Flachfitting, type A
The most widespread type in the German-speaking region. Recognisable by the body diameter of 74.5 millimetres and by the slide-on coupler.
How to recognise a flat spear (A-type)
By the housing that sits on the neck, and by its diameter of 74.5 mm. The EU Sankey spear (S-type) has no housing above the neck at all; the triangular spear (G-type) measures 70 mm across the three-lobe flange.
The matching coupler is pushed on and locked, not screwed on. In handling that clearly sets it apart from the EU Sankey (S-type) system.
Four versions, all of them called “flat spear”
This is the point at which the simple rule of thumb no longer holds. Within the A family there are versions that differ in thread, diameter and fastening:
| Version | Thread | Body Ø | Identifying feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| without safety catch | right-hand | 74.5 mm | no safety hook on the body. No longer manufactured, but still in circulation on the used market |
| with safety catch the normal case today | right-hand | 74.5 mm | safety hook on the down tube, not visible on the installed spear; plus a star- or triangle-shaped laser mark on the body as an indication |
| threadless | – | 74.5 mm | inserted instead of screwed in, held by an O-ring and a C-clip. The hole in the flange is missing |
| Left-hand thread | left-hand | 68 mm | noticeably smaller than the others. Star marking that has to point to the line on the body |
68 millimetres always means a left-hand thread
And a left-hand thread always means 68 mm. The two features occur only together – there is no 68 mm version with a right-hand thread and no left-hand-thread version at 74.5 mm. That makes the identification unambiguous: one measured value is enough, the other feature follows from it.
Why this matters: the 68 easily slips through a rough measurement, because it sits noticeably below the family standard of 74.5 mm. Miss it and you order a spear with a right-hand thread that cannot be screwed in.
Type G is the same spear inside
The triangular spear type G is technically identical to type A – same housing dimension, same valve design, same opening travel. It merely carries a three-lobe instead of a round housing, which calls for a different coupler. Spare parts are interchangeable between the two, couplers are not. And because both use the same neck, the change is a swap of parts, not a modification to the keg.
Risk of confusion
The combi spear type M has the same housing dimension. Here the measurement does not help; a look from above does. On the combi spear (M-type) there is a recessed, spherical stainless steel counterpart beneath the CO₂ valve of the seal. On the flat spear (A-type) the end face of the down tube sits almost flush in the seal, level with the spear head. The combi coupler (M-type) fits nothing else, and nothing else fits a combi spear (M-type). If in doubt, send us a photo from above.
Spare parts for type A
We supply seals, springs, retaining rings and valves from our EU warehouse. Retaining rings for the threadless systems always come new – they are single-use parts, not wear parts. To the spare parts overview
Length not right?
We cut spears to length. Tell us the height dimension H3 of the keg or, failing that, the design, capacity and manufacturer. Dispatch then goes out in two to three working days instead of the next day.
Opening travels – our workshop figure
How far a head opens the valve is documented nowhere publicly for the flat spear (A-type). From our workshop: the coupler opens 14 mm ± 1, the filling and cleaning head 13.5 mm. The difference is intended – the washing probe couples on every cycle, the coupler only rarely. Why this half millimetre decides the service life.
Operating figure from Keg Exchange, not a standard. If you measure different values, write to us – we will correct them.