Out of round?


 
J

Jeff Wildrick

TVWBB Fan
I've used my WSM for several smokes, and I'm wondering if I've got a bit of a problem. It seems like either my lid or the center tube of the smoker is out of round. When I go to put the lid on, I have to have it turned with the handle pointing to the charcoal door. If so, it drops right into place. If it's perpendicular to the door it won't fit. Once the lid is on, I can spin it and it tightens or loosens, depending on the position.

Is this normal? Or do I need to contact Weber?

Jeff
 
Did you have a problem with high temps on your previous cooks, and did it seem like there was a lot of smoke escaping between the lid and center section?

I would also visually inspect the lid and center section to see if they appear to be out of round.

You probably don't have a problem, but I would check it out just to be sure. If any of the components are actually out of round contact CS at Weber and they will happily replace them.
 
You can also take some measurements of the diameter of your lid and mid-section at perpendicular points to see if there is a difference. If there is a difference you should be able to manipulate it enough to get it pretty close to round.
 
I agree with Mike. I had to do this with my WSM when it was new (along with bending the cooking grates to make them closer to perfectly flat). The lid and/or center section, I believe, can be bent slightly without damaging the porcelain. Given the difference in shape (the center being a cylinder and the lid a hemisphere) I suspect the center section is more likely to be slightly out-of-round. Measure the diameters of both at several points and you should be able to see where the problem lies. If the difference is only a fraction of an inch, I believe you can safely "adjust" it. Just be gentle, and patient. You'll only have to do it once.
 
I agree with Larry.
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Porcelain is fairly flexible. It has to be considering the heating and cooling it undergoes day after day, year after year. IF the porcelain should crack I'd be on the phone with Weber. Can't see why they wouldn't send you a new part. I just don't see it cracking unless it's like half an inch or more out of round. That doesn't sound like the case. Sounds like it's 1/8 inch or less.

I also suspect it's the mid-section that's out of round. But it could be both if it took a good beating before it got to you. You might also try sitting the lid on a flat surface to see if it's wonky. If that's the case I'd ask Weber for a replacement lid because that would be hard to fix.
 
As long as you can spin it and "tighten" it as you say, there should be no problem. My center section has been out of round at the bottom since I got it. I just put it on the charcoal bowl and turn clockwise until it "seals". Seems to work fine for me.
 
Measuring - what a great idea. Kinda makes me want to give myself a dope slap!
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Temp control has not been a problem, so I'm not all that worried.

Thanks!
 
im not talking about the lid, but the bottom char. bowl here, ... but i always hear of out of round conditions, but before I ever looked at OOR conditions i noticed a hard to describe.. uh, thing. I would turn my bottom char. bowl upside down and placed it on a CERTAIN flat surface, and the bowl was actually not 'cut' or whatever flat but more like.... goofy slightly as to where the mid wouldn't sit perfectly tight, it would rock back and forth just ever so slightly. this has never been enough to throw anything off though, but i wondered if you lid could have been that way as well along w/ out of round, or vice-versa.. or something. all I need is a name for that condition my cooker is in although it isn't bad....
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dan H.:
.... goofy slightly as to where the mid wouldn't sit perfectly tight, it would rock back and forth just ever so slightly....all I need is a name for that condition my cooker is in although it isn't bad....
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That's what I was referring to as "wonky" earlier. I think that's the technical name for it.
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