Left holding the bag - er dome

Delaware Dude

The other day I was getting the egg (a large) ready for a four hour cook. I had the fire started and the dome raised. I started to lower the dome to get the egg up to cooking temp. The dome would not lower. I then noticed the band holding the dome to the egg bottom had slipped out of position and down lower on the egg.[p]I tried to rastle the band back into place - couldn't do it. I was afraid if I applied too much brute force I would damage the band so that it would be useless. Fire getting hotter. Yelled for the wife.[p]I had the wife support the dome, while I then tried to work the band back into place - no luck. Fire getting hotter.[p]I had to get the fire out to work on this thing. Doused the fire - almost - with a lot of water. Wife still supporting the dome - what a trooper. Ran to the garage and got my wrenches to undo the bolt holding the band to the egg.[p]Undid the bolt and got the dome off the egg. The whole contraption looked screwed-up. Wife said, as she left the scene, I guess we'll have to use the oven.I said "no way".[p]Eventually, I found that pressing down hard on the spring hinge got it back into a position so that I could get the dome back on the egg.
As I got the dome and band back into position,I noticed the fire ramping back up - perfect.[p]I tightened-up the band back on the egg real tight. Opened and shut the dome a couple of times - looked good. Fire getting hotter. Only lost about thirty munites.[p]Used the egg serveral times since the nasty incident and it works good as new.[p]Sure hope none of the neighbors saw any of this! And, I'll be checking that bolt from time to time.[p][p][p]

Steve-B

Delaware Dude,[p]Good advice. Everyone needs to check and tighten those bolts everyonce in awhile.

Yazoo

Delaware Dude,[p]A cool head and set of wrenches are usually more than enough to make up for a wife that panics and runs away. Great job. I'd leverage that into a good reason for buying more tools.

Unknown

Delaware Dude,
Did you try closing the lower vent? For the fire I mean.

Delaware Dude

Boby-Q,[p]I don't remember if I closed the lower vent or not - I was a little flustered at this point.