Home of the BrewNosers

This is driving me nuts. The retaining ring on this keg isn't the kind that wraps around more than once or has a groove to pry into. It is also tapered the wrong way to get behind it.

I tried drilling a hole into it and so far broke 4 bits of various sizes. I also broke an all in the gap and the tip is lodged in there. It is even more mangled than the pic now.
Am I missing something? Now I'm tempted to drill into the side of the spear under the ring so I can get pliers on it.

Sent from the brew timer.

This it it now.
Sent from the brew timer.

Needle nose pliers? Can you get a small set of vice grips onto it?

jeffsmith wrote:Needle nose pliers? Can you get a small set of vice grips onto it?

I tried but I can't get the needle nose in far enough and they're fairly small. Vice grips are out of the question.

hook a fine piece of wire or fishing line/strong thread, behind one end and pull on the wire with pliers? might get an end out far enough to grab it with vice grip.

or drill hole in one end and thread a wire through the hole to pull on.

I may have to go back to the hole drilling. I just broke one of the tips of my needle nose pliers. Taking a break.

Or through both tabs. Then twist the wire to pull it together.

You may need a spear compressor. My new kegs were almost impossible to get the rings out of orback in even with the proper tools. The older the keg the more the o-ring gets compressed and makes it easier. Wish I was closer I have the spear compressor.

Thanks for the info.