18" top grill poor fit


 
B

Ben Huntsman

New member
I just got an 18" WSM, but after assembly, the top grill seems just a bit too small. It's enough though that it can slip off one of the 4 rails, and can turn sideways. I would have thought it'd be pretty close to flush with the enamel.

Is this normal, or is something wrong here? It's unexpected enough that I'm disappointed with the quality... My two Weber grills fit much more snugly...

Thanks in advance!
 
Some are like that but you can fix it real easy with some washers put between the center section and the support brackets. I understand how you feel maybe you should call Weber there customer service is real good.
 
I'd imagine that your center section is prob just slightly out of round. Take a tape measure and use it to see where it is oblong, then gently squeeze it back to a perfect circle. The grate should sit more secure now. The lid and base might need to be tweaked too.
 
I would call customer service. Seems like this is becoming common over the last several months. Maybe Weber doesn't realize it is happening.
 
Is it possible that you may have put the grate intended to be placed on the bottom on the top? I believe the bottom grate is slightly smaller than the top one.

Dave
 
Ben Huntsman said:
I just got an 18" WSM, but after assembly, the top grill seems just a bit too small. It's enough though that it can slip off one of the 4 rails, and can turn sideways. I would have thought it'd be pretty close to flush with the enamel.

Is this normal, or is something wrong here? It's unexpected enough that I'm disappointed with the quality... My two Weber grills fit much more snugly...

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...


This is a known and common problem. The grate is just too small.

Dale Nichols said:
Some are like that but you can fix it real easy with some washers put between the center section and the support brackets. I understand how you feel maybe you should call Weber there customer service is real good.
Click to expand...

This is the easiest solution. My only comment is that make sure you get stainless steel washers. You do not want galvanized washers, because the zinc finish will emit dangerous vapors when heated.
 
Last edited:
Hey Ben- welcome to the forum. I've got the same problem. I will try the "fix" tomorrow. Does seem like a little bit of a poor quality control issue. Definitely not very safe and shouldn't come from the factory like that.
 
Darrel Williams said:
This is a known and common problem. The grate is just too small.



This is the easiest solution. My only comment is that make sure you get stainless steel washers. You do not want galvanized washers, because the zinc finish will emit dangerous vapors when heated.
Click to expand...

The grills straps are zinc plated. I'm 99% sure... It's been so long I forget..
 
Caesar Hatami said:
I'd imagine that your center section is prob just slightly out of round. Take a tape measure and use it to see where it is oblong, then gently squeeze it back to a perfect circle. The grate should sit more secure now. The lid and base might need to be tweaked too.
Click to expand...

Be careful tweaking and squeezing. Its easy to crack the porcelain. There is also a long vertical seam along the back, sometimes you can find it, when they weld the flat sheet into a cylinder. You don't want that to give.
 
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