PSA - Keep those band bolts tightened folks!!

Wylecyot

Hope this post isn't out of line...just wanted to pass on an offer I saw.

Harbor Freight is advertising torque wrenches (your choice of 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive) for $11.99 with coupon that is available from their website.  To me, this is a must-have in my BBQ kit!  I check the band bolts on my eggs monthly to make sure they are still at 120 inch pounds.

Just wanted to pass this on.  Hopefully this will prevent a broken dome or two!

theyolksonyou

Agree. Bought a1/4" drive specifically for this reason. When I just tightened until the bolts started to distort, wasn't tight enough.

Carolina Q

I checked my band bolts once. About five years after I bought my egg. They were tight. Didn't use a torque wrench either time. Though I have two of them. YMMV.

Skiddymarker

Always a big supporter of the science. The 1/4" wrench is ideal for a scale like 120 inch/pound. I checked the cheapie HF against my Snap-On that was 20 times this price and it was within 2%....pretty good for a made in China wrench.  

Tinyfish

On my XL I cant get a socket on the bolt the hinge is in the way any idea's.

Zmokin

Tinyfish said:

On my XL I cant get a socket on the bolt the hinge is in the way any idea's.

Can you post a picture?

Tinyfish

@Zmokin big snow storm just passed in Toronto I still have to dig out the eggs.

Problem is I have to use a deep socket and the deep socket hits the XL hinge arm so I Cant wiggle it on the bolt. But my bands must be tight cause the band is only a 1/4" apart.

Skiddymarker

The XL does not have much room between the band bolts and the right rear hinge (if your assembly is similar to the one I saw) The problem is a standard socket might go onto the bolt, but the bolt extends thru the drive hole of the socket. A deep socket will go onto the nut allowing space for the bolt, however there is no space to put the socket wrench on. 

Two suggestions come to mind for the average guy:

1. Cut off the ends of the bolts to allow space for a standard socket and wrench;

2. Use an open end wrench with as close as you can get to a 12" handle. Piece of pipe or wrench extender works for this. Hang a 10# weight from the wrench as close to 12' from the centre of the bolt. When it quits turning, you have 120 inch pounds of torque. 

There are torque wrenches made with either an open or box end for use in tight spaces, unless you do a lot or wrenching, not worth the expense.  

Jeepster47

Tinyfish said:

On my XL I cant get a socket on the bolt the hinge is in the way any idea's.

@Tinyfish ... several folks have talked about doing the "Dome Dance" when it came loose while the egg was cooking away.  So, even though many have never had problems, you just know that you and I will be the exception.

McGyver would do it this way ... install a box end wrench on the nut with the wrench horizontal.  Now measure the distance from the center of the bolt to the spot where you're going to hang a weight.  Divide that measurement (in inches) into 125 inch-lbs.  For practice, we'll assume the distance is 6 inches ... which yields ~21lbs of force necessary to achieve the correct torque.  A gallon of water weights just under 9 lbs, so you can use a 2.5 gallon pail and your scale to come up with a total of 21 lbs.  Hang that off the horizontal wrench and if it moves, then you are under torqued.  At the very least the pail of water can be used to "calibrate" your your feel of how much force is necessary to get close to 125 inch lbs.

RRP

Jeepster47 said:

Tinyfish said:

On my XL I cant get a socket on the bolt the hinge is in the way any idea's.

@Tinyfish ... several folks have talked about doing the "Dome Dance" when it came loose while the egg was cooking away.  So, even though many have never had problems, you just know that you and I will be the exception.

McGyver would do it this way ... install a box end wrench on the nut with the wrench horizontal.  Now measure the distance from the center of the bolt to the spot where you're going to hang a weight.  Divide that measurement (in inches) into 125 inch-lbs.  For practice, we'll assume the distance is 6 inches ... which yields ~21lbs of force necessary to achieve the correct torque.  A gallon of water weights just under 9 lbs, so you can use a 2.5 gallon pail and your scale to come up with a total of 21 lbs.  Hang that off the horizontal wrench and if it moves, then you are under torqued.  At the very least the pail of water can be used to "calibrate" your your feel of how much force is necessary to get close to 125 inch lbs.

cool! You may be a retired engineer - but you'll always be an engineer!

Tinyfish

@Skiddymarker and @Jeepster47 thanks for the advice. I'm glad I read this before a few beer's. Will have to give it a try or else I'll try and cut the bolts.

Chubbs

@Jeepster47 no beers for me tonight but I am buzzing now. Wish I knew how to do stuff like this. If there are numbers involved I run. >:D<

Jeepster47

Here's what Ron was really saying ... "You may be a retired engineer - but you'll always be a nerd!"

RRP

Jeepster47 said:

Here's what Ron was really saying ... "You may be a retired engineer - but you'll always be a nerd!"

NO, I didn't! Some of my best friends are/were engineers. Some of you guys are more colorful than others and to me you are one of those big box of 96 Crayons!

theyolksonyou

I tried a line like that on you two and you called BS!

Chowman

@Tinyfish you can buy a crows foot extension to use with a torque wrench . Try this link to one set by Tecton

http://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-2575-8-Inch-Crowfoot-10-Piece/dp/B000NPUJNA/ref=sr_1_2/183-2525283-0199811?ie=UTF8&qid=1422935432&sr=8-2&keywords=open+end+torque+wrench

Jeepster47

@Chowman is correct that crows foot wrenches will work, but remember to adjust the numbers to compensate for the extra length of the extension.  Here's one website that will do that for you.

Sea2Ski

Wylecyot said:

Hope this post isn't out of line...just wanted to pass on an offer I saw.

Harbor Freight is advertising torque wrenches (your choice of 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive) for $11.99 with coupon that is available from their website.  To me, this is a must-have in my BBQ kit!  I check the band bolts on my eggs monthly to make sure they are still at 120 inch pounds.

Just wanted to pass this on.  Hopefully this will prevent a broken dome or two!

where do you see this?  The only one I see is for 21.99.  Is there another 50% coupon I am missing?

Sea2Ski

  Call off the search...  Took me a bit (1 hour) to find it - but I got it.

RRP

Sea2Ski said:

  Call off the search...  Took me a bit (1 hour) to find it - but I got it.

good! It's too late now, but if others read this and head off to HF remember which size drive you want for your socket set. They all come either 1/4", 3/8" or 1/2". Personally I bought the 3/8" for more heft and wider usage and 1/2" was too big for what I ever use one for.

GalanteNate_OneEa

Sea2Ski said:

  Call off the search...  Took me a bit (1 hour) to find it - but I got it.

Could not find it for less than $22

Sea2Ski

I had to really search for it. As soon as I get home I will post a link.
Like @RRP I got the 3/8.

TQB

GalanteNate_OneEa said:

Sea2Ski said:

  Call off the search...  Took me a bit (1 hour) to find it - but I got it.

Could not find it for less than $22

Me either..............

Sea2Ski

Try this link.

http://www.harborfreight.com/oct-tab1.html

I will say I could not/did not find it till I logged in. That is fine, they already had my info.  I get a lot of products there like work gloves, zip ties, heat shrink tubing and such from there. I tend to stay away from anything with a motor, Although I did get a cheap angle grinder there to use solely for cutting/grinding stone for some landscaping work in my back yard. Thought it would barely last me for that job, but it has lasted 4+ years, and has cut a lot of stone for me.

GalanteNate_OneEa

Perfect, thanks!

TQB

Thanks @Sea2Ski worked!!!! 

I dont (i will now ) ) have a online account as I have a store very close, so I just do my shopping there. 

RRP

TQB said:

GalanteNate_OneEa said:

Sea2Ski said:

  Call off the search...  Took me a bit (1 hour) to find it - but I got it.

Could not find it for less than $22

Me either..............

That'd a real shame as they advertise those year in and year out on sale for $9.99 - reg price $22.99

noregard

Gave mine a little snug today, thanks for the reminder.

poster

I did a quick check last night as my egg is 1 year old. Mine were extremely loose. probably took 1-1/2 turns to get it back to proper torque. It was about freezing at the time, I don't know if that made a difference or not