F$&@ng underbite!

Did you ever measure your dome and base to see if they were out of round? If out then neither new bands or any kind of adjustment will ever resolve your problem.

Is your egg stationery or are you moving it around using the handle?

jllbms said:

I didn't measure, but I didn't have underbite before last night's cook. So I assume they're not out of round...

Sorry I had you confused with another person. BTW if you weren't having problems why did you replace your bands? Save the old ones by chance?

I'd suggest torquing it down, and then getting a cook on, while it's warm, say.. 200 or so, give the bands a little more tightening, you'll probably find they are loose.

Worked for me.

Then again, there's people on here who aren't smart enough, brave enough, or simply take the instructions for the gospel. Any numbers of reasons they are leery about doing so. I've heard of plenty of folks doing the same thing and having it fix their issue.

I took my whole dome, hinge assembly, the whole nine apart, started from scratch, installed new gasket, and got it all snugged up. Started a cook, noticed it moved back not long after. Got it fixed again, heated it up and gave it some more turns. It hasn't budged, and no issues with my dome.

Don't know what video you are talking about, but have you posted some pictures here and asked for specific advice? Don't flame me...I'm trying to help.

RRP said:

Don't know what video you are talking about, but have you posted some pictures here and asked for specific advice? Don't flame me...I'm trying to help.

I have posted pictures of it and I've watched that 6-7 min video that does a great job of showing how to adjust it, but to no avail. Here is a pic of the right side that leaks. Thanks!

I had the same problem for 6 months. every time I cook pizza right around the 550 to 600 degree mark I would get a severe underbite. I put on gloves. .. went to the hinge and lifted up. Bands slid up. .. under bite disappeared. Had the wife hold the bands up. Tighten to snug. Until the bands don't slide down when you raise the lid. .. done. No issues since. Second set of bands because I thought the bands were the issue.

Eggbertsdad said:

RRP said:

Don't know what video you are talking about, but have you posted some pictures here and asked for specific advice? Don't flame me...I'm trying to help.

I have posted pictures of it and I've watched that 6-7 min video that does a great job of showing how to adjust it, but to no avail. Here is a pic of the right side that leaks. Thanks!

From that picture it appears the planes of your dome and base are not out of whack so it might be your gaskets. What do you have on there? OME crappy felt, or Nomex? Are the gaskets on both sides? Is there any burnt areas on the gaskets on that side? Escaping heat/smoke are a real giveaway. How much smoke are you talking about? Lots, some or wisps? Some people will counter with the statement that "your egg is a smoker..." BTW a single, thicker Rutland gasket might be your solution.

Eggbertsdad said:

Cowdogs said:

Where are you located?  If it happens to be in South Florida I'd be glad to stop by and help you fix it.  

Thanks for the offer. I'm in Sarasota. Where are you?

I am in Palm Beach County.  But I travel to Tampa every couple of months.  I'll message you next time I am coming through.

Cowdogs said:

Eggbertsdad said:

Cowdogs said:

Where are you located?  If it happens to be in South Florida I'd be glad to stop by and help you fix it.  

Thanks for the offer. I'm in Sarasota. Where are you?

I am in Palm Beach County.  But I travel to Tampa every couple of months.  I'll message you next time I am coming through.

@jimreed777 is on the right track.  At least one band (and sometimes both bands) need to aligned right even with the very edge of the ceramic.  In other words the bottom band needs to be mounted as high as you can possibly can get it on the base ... and even all the way around the dome.  Do this with the top band loose.  Once the bottom band is really tight and even, align the top dome with the base, and then tighten the top band.  If the dome moves as you are tightening the top band, then stop, loosen it, and align the dome a bit too far in the opposite direction of the movement.  So if you're getting an under-bite as you tighten the top band, then start with dome in an over-bite position and let it come even as you tighten the top band.

And tighten those f'ing bands down.  And check them again every couple hours until they stop loosening.  It's not the bolts that are loosening, but as the band and bolts "settle in" they will need more tightening.

Hope this helps....

That does help. From your description, it looks like I might need to be a little more patient with it and maybe adjust, while adjusting, even while heating up. Thanks for the help. 

Eggbertsdad said:

RRP said:

I'm not taking this discussion to private as I want to air this in public...did I sell you that Rutland gasket? If so then please email me with your address since I don't keep my customer information and I will refund your money in full. A properly installed Rutland following the instructions I include with my gaskets sold should not leak after a few cooks. My word is my honor.

No. I didn't get it through you. Ace, I thing. I've had the Rutland on for a couple of years. No problem with the gasket. It's got to be an alignment issue. 

But I appreciate that you stand behind what you sell. If I can convert some of my eggers to Rutlands I'm sending them your way. I believe in helping people out especially if they're as helpful as you and the rest of the members on here.

Thank you for your reply. Some people buy Rutlands from ACE or Amazon and then throw away the useless Rutland adhesive included in the blister packs or don't have enough to properly do an XL egg. Plus neither of those places include the detailed instructions and hints I have developed over the last 12 years I have been providing my not for profit service to fellow eggers. Even the published version listed on The Naked Whiz site is an outdated summarized version of my earlier instructions  from back then and doesn't cover the procedure I have perfected. The only thing that has stayed the same has been my asking price of $11 for a large or $13 for an XL. Seeing I've been doing this service for 12 years now I assume you see I'm not gouging anybody. Good night - I'm off to bed...

Mine is not perfect either but it still works good and I don't stress out over it.

My LBGE is six month old. I have never cooked anything over 500F degrees. I check my bands after every cook, after the egg has cooled, with a torque wrench to 125 inch pounds

I have the same problem and have tried multiple times to fix it.  I still have an underbite too.  I don't understand how adjusting the bands while it's hot would fix this issue since it seems to be a spring or hinge issue but maybe that's something I should try. I'm hesitant because I finally got it to stop leaking so I may just settle for that.

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

Cowdogs said:

I am in Palm Beach County.  But I travel to Tampa every couple of months.  I'll message you next time I am coming through.

@jimreed777 is on the right track.  At least one band (and sometimes both bands) need to aligned right even with the very edge of the ceramic.  In other words the bottom band needs to be mounted as high as you can possibly can get it on the base ... and even all the way around the dome.  Do this with the top band loose.  Once the bottom band is really tight and even, align the top dome with the base, and then tighten the top band.  If the dome moves as you are tightening the top band, then stop, loosen it, and align the dome a bit too far in the opposite direction of the movement.  So if you're getting an under-bite as you tighten the top band, then start with dome in an over-bite position and let it come even as you tighten the top band.

And tighten those f'ing bands down.  And check them again every couple hours until they stop loosening.  It's not the bolts that are loosening, but as the band and bolts "settle in" they will need more tightening.

Hope this helps....

damned if it didn't work..... Been fighting that underbite forever. Egg was still 400 when I did it so a little sketchy but I pulled my bottom band up to the top of the lip, torqued it down and adjusted the dome. Best it's been in years.

Glad I could help.  Now if you could help me get my brisket tasting like what I got from Louie Muellers last year we'd be even ....   Hell for that matter I would settle for brisket as good as I got from a Rudy's gas station in Round Rock.  Take care...