FERMZILLA - Cleaning & Disassembly

[@Whistledown1]

I have done a number of brews with the 55 litre Fermzilla and was frustrated every time I came to dismantle it. I have see the Kegland videos but still found it difficult to pull apart. I felt like binning the dam thing until I saw the persuader trick. Worked a treat thanks for saving me a few hundred $ on a new fermenter. Best wishes from GIppsland.

[@One-One-Four]

Not sure if you've mentioned this before but as the Fermzilla (and the all-rounder) have a rounded/conical base the water level reading can be out if the unit itself isn't level. When I got my all-rounder I used a spirit level across the top opening before marking water levels and attaching the graduation sticker. I know it's just a guide but you can be up to a couple of litres wrong in either direction if the fermenter isn't level.

[@yotatrkr1]

Gash, you are the man I was just trying to take mine apart to clean it and I thought no,I bet gash has a video....and sure enough. Thank you for saving me a headache!🇺🇸

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

No worries mate. I haven't taken it apart since, fermentasaurus I never took apart either, but I get why people want to.

[@apexbrewhouse]

You Sir just saved my day! My regards also to mr. Mallet. 👌😉

[@StassBrewing]

Cheers Gash- looks the goods. Wonder if you could make a narrower frame for it so I can put one in my fermenter.

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

You probably could, hmmm velly velly interesting

[@jpcii]

Thank you so much for showing where the O-ring went by the valve. I could not find it for the life of me and when I disassembled my unit for the first time it fell out having been cracked. I’m hoping it was the source of the leak I had.

[@fisenification]

Very good. You are the best surce about how/what/why using the fermzilla.

[@stihl888]

Nice vid, that's pretty much how i cleaned mine before running your Zombie Dust clone recipe through it, which should be ready on Sunday!!! I found the Fermzilla pressure kit carbonation caps to leak if tightened too much. I cant wait for the carry handle to be released, it can be a little awkward to handle the unit at times...

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

Cheers mate, thanks very much for watching!

[@vizzo7]

Hi , what temperature did you put the water in there?

[@kennygraley824]

Thanks for the tear down of that unit! I love the bloopers lol... Cheers

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

thanks for watching Kenny hahaha

[@lapintabrewing8801]

Thanks Gash for another great video. I made the dumb mistake to place the cone rubber seal in the outside of the vessel, so the cone spigot is inside and the cone seal is in between the reverse thread nut and the vessel body. I cannot find a way to disassembly that mess, but it does seem to hold pressure anyways!

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

oops! umm I have used a rubber mallet in the past, but you need to be very careful, a hammer will likely break it. It often works better under pressure because it stops the one inside turning, although with the rubber on the outside< i'm not sure... Good luck! Cheers

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

Another way is to have some pressure in it, so its easy to hold and get some one to hold the vessel while you turn the other bit, wrap a tea towel or something around it to get a better grip.

[@lapintabrewing8801]

I will try, but it seems that at least one part will have to be destroyed to fix this mess! Thanks for the help. Cheers

[@cj7688]

Disassembly tips (if you are still struggling): Start at the outermost units. Remove the trub collector, then the valve assembly, then loosen and remove the seal retaining nut. Use the strap wrench, especially for the first two pieces, they are tight. Remember a couple parts have reverse thread... but all of these main pieces are threaded. Lastly, don't do what I did... loosening the nut before the valve assembly causing me to assume the through-shaft was fused and deciding to tackle the problem with tire irons for leverage and hammer and chisel to shock-dislodge parts... now I'm needing new parts / new unit.

[@caseyalderson2780]

Any suggestion for a redo on the problem? The nut on my unit loosened from the spigot but not off. So now the spigot spins when I try to get the valve unit off. Can’t hold pressure so I can’t really retighten the spigot in place.

[@cj7688]

@@caseyalderson2780 Sounds like you are experiencing the exact problem that I was trying to help people with. You CAN tighten the gasket without pressurizing the vessel. The threads that the retaining ring connects to the spigot with are short, so you will need to pull on the spigot, pulling the gasket along with it. Then try to re-thread the ring. Once threaded, make it fairly tight. Then you can tackle the valve assembly using the strap-wrench. As long as the retaining ring is tight, you should be able to grip the vessel for all the counter-force you need. (Did I describe this well enough? Please tell us your success!)

[@caseyalderson2780]

@@cj7688 100% correct. Had to pull with a good amount of force on the spigot to get the ring threads started but once tightened up good and snug the strap wrench made quick work of the valve assembly. Then the ring was fairly easy to remove followed by the spigot. Thanks so much for the tip! A couple more frustrated tries (with a bad plan that is) and I’m sure I would have blamed it on a poor design. I owe you!

[@shaunanderson8282]

Good video mate. Looks like the dip tube could use more of a trim, appears to sit on the valve.

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

Yes I think it could be shortened, at the same time I'd be stopping the filling before it hit the valve. Cheers

[@webtvguy]

Thanks for the awesome videos. The answer was so simple - hit it with a hammer!

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

Glad it helped! hahaha Cheers!

[@ratnireddy124]

Why you skipping the top lid open every time ?

[@Vonk99]

Great video.....i just got mine this week...look forward to seeing more.....i haven't cleaned mine yet...would you recommend cleaning the bottom seal after every use ? Cheers !!

[@Chicken42069p]

How was it?

[@eoinmcdonnell9397]

Had a problem with removing the bottom seal for cleaning due to being over tightened. The strap was slipping so I decided I needed a persuader. I cut out a cardboard templates of the bottom ring shape and transferred it to a piece of 10mm chipboard. I cut out the shape, leaving about 50 mm wood on 3 sides and left the 4th about 300mm long - made a wooden ring spanner (box wrench). I turned the vessel on its side on the bench and hit the wood with a mallet a few times which did the trick. After all that effort, everything was perfectly clean anyway.

[@craigallan77]

Great break down mate will probably get one of those now 👍🏻

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

Hopefully all goes smoothly, cant see why not at this stage, cheers Craig

[@siiioxide]

thanks for this,,,, keg land qc is pretty bad my butterfly valve screws are cross threadded and not tight....

[@SergeMarx]

YES! I think that's my problem too :(

[@mtrout3394]

I had to use a persuader to take the yeast collection vessel off to. I can't unscrew the unit because it loosens, clicks and goes right then loosens again......like it's cross threaded!! Blighter won't come off

[@stuh4645]

My valve is really tight, quite hard to close. Any tips?

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

Lube! Cheers!

[@stuh4645]

@@HomeBrewNetwork thanks, never not lube right 😂 joking aside I was just being a bit of a weed, after seeing you operate yours I just leaned on it a bit more and it went.

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

@@stuh4645 Spit on it! lol

[@stuh4645]

@@HomeBrewNetwork 🤣

[@monogramadikt5971]

hey man, do you know any retail stores in melbourne where i can purchase Helmar H4000 Silicone Spray of the shelf ? i dont want to go through the hassle an extra shipping costs associated with couriers etc

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

Ive only ever bought online.. from ebay etc sorry, but it must be around.. bit.ly/SiliconSpray

[@richardbuchanan7091]

Where did you get that massive funnel and what's the width?

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

try your LHBS or here rover.ebay.com/rover/1/705-53470-19255-0/1?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fitm%2FLarge-Plastic-Funnel-350mm-Strainer-wine-funnel-home-brew-food-grade%2F291155384922%3Fhash%3Ditem43ca369a5a%3Ag%3AobMAAOSws7FcpQlp%26frcectupt%3Dtrue&campid=5338500856&toolid=20008

[@kevintaylor7660]

How do you heat it in the winter? I have controlled temp, would just sitting a heating pad in the fridge work?

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

yes it would, I put my heat belt around the stand. Though I have been thinking of making some thin belt and putting that between the heat belt and fermenter, but not really needed. Cheers!

[@mothox]

Thanks Mate, great b’down. I saw what neat Star San did to your kitchen top.... I would be king hit by the missus. Saved me. Cheers 🍻

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

Cheers Mothox! thanks for watching mate

[@richardcagle5475]

Hah the term persuader seems to be universal. We call it that in the US as well, at least i do when im frustrated with something... or someone 😂

[@Thaammas]

Saved my night!! Thanks for det video! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

You're welcome!

[@finnroohomebrewing]

Great video I quite like that fermenter very cool. Cheers

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

we'll see how it goes mate!

[@ezrasweis5068]

Thanks a bunch! I was ready to toss it!!!

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

Glad I could help!

[@luisantoniofloressanchez9337]

Thanks a lot, It helped me a lot.

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

No worries mate I have a whole series of videos on the Fermzilla, Cheers!

[@traceybelford4562]

I can't undo the bottom bit it just keeps turning,,,help

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

depends which bit.. if it keeps turning, try putting gas in it so it holds tight to the bottom of the fermenter. You can also soak the parts in a bucket of warm water

[@rolandopradenas9048]

Super

[@eternaldrive]

Just wondering if I should be worried about green stains on my floating dip tube after a heavy dry hopped beer (100 grams) . I've soaked it in stellar clean already. Should I go for a second soak or is it like a hop sock where the stain is permanent?

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

It will likely stain, you could try again with some hot water and stellar Clean, dont put hot water in the fermenter of course. Cheers!

[@mra9xss]

Cheers mate 🍻

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

Cheers mate!

[@MrYakuzz]

thx..rubber hammer saved my fermzilla!! :)

[@beefa5649]

cheers mate........

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

Cheers Barry!

[@siiioxide]

with a small lip they could of made the valve one direction only.

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

Yep, I guess they could of! Cheers mate!

[@petery2878]

Thought the bloopers at the end were the highlight of the whole vid..

[@HomeBrewNetwork]

ordinary