INSTRUCTIONS
SET UP - OTHER ITEMS NEEDED TO TRANSFER
- The 1” Tri Clover wine outlet fitting can clamp directly to 1 ½” Tri Clover
- A lightweight Butterfly Valve can be sandwiched between outlet and 1 ½” Tri Clover hose fitting. Using 1 ½” is less restrictive than 1”
- Gas inlet on wand is ¼” MNPT. Work with your gas supplier for gas fitting set up to gas bottle
- You can use various types of inert gas but Nitrogen is the most economical. CO2 will carbonate
- We advise use of Food Grade gas so bottles will be certified clean
GETTING STARTED
- Insert wand in barrel and seat bung in snugly, note: 50mm bungs are standard, 48mm are also available
- Make sure stainless steel lever arms of Speed Ear are in up position
SEALING THE BARREL
- Turn the long section of Brass Adjuster to tighten lightly. (If using without Speed Ear turn approximately 2 revolutions to expand bung to seal tight in bung hole)
- Press down the lever arms of Speed Ear to finish expansion of the bung to seal tight in bung hole
INTRODUCE GAS
- Open the gas inlet Ball Valve - Start gas introduction slow and note the high end of safe gas pressure in barrels is 15 psi
- A 20 psi Pressure Relief Valve (PRV) is installed to alert when pressures have exceeded safe levels
- If gas escapes the PRV immediately shut off gas valve at Pup
- Troubleshoot if your pressure is too high (see SAFETY REQUIREMENTS & GUIDANCE below)
SETTING HEIGHT POSITION
- Turn Brass Adjuster top cap clockwise to loosen tension
- Slide the wand slowly down monitoring Sightglass until lees are barely detected
- Raise wand slightly until lees disappear, your are now just above the lees bed
- To lock the wand at the height position turn Brass Adjuster cap counter clockwise
TIMING
- When close to the end of a racking, shut gas valve and use residual pressure to finish the racking
- Using a watch to time rackings can help you estimate when to shut off gas for economy
- At 15 psi a 60 gallon barrel should empty in 3 minutes, this can vary with length and height of run
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS & GUIDANCE
- Do not exceed recommended pressure – 15 psi
- Inspect PRV regularly-replace yearly with regular use
- Do not use the ring on PRV to release residual pressure in barrel, this will shorten the life and reliability
- Rack sound barrels without obvious flaws. Remember they are wood barrels not steel pressure tanks
- Do not use a flow meter as a regulator the pressure can creep to 50 psi
- Seek professional advice from your gas supplier about proper regulators to use
- If the Brass Adjuster is hard to slide, use food grade silicone spray sparingly