Removing Leg Brackets


 
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David Little

TVWBB Member
What is the best way to remove the leg bracket bolts and vent rivets? I'm changing all of my leg brackets and vents due to a recent accident:o hauling my smokers home from a comp and I am having a heck of a time getting the bolts out. They are frozen solid. I'm assuming because they are the ones closest to the fire. Any good ideas on how to remove them without ruining the bowl? Thanks.
 
I would use a cordless impact to get the bolts off on the inside, and hold the screw on the outside stationary with a stubby flat screwdriver. If you don't have the tools, maybe check with your neighbors or a friend who is in the trades. The rivets have to be drilled out from inside the bowl but I cant say for sure what size drill bit would be needed as I've never changed them.
 
If you are replacing the leg brackets and vents just take a drill bit a little bigger than the bolt and center the bit on the bolt head and drill.
 
Yeah. I was kind of figuring I wouldn't be able to break them loose. The bolts on the low side of the leg bracket are the closest to the fire so they get the heat and the crud build up. I was having a hard time just getting a socket onto the nut itself.
Thanks.
 
David,
Whenever I reassemble the legs on a WSM, I either use a regular hex head bolt or a button head that uses an Alan wrench. Always in Stainless as it makes future repairs/cleanings easier.
 
BAM! Why I didn't think of this before I will never know. I took my angle grinder, put a rough grit flexible sanding disk and ground off the nuts and bolts on the inside of the charcoal bowl. I was done in about 15 minutes. Just remember to know which way the sparks fly when they ricochet out of the bowl! :rolleyes:
 
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