Refreshing my 2008 Summit S-670

[ChrisSD]

I've had this since new... 17 years of troublefree ownership. I planned on replacing the bars, burner tubes, and regulator to refresh it but was curious of everyone's opinion on the state of my 'box rot'. The rectangular igniter holes and burner tube holes are the only deteriorating areas... no other " not supposed to be there " holes. All burners light in 1st or 2nd click... no issues with the manifold. IR burner still works even though I never use it. The frame has no rust anywhere.

I contacted Weber to see if I could get a ' good will ' box replacement - no answer yet but I doubt it.

So I either buy a new box or keep using this one as is. Curious of the opinions of those of you who see way more of these than me? Thanks for any input.

 

[Brett-EDH]

Examine all of your wires and ignitors. Mine were almost all burned out and toasted.

Your box looks like mine did with slightly less rot.

Look at the top of the box at the cooking grate. There’s a thin porcelain like piece near where the grates sit on their mount.

I had extensive corrosion there too.

If you can get the parts for free, then do the rehab.

Personally, 17 years for a grill that you likely got a good life out of is a good run.

$2500 / 17 =$147.06. That’s the cost of annual ownership. To me, that’s reasonable. Others might disagree.

Your grilling need have probably changed since you last bought your Summit.

There’s some nice cookers available today. I personally went back to charcoal from NG. It’s been a very easy switch and the food quality has improved.

This was the top rot I am referencing:

 

[BPratt]

I've had this since new... 17 years of troublefree ownership. I planned on replacing the bars, burner tubes, and regulator to refresh it but was curious of everyone's opinion on the state of my 'box rot'. The rectangular igniter holes and burner tube holes are the only deteriorating areas... no other " not supposed to be there " holes. All burners light in 1st or 2nd click... no issues with the manifold. IR burner still works even though I never use it. The frame has no rust anywhere.

I contacted Weber to see if I could get a ' good will ' box replacement - no answer yet but I doubt it.

So I either buy a new box or keep using this one as is. Curious of the opinions of those of you who see way more of these than me? Thanks for any input.
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I would contact Weber immediately as you are the original owner. Firebox should not have burn through holes or rot holes

 

[Brett-EDH]

I would contact Weber immediately as you are the original owner. Firebox should not have burn through holes or rot holes

All summits develop burn through holes and rot. It’s their undesigned feature. The most durable part of the summit gasser is its grates. They’ll last forever.

 

[LMichaels]

I've had this since new... 17 years of troublefree ownership. I planned on replacing the bars, burner tubes, and regulator to refresh it but was curious of everyone's opinion on the state of my 'box rot'. The rectangular igniter holes and burner tube holes are the only deteriorating areas... no other " not supposed to be there " holes. All burners light in 1st or 2nd click... no issues with the manifold. IR burner still works even though I never use it. The frame has no rust anywhere.

I contacted Weber to see if I could get a ' good will ' box replacement - no answer yet but I doubt it.

So I either buy a new box or keep using this one as is. Curious of the opinions of those of you who see way more of these than me? Thanks for any input.
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I believe you can/will get a new firebox under warranty. Unless they stick it to you like they did me and tell you they cannot fulfill the warranty commitment but please accept this coupon for a discount on a new grill but only if you purchase it directly and at a price far higher than in the stores so that even after the coupon is applied you're still buying for more than retail in a store.
Good luck on your quest. But frankly I would not use that grill anymore in that condition as it's really not safe at this point

 

[ChrisSD]

One thing I don't quite understand..... as long as the burn tubes are supported and mounted what is the problem with the burn through when the heat shield beyond The cookbox is in perfect shape?

No answer from Weber yet but they did get a bunch of pictures from me that they requested.

 

[LMichaels]

One thing I don't quite understand..... as long as the burn tubes are supported and mounted what is the problem with the burn through when the heat shield beyond The cookbox is in perfect shape?

No answer from Weber yet but they did get a bunch of pictures from me that they requested.

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Apparently yours doesn't have an issue. Otherwise I don't understand what it is you're questioning

 

[ChrisSD]

Apparently yours doesn't have an issue. Otherwise I don't understand what it is you're questioning

I'm trying to understand the overall design and risks sorry I didn't mean for you to get testy I guess I'll look elsewhere thanks for all your help

 

[LMichaels]

Wasn't testy. Simply confused. IDK why you felt it was testy. Yours apparently has the design with the stainless insert. They seem to hold up BUT the upper lip where the grates rest seems to rot away.
In any case: Testy?! Nope. Confused? Yes.

 

[Eric-NH]

That's a heat shield that goes outside of the cookbox near the front panel. The issue with the burn though in the cookbox is that you may end up with a fire where the gas line is and it could go south REAL fast.

 

[Brett-EDH]

That's a heat shield that goes outside of the cookbox near the front panel. The issue with the burn though in the cookbox is that you may end up with a fire where the gas line is and it could go south REAL fast.

He deactivated and vanished. Never seen anything like that here before.

I’ll never understand humans. Dogs are much easier to read and have a friendship with. For the life of me I just don’t understand what set this guy off.

 

[LMichaels]

He deactivated and vanished. Never seen anything like that here before.

I’ll never understand humans. Dogs are much easier to read and have a friendship with. For the life of me I just don’t understand what set this guy off.

Yeah, when I explained the question was a bit confusing I was accused of being "testy". I may be "direct" (as even my wife will tell you I don't like to mince words) but definitely not "testy". Was simply trying to help by getting clarification

 

[BPratt]

One thing I don't quite understand..... as long as the burn tubes are supported and mounted what is the problem with the burn through when the heat shield beyond The cookbox is in perfect shape?

No answer from Weber yet but they did get a bunch of pictures from me that they requested.

View attachment 119436

I think it’s flame impingement on the porcelain enamel firebox that’s causing the issue. It’s common on devices where the flames contact the metal. Woodstoves, furnaces and boilers can suffer from it. The porcelain enamel and iron substrate expand and contract at different rates and eventually a break or crack opens then expands and it’s downhill from there.

The heat shield doesn’t protect the firebox it protects the controls and wires and keeps the human contact points from getting too hot to touch. It has a fairly significant air gap from the firebox

If the heat shield burned through you would be in bad shape. Probably a catastrophic fire in the firebox that would destroy the controls and the rest of the grill

 

[Jon Tofte]

He deactivated and vanished. Never seen anything like that here before.

I’ll never understand humans. Dogs are much easier to read and have a friendship with. For the life of me I just don’t understand what set this guy off.

I think he certainly over-reacted but it does show that we need to be extra careful with newcomers and try to be as accomodating and careful in our choice of words as possible. This isn't the first time someone coming here felt we weren't as considerate as we should strive to be.