[ynotbrusum]

Is there a preferred orientation for ball locks?  For consistency, I put the "in post" to the left when viewed from the top and I use red o-rings on the "in posts" for my kegs, so I don't mix them up as badly when hooking lines up. 

Sorry for the double derail of the original thread.... one use for a cornie that won't seal would be to store StarSAN in it, but like everyone noted above, I would try to fix it first....

[leejoreilly]

Is there a preferred orientation for ball locks?  For consistency, I put the "in post" to the left when viewed from the top and I use red o-rings on the "in posts" for my kegs, so I don't mix them up as badly when hooking lines up. 

I don't orient them left-to-right consistently, but I do use colored o-rings - green for "gas" and blue for "beer".

[69franx]

Is there a preferred orientation for ball locks?  For consistency, I put the "in post" to the left when viewed from the top and I use red o-rings on the "in posts" for my kegs, so I don't mix them up as badly when hooking lines up. 

I don't orient them left-to-right consistently, but I do use colored o-rings - green for "gas" and blue for "beer".

Not a kegger yet, but I really like this idea Lee. I see colored orings in my future of kegging

[Slowbrew]

Is there a preferred orientation for ball locks?  For consistency, I put the "in post" to the left when viewed from the top and I use red o-rings on the "in posts" for my kegs, so I don't mix them up as badly when hooking lines up. 

I don't orient them left-to-right consistently, but I do use colored o-rings - green for "gas" and blue for "beer".

Not a kegger yet, but I really like this idea Lee. I see colored orings in my future of kegging

I haven't much trouble with lids not sealing.  Now and then I have to put some keg lube on the rings and that's about it.

I've never had any trouble telling the in and out posts apart.  The gas in post have small slits cut in the area that forms the "nut".  The out post don't.  I see no reason to label them twice.  8^)

Paul

[BrewArk]

I had one that had fallen off, or been hit by a truck - definitely out of shape.  I took all the fittings off of it and gave it to a guy that makes swords out of old lumber mill saw blades.  He uses it to dunk the sword into water after hammering it on the anvil.

Not a common usage, but the idea is something that needs to be filled with water but doesn't want a 55 gallon drum.

[HoosierBrew]

Luckily, I bought a bunch of ball locks many years ago, most of which have 'IN' and 'OUT' etched next to the posts. Pretty handy. I use colored o-rings on the ones that don't.

[Joe Sr.]

I don't have much trouble with the goes-in goes-out identification but on the kegs I have that have different colored o-rings I always forget which is which, so that's useless for me.

As far as sealing one that doesn't want to seal, you can also warm up the o-ring with hot water and make it more supple.  That can do the trick sometimes.

[HoosierBrew]

I don't have much trouble with the goes-in goes-out identification but on the kegs I have that have different colored o-rings I always forget which is which, so that's useless for me.

As far as sealing one that doesn't want to seal, you can also warm up the o-ring with hot water and make it more supple.  That can do the trick sometimes.

Agreed on heating up the lid ring a bit, as well as the obvious keg lube. As for my kegs, no more than I'm able to brew for the last couple years, I have way more than enough cornies with the etched posts. The others just have a green ring on the gas side. Easy enough.

[a10t2]

I don't have much trouble with the goes-in goes-out identification but on the kegs I have that have different colored o-rings I always forget which is which, so that's useless for me.

Black for liquid, grey for gas, so that they match my plastic disconnects.

[Stevie]

I need to get some colored rings for my AIH kegs. The label is molded into the rubber with a thin font and the posts are both of the newer style where there isn't the 6 or 12 sided flange at the bottom.

[Joe Sr.]

I don't have much trouble with the goes-in goes-out identification but on the kegs I have that have different colored o-rings I always forget which is which, so that's useless for me.

Black for liquid, grey for gas, so that they match my plastic disconnects.

Stop making sense.

[hopfenundmalz]

I don't have much trouble with the goes-in goes-out identification but on the kegs I have that have different colored o-rings I always forget which is which, so that's useless for me.

Black for liquid, grey for gas, so that they match my plastic disconnects.

Stop making sense.

Darned Engineers. Oh, wait!

[TENNISPROROB]

I have one keg that won't seal completely... this keg I use for cleaning out my beer lines and faucets. The best use for a faulty keg.

[santoch]

Is the metal visibly bent, or is it just an assumption? I ask because I own lots of kegs and have swapped lids on most of them to find the combo that seals well. Things that help me get a good seal every time :

1.  Change all keg seals twice/year.

2.  Use a thin layer of keg lube every time on the lid seal.

3.  After kegging, hit the keg with 30 psi for a minute or so to firmly seat the lid, and then dial down the pressure to your carbing level.

4.  As mentioned, swapping lids can help.

^^^ this
And you can always try picking up a new lid online.  Lots of places sell them.
Oh, and I love the colored o-ring concept.  I gotta pick some of them up.