[Phil_M]

I've got 4 kegs right now, two ball lock and two pin lock. The ball lock kegs have bleeder valves in the lid, whereas the pin lock kegs have some sort of pressure relief valve built into the lid.

What are my options, short of buying new lids, to try and retrofit these pin lock kegs with a bleeder valve?

[jeffy]

I've got 4 kegs right now, two ball lock and two pin lock. The ball lock kegs have bleeder valves in the lid, whereas the pin lock kegs have some sort of pressure relief valve built into the lid.

What are my options, short of buying new lids, to try and retrofit these pin lock kegs with a bleeder valve?

Although bleeder valves are convenient, they are not necessary.  On a pin lock keg, just depress the gas poppet to relieve pressure (unless it is full to the top).

[Stevie]

I've got 4 kegs right now, two ball lock and two pin lock. The ball lock kegs have bleeder valves in the lid, whereas the pin lock kegs have some sort of pressure relief valve built into the lid.

What are my options, short of buying new lids, to try and retrofit these pin lock kegs with a bleeder valve?

Although bleeder valves are convenient, they are not necessary.  On a pin lock keg, just depress the gas poppet to relieve pressure (unless it is full to the top).

+1 - if you really want one, AIH has complete lids for a reasonable price.

[Phil_M]

That's basically what I've been doing. I've got a extra gas tap that I've removed the locking collar from in such a way that I just press it on the poppet to release the pressure.

My thought is that if the CO₂ is stratified and on the bottom layer, then you're bleeding off more CO₂ than air. There's a rather large air space above the bottom og the gas dip tube.

Probably isn't a big deal, but I figured if there was an easy solution out there that didn't break the bank...

[jeffy]

That's basically what I've been doing. I've got a extra gas tap that I've removed the locking collar from in such a way that I just press it on the poppet to release the pressure.

My thought is that if the CO₂ is stratified and on the bottom layer, then you're bleeding off more CO₂ than air. There's a rather large air space above the bottom og the gas dip tube.

Probably isn't a big deal, but I figured if there was an easy solution out there that didn't break the bank...

Not sure I understand.  There should be no air in the keg - only CO2.  Gasses don't really stratify after they have been mixed; they blend.  Good kegging practices should mean very little to no air inside.

[Phil_M]

Correct, but how mixed are they? While I try and purge kegs before filling, I don't always. Even if I do purge a keg, I'd assume there's some air in the keg based on the law of partial pressures.

I'm sure the effects of all this are all down in the "noise" though. Add to that most beers I brew are English styles and aren't as O₂ critical as something like an American IPA.

I was just looking for a simpler way to vent the keg from the top of the keg lid, rather than a few inches down. It just makes more sense to vent from a different spot than when you fill. Plus, it allows me to hook up the gas in line once, rather than hook up gas/hook up bleeder tap/repeat.

[wingnut]

I have all pin locks... always just filled the head space with CO2 pressure 3 or 4 times after filling and opened the gas post with a screw driver to purge. 

Seems to work plenty good. 

[stpug]

I've got 4 kegs right now, two ball lock and two pin lock. The ball lock kegs have bleeder valves in the lid, whereas the pin lock kegs have some sort of pressure relief valve built into the lid.

What are my options, short of buying new lids, to try and retrofit these pin lock kegs with a bleeder valve?

Probably the easiest, no-extra-anything needed method is to simply connect the gas to it's post at lowish psi (4-5psi) while keeping the lid slightly cracked. The gas will flow and be released out the cracked lid. When you feel you've wasted enough co2 simply pull up on the lid and lock it down; now turn up your pressure to seal the lid. Done!

My method: Using an adapted airgun on my co2 tank, with a cracked lid I blow out the headspace for several seconds with the air gun at low psi (4-5psi). After wasting enough co2, I seal the lid and attached the gas via post. The proceed to pressure-vent a few more times. Works for me.