HELP!! How do I Remove A Stuck Lid


 
G

Gene_N

TVWBB Fan
I started a smoke a hour ago (0845 EDT); 35 lbs of butt to stock the freezer. My 22.5" WSM lid has never fit well but when the center section heated then loosened up, it popped in. I forgot to insert the ET-732 food probe so I tried to remove the lid but it will not come off. I had a same problem over a year ago; I ended up with cooked meat laying in the water pan semi-covered in ash.

Any suggestions on how to remove the lid without the top grate getting dislodged? I have 8 hours to think about this. I appreciate any suggestions. I thought of spraying a 50/50 white vinegar/water solution around the edge. That could lubricate the edge and contract the lid enough to pop off.

FWIW, the grate temp is 270, the dome temp is 280 so the meat is cooking.

Thanks.
 
Only happened to me once.... Pulled on the lid while holding on the edge of the middle section. Should come right off.
Wear gloves
 
It should loosen up as the cook progresses, but if it doesn't take something like a wooden stick, paint stirrer or wood spoon and pry under the side lid handle by using the top lip of the middle section.
Happened to me a few times and it pops right up.

Tim
 
Just heat it up. Once hot it should come off. Then clean the lip of the center section so it doesn't get stuck again.
 
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I NEVER had a stuck lid until I started cooking without water in the pan. Just got to remember to wipe it down good at the end of a cook. Never had it stick while actually cooking and hot, though.
 
Paulie O said:
This only happens when not using water?

Thanks for the heads up :wsm:
Click to expand...

I can only speak for myself when I say it has never happened to me after cooks where I used water in the pan. It was just an observation since I've done a lot of smokes both ways.

Since it's August I thought the OP was having the same issue with buildup, but Tim's right, if things get cold enough they can freeze together....probably doesn't matter whether you've been using water or not.
 
Most of the replies here seem to focus on the lib being stuck due to gunk as in stuck like glue. I've had this happen before but only after the WSM had cooled down and sat for awhile (a long while). I don't think that's what is going on here because the OP said that he is in mid cook. If that is the case, I would use the vinegar idea along with the heat from the cook and it should loosen up and come off.

However, I don't think that's the case from the description. It sounds more like an out of round problem and that it is stuck from pressure (instead of glue). I would try to give it a hug and get it back closer to round. Now I understand that sounds silly to hug a hot WSM but here's what I'm thinking. Take a strap or piece of rope and wrap it around the very top of the middle section and then use a stick or something to twist the rope and tighten it around the unit. A better way to do it would be to use a ratchet tie down strap. Put it around the WSM and ratchet it tight. If you know which side is out of round, put a piece of wood on the bulge and pull the strap tight to bring it back into round.

Even if it is the gunk that is sealing the unit, this would likely create enough controlled movement to break that seal.

Good luck.
 
Jerry N. said:
Most of the replies here seem to focus on the lib being stuck due to gunk as in stuck like glue. I've had this happen before but only after the WSM had cooled down and sat for awhile (a long while). I don't think that's what is going on here because the OP said that he is in mid cook. If that is the case, I would use the vinegar idea along with the heat from the cook and it should loosen up and come off.

However, I don't think that's the case from the description. It sounds more like an out of round problem and that it is stuck from pressure (instead of glue). I would try to give it a hug and get it back closer to round. Now I understand that sounds silly to hug a hot WSM but here's what I'm thinking. Take a strap or piece of rope and wrap it around the very top of the middle section and then use a stick or something to twist the rope and tighten it around the unit. A better way to do it would be to use a ratchet tie down strap. Put it around the WSM and ratchet it tight. If you know which side is out of round, put a piece of wood on the bulge and pull the strap tight to bring it back into round.

Even if it is the gunk that is sealing the unit, this would likely create enough controlled movement to break that seal.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Hello Jerry,

Thank you for the idea to get the center section true round to fit the lid better. As I mentioned the lid never fit the center section well, even out of the box brand new. My last smoke was in April and there was no dried grease/crud build up on the lid nor edge. It was suggested by many 2 yrs ago to return the center section for a warranty replacement but I never did. I just dealt with it by not having the lid completely seated and not being able to do 9+ hour cooks because of leakage. No biggie because I am a weekend smoker. To save time, I will finish off the meat panned & covered in my oven or Genesis.

At the 9 hour mark, I sprayed the lid edge with 50/50 vinegar, used a rubber mallet to tap on the lid and handle. After a few mins of trying, I rotated the lid about 6" while applying upward pressure and it popped off. :) I panned wrapped the butts (int temps 166-174) to finish off in my gasser/oven. It was definitely a pleasant outcome to my problem.
 
Gene,
Glad to read that you got the top off and finished the cook with other means of heat. Now that the fun is over, you could look into finding out if the top or middle section or both are out of round and try to bear hug them to be closer to round. As noted in other posts, if you do the bear hug, wear an old shirt as you may get grease marks on it.

Dave
 
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