Ratchet pulley question

[bendog15]

I’ve been doing BIAB for a few brews now and really like it. I’ve got the ratchet pulley system from the brewbag website and it works great. Only problem is it only lifts up and down. I have no way of moving it away from the kettle to lower it into a bucket, or trash can. Any thoughts? It’s installed in the roof above my kettle.

 

[Waunabeer]

You would have to mount a swing arm/boom to the ceiling or wall and then a hook to the arm. I'm thinking the same thing right now.

 

[LittleRiver]

What I do is let gravity fully drain the bag into the kettle during the boil. When it's finished dripping (or very near) I use one hand to release the ratchet pulley and pull sideways to direct it to fall into a bucket, while lowering the rope with the other hand.

If I'm doing a separate sparge step, I don't hoist the bag immediately after the mash. I drain the wort into a bucket, add sparge water to the kettle and stir, then hoist the bag and let gravity drain it into the kettle. The wort from the bucket is poured into the kettle.

 

[FlabbyRoach]

I just let it drain until boiling and move it to the side and drop it in a bucket
Cheers"

 

[MaxStout]

You could suspend a length of 3/4" steel pipe or a smooth metal bar horizontally near the ceiling and then hang the pulley from the pipe using a big carabiner. When the bag is done draining, slide it along the pipe out of the way.

 

[Jayjay1976]

My setup has a gantry built right over the pot that does not allow for swinging, but I just hoist the bag and let it hang over the kettle to drain while the wort ramps up to a boil, and just before it starts simmering I squeeze the bag between two stainless pot lids kinda like cymbals. I squeeze it a few times watching the wort that drains and when it turns cloudy I stop and manually remove the bag to a waiting trash bag where I invert it to remove the spent grains then rinse the bag clean in the sink. Easy peasy.

Edit: I make tasty beers. Not awesome beers, but I enjoy them. Squeezing the bag or biab in general is not a limitation.

 

[Konadog]

If you can put a piece of uni-strut above your pot, you can get a trolley for it. Then just slide it out of the way.

 

[Konadog]

I use one to move my Brewbucket and carboys in and out of the fermenter.

 

[Valve1138]

That uni-strut idea is exactly what I need!

 

[Konadog]

Be sure to get the 4 wheel version "vs" the 2 wheel. It travels smoother.

 

[Cato1507]

I use one to move my Brewbucket and carboys in and out of the fermenter.

View attachment 608750

Pretty slick solution. Lol, my workaround is I pump from the kettle into my brew bucket in the mini fridge.