Again: leaking 29mm crown caps

[mannp...@gmail.com]

Leaking crown caps have come up a few times, but I haven't found anything that helped me solve my problem. 

Over the last 3 years we've switched crown caps twice and reduced our bottle pressure, but we still keep seeing leakage. Sometimes just a few drops, sometimes up to 1/3 bottle. Up to 10% of a batch can be affected. The details:

• 10g/L priming sugar
• 29mm crown caps with bidule 
• capper Ulisse 
• stored horizontally 

I'm really at a loss, since it doesn't affect all bottles; and we are using high quality bottles and caps. Pressure is definitely also not excessive - in particular we rule out inadequate mixing of priming sugar, since level of carbonation in bottles is otherwise uniform. 

Any pointers or suggestions would be most welcome!

-Patrick

[Love Lindholm]

Have you tried with different crown cappers?

/L

[Claude Jolicoeur]

Could the bell of the capper be worn out? If so, it might not crimp the caps adequately. In most cappers, the bell can be replaced for a low cost.

[mannp...@gmail.com]

Yes, the capper seems like an obvious culprit. We are using a Corona-type heavy duty manual capper. The bell on that capper is very strong and accurately machined. I know a lot of folks use that capper successfully, so I can't see how it could be at fault. 

I do wonder if there might be an issue with the amount of pressure the cap is applied with. Does anybody have experience with caps leaking when applied with too little or too much force? 

[Mark Warnett]

Hi Patrick

We get occasional crown cap leakage when our pet Nat ciders fizz more than planned.

The way to stop it, although annoying, is to store vertically, not horizontal. Seems to resolve in each of the 4 or 5 accessions so far.

Thanks

Mark

Sent from my iPhone

On 25 May 2022, at 02:43, Claude Jolicoeur <cjol...@gmail.com> wrote:

Could the bell of the capper be worn out? If so, it might not crimp the caps adequately. In most cappers, the bell can be replaced for a low cost.

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[Dave Mitchell]

Have you tried measuring your crimped crowns?  There are simple 'go' 'no go' devices out there like this one -  29MM CROWN CAP GAUGE – STAINLESS STEEL – AO Wilson LTD

[scott heath]

Check the rim of the bottles that are leaking, right where the cap should seal. I have seen tiny chips happen from our filler, where the bottle rim hits the filler tube as it is pulled out. I tiny divit there can cause a slow leak. Just another possibility.

Scott