Bottling bucket spigot?

[TheJake]

How often should you remove the bottling bucket spigot to clean it?

I have been removing it each time (which has been twice) and just broke it as I reinstalled it.

So, is it necessary to remove the spigot each time? Or do I just need to be more careful as I reinstall it?

[Maine Homebrewer]

I finally broke one last year after many years of taking it apart after every use.  Well over a hundred batches. Perhaps you forced it too much, or maybe you got a defective unit.

[durrettd]

I agree with Maine!

I've been brewing since about 1988 and I've broken one spigot. I broke it in a fit of, "Tighter is better, right?". Wrong!

Now I know that the nut needs to be just tight enough to make good contact between the outside of the spigot, the rubber washer, and the outside of the bucket.

[TheJake]

 I was under the "tighter is better" assumption. Thanks for the insight!!

[Maine Homebrewer]

Just out of curiosity, what kind was it and what part of it broke? Mine was one of the common blue ones, and the handle snapped right off.