. Hold until no more gas escapes.
- UnscrewUsing the same tool, turn the spear anticlockwise until the thread is free.
- Fit the gunPress mounting/dismounting gun KSQ-AX-01 vertically onto the CO₂ valve until it clicks into place. Do not press the trigger.
- UnlockHold the tool firmly and turn the body anticlockwise. It separates from the down tube.
- Take outTilt the down tube and lift the spear out of the keg neck.
- Lock againTurn the body clockwise back onto the down tube and press the trigger. The gun releases, and the spear is ready for storage or service.