Bill Clemens
TVWBB Member
This WSM 18.5 seems to have the wrong sized cooking grill because it will drop in to the center section. I came close to dropping a ready-to-smoke brisket a couple of days ago. I caught it somehow...but the smoker was too hot to check for the problem at the time. Evidently I have been lucky with previous uses.....
Looks like the four grill brackets mounted as per the assembly directions will leave one bracket doing nothing to support the grill. The grill will drop back to the bracket bend against the center section in any of four positions and leave the opposite side 'teetering' with no support. The grate must be shifted so that it is supported by all four brackets and it's a 'wish' to keep it there. I removed the top most bracket fasteners and placed two brass spacers (.070 thick) between the brackets and the center section wall. Two was too much so removed one but the grill is still a sloppy fit and will move to one of four sides and rock down. Paid pretty good money for a sheet metal assembly that should work like a smoker when assembled. The upper grate is too small in diameter.
Looks like the new owners of the Weber manufacturing plant are going to destroy a wonderful product by cutting corners for more profit. There is actually no fix for this issue since the grate is very plainly too small in diameter....it doesn't fit as advertised. I had to provide spacers to fix this - and I'm not pleased with the results even then. It's a 'make-do' product now?
Rant over - must get back to cooking something! I hate to just 'settle' for half azzed stuff!
Keep the faith!
Bill Clemens
Looks like the four grill brackets mounted as per the assembly directions will leave one bracket doing nothing to support the grill. The grill will drop back to the bracket bend against the center section in any of four positions and leave the opposite side 'teetering' with no support. The grate must be shifted so that it is supported by all four brackets and it's a 'wish' to keep it there. I removed the top most bracket fasteners and placed two brass spacers (.070 thick) between the brackets and the center section wall. Two was too much so removed one but the grill is still a sloppy fit and will move to one of four sides and rock down. Paid pretty good money for a sheet metal assembly that should work like a smoker when assembled. The upper grate is too small in diameter.
Looks like the new owners of the Weber manufacturing plant are going to destroy a wonderful product by cutting corners for more profit. There is actually no fix for this issue since the grate is very plainly too small in diameter....it doesn't fit as advertised. I had to provide spacers to fix this - and I'm not pleased with the results even then. It's a 'make-do' product now?
Rant over - must get back to cooking something! I hate to just 'settle' for half azzed stuff!
Keep the faith!
Bill Clemens