Stuck #6 rubber stopper w/airlock won't come out of a 3 gallon carboy.

[Ace]

I put 3 gallons of '24 Chianti into a 3 gallon carboy with an airlock in a #6 rubber stopper just like hundreds of times before. It's been in there after secondary about 6 weeks. I recently tried to take the assembly out and it wouldn't move. I took out the airlock, still wouldn't move. It looks like the #6 rubber with airlock was sucked a tiny bit down into the throat of the carboy and it stuck. I've never had this happen before. I have tried to gently remove it but no luck. Has anyone had this happen before and, if so, what did you do to get it out?

 

[Hazelemere]

put a an allen wrench through the hole and pull it with a pair of vice grips

 

[Rocky]

I put 3 gallons of '24 Chianti into a 3 gallon carboy with an airlock in a #6 rubber stopper just like hundreds of times before. It's been in there after secondary about 6 weeks. I recently tried to take the assembly out and it wouldn't move. I took out the airlock, still wouldn't move. It looks like the #6 rubber with airlock was sucked a tiny bit down into the throat of the carboy and it stuck. I've never had this happen before. I have tried to gently remove it but no luck. Has anyone had this happen before and, if so, what did you do to get it out?

I did this years ago and it worked like a charm. You will need a wire coat hanger and a pair of needle nose pliers with cutting capability. Cut a length of wire bout 18" long, fold it in half and bend the ends upward as shown in the photo. Squeeze the ends together and push them into the opening in the stopper. When you release the tension on the wires, they will spread and the upturned tips will imbed slightly in the stopper. Just pull up and the stopper should come right out.



"There is nothing new under the Sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9

 

[Ace]

Thanks Rocky. I'll try that.

 

[Hazelemere]

Thanks Rocky. I'll try that.

Rocky rocks!