New XL was delivered today!

KennyCJR

So, the new XL was delivered today.  My wife and I were headed back from the in-laws in Llano.  Ace called and said they would deliver and setup the egg, even though we weren’t home...great!  The next 3 hours of my drive, I was thinking about the prime rib in our fridge. 

Got home and inspected the Egg.  First thing, the egg mates are plastic, not the new Acacia ones I ordered.  Second thing, there was a huge underbite in the front, then I noticed I could see daylight between the dome and base in the back, near the hinges.  Ugh...

I had to completely remove the hinges and spin the dome ~3-4”s to get the dimples on the front to line up, then reinstall the hinges.  Well, at least now I know how to adjust them.  I’ll contact Ace after Christmas to get the right egg mates.  On the bright side, it came with the new Reggulator, the DFMT, and the ceramic cap.  

Foghorn

Outstanding.  Congrats!

bgebrent

Congrats man!  Many big cooks on your horizon.  Enjoy.

Hans61

Glad it was a happy ending!

KennyCJR

Thanks.  I loaded it up with lump, started a fire, and messed with the vents.  Got it to hold at 250, then 300 for 30 mins at each temp.  It’s gonna be fun breaking this thing in. 

SGH

@KennyCJR
Delivered just in time for Christmas. Not fire it up and enjoy it my friend👍

pgprescott

Enjoy! Sounds like you got it figured out. I hope you tightened the band bolts substantially tighter than it appears in the photo. 

KennyCJR

pgprescott said:

Enjoy! Sounds like you got it figured out. I hope you tightened the band bolts substantially tighter than it appears in the photo. 

Yep.  I’ve read enough horror stories here to know that the bolts should bend a bit, once they’re are tight enough.  

Jstroke

KennyCJR said:

pgprescott said:

Enjoy! Sounds like you got it figured out. I hope you tightened the band bolts substantially tighter than it appears in the photo. 

Yep.  I’ve read enough horror stories here to know that the bolts should bend a bit, once they’re are tight enough.  

Good catch right there. Please let us know those are cranked down. It won’t be the first time a dome has fallen out of the band. 

KennyCJR

KennyCJR

Both have a slight bend to them, but it seems like the 2 bolts would have pretty close to the same amount of threads extending past the nut...they do not. 

Jstroke

Let’s just say that the feeling is that they could be tighter. Now I do not have the new style bands so someone else needs to chime in. However that top one appears “just” tight enough. I like the look of the bottom one better. Things loosen up with hot/cold. I would give her some more turns. However if Ace set it up, and you don’t need it tomorrow. ?

Botch

Santa makes it to Kenny's house, Congrats!
I'm interested in the upcoming discussions vis-a-vis the bent bolts; my dealer-assembled bolts were bent MUCH more, and as an ME its always bothered me...

KennyCJR

The bolt pics are after I realigned the dome and bands, so IMO, I’ve negated Ace’s work, due to a need/want to fire it up and cook my rib roast on it tomorrow.  

I had it fired up for 2-3 hours in total today.  I’ll tighten the bolts again before tomorrow’s use. 

blasting

KennyCJR said:

First thing, the egg mates are plastic, not the new Acacia ones I ordered. 

Congrats on the XL  - great Christmas gift.  Glad you were able to fix alignment and get egging.  Those side tables though... I wonder if they searched for the cheapest looking plastic?  

pgprescott

blasting said:

KennyCJR said:

First thing, the egg mates are plastic, not the new Acacia ones I ordered. 

Congrats on the XL  - great Christmas gift.  Glad you were able to fix alignment and get egging.  Those side tables though... I wonder if they searched for the cheapest looking plastic?  

One thing about the plastic though, no worries about spills etc. they have grown on me. Not as pretty but way easier to clean etc.  they make a three slat that are huge which I like especially for the XL. 

stlcharcoal

pgprescott said:

blasting said:

KennyCJR said:

First thing, the egg mates are plastic, not the new Acacia ones I ordered. 

Congrats on the XL  - great Christmas gift.  Glad you were able to fix alignment and get egging.  Those side tables though... I wonder if they searched for the cheapest looking plastic?  

One thing about the plastic though, no worries about spills etc. they have grown on me. Not as pretty but way easier to clean etc.  they make a three slat that are huge which I like especially for the XL. 

Can't set a hot grid or stone on them like you can with the wood though.  You could do it quickly with the wood and not char it.....I would be very hesitant to try that with the plastic ones.

KennyCJR

stlcharcoal said:

pgprescott said:

blasting said:

KennyCJR said:

First thing, the egg mates are plastic, not the new Acacia ones I ordered. 

Congrats on the XL  - great Christmas gift.  Glad you were able to fix alignment and get egging.  Those side tables though... I wonder if they searched for the cheapest looking plastic?  

One thing about the plastic though, no worries about spills etc. they have grown on me. Not as pretty but way easier to clean etc.  they make a three slat that are huge which I like especially for the XL. 

Can't set a hot grid or stone on them like you can with the wood though.  You could do it quickly with the wood and not char it.....I would be very hesitant to try that with the plastic ones.

This is sort of your fault.  I went to restock on Rockwood and ended up buying this too.  

KennyCJR

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas 🎁🎄 

pgprescott

stlcharcoal said:

pgprescott said:

blasting said:

KennyCJR said:

First thing, the egg mates are plastic, not the new Acacia ones I ordered. 

Congrats on the XL  - great Christmas gift.  Glad you were able to fix alignment and get egging.  Those side tables though... I wonder if they searched for the cheapest looking plastic?  

One thing about the plastic though, no worries about spills etc. they have grown on me. Not as pretty but way easier to clean etc.  they make a three slat that are huge which I like especially for the XL. 

Can't set a hot grid or stone on them like you can with the wood though.  You could do it quickly with the wood and not char it.....I would be very hesitant to try that with the plastic ones.

That’s where those grid lifter tools and silicone hot pads come in handy. Can’t hang the PS of an XL but you can a large. I’d keep a landing place for the PS handy. Something like a metal bucket or milk crate etc. I’d be hesitant to land my PS on the eggmates in general. Lots of options. Those acacia mates are very sharp looking, as are the tables. Good value IMO

stlcharcoal

KennyCJR said:

stlcharcoal said:

pgprescott said:

blasting said:

KennyCJR said:

First thing, the egg mates are plastic, not the new Acacia ones I ordered. 

Congrats on the XL  - great Christmas gift.  Glad you were able to fix alignment and get egging.  Those side tables though... I wonder if they searched for the cheapest looking plastic?  

One thing about the plastic though, no worries about spills etc. they have grown on me. Not as pretty but way easier to clean etc.  they make a three slat that are huge which I like especially for the XL. 

Can't set a hot grid or stone on them like you can with the wood though.  You could do it quickly with the wood and not char it.....I would be very hesitant to try that with the plastic ones.

This is sort of your fault.  I went to restock on Rockwood and ended up buying this too.  

Bawhahahahaha.  The funny part is now you'll hopefully burn twice as much charcoal. 

pgprescott said:

stlcharcoal said:

pgprescott said:

blasting said:

KennyCJR said:

First thing, the egg mates are plastic, not the new Acacia ones I ordered. 

Congrats on the XL  - great Christmas gift.  Glad you were able to fix alignment and get egging.  Those side tables though... I wonder if they searched for the cheapest looking plastic?  

One thing about the plastic though, no worries about spills etc. they have grown on me. Not as pretty but way easier to clean etc.  they make a three slat that are huge which I like especially for the XL. 

Can't set a hot grid or stone on them like you can with the wood though.  You could do it quickly with the wood and not char it.....I would be very hesitant to try that with the plastic ones.

That’s where those grid lifter tools and silicone hot pads come in handy. Can’t hang the PS of an XL but you can a large. I’d keep a landing place for the PS handy. Something like a metal bucket or milk crate etc. I’d be hesitant to land my PS on the eggmates in general. Lots of options. Those acacia mates are very sharp looking, as are the tables. Good value IMO

Yeah, have KAB lifter for the grid, and the Woo for the Large PS......so the PS really isn't touching the wood I suppose.  

I still have my old smokeware PS lifter at home for the XL.

I just brought the new "all round" PS lifter into the store for the Large.  Looks pretty cool and it's the only one I know of that works with the newer plate setters with the larger deflector area.  Otherwise you have to leave it out of the notches, or pop it up, to get in there with the KAB or the older SW one.

KennyCJR

Tightened the nuts down a bit more.  Both feel like they are as tight as I can get them, until the bolts stretch a bit.  

littlerascal56

Just replaced my dome this week, and tightened the bolts back up.  This is a 2015 XL, so the bands on yours will be the new improved ones!

littlerascal56

Built my nest with metal folding shelf, so I do set hot ceramics and grates on it frequently.  It takes a lot of abuse, and I use it to move the egg in and out of the shed!

KennyCJR

I think the maiden voyage went well.  Sacrilege, I know, but we like our beef cooked to med, regardless of the cut.  Pulled it at 137f, let it rest until it 145f, then sliced it like bone-in steaks.  It was tender, juicy, and delicious.  

pgprescott

KennyCJR said:

I think the maiden voyage went well.  Sacrilege, I know, but we like our beef cooked to med, regardless of the cut.  Pulled it at 137f, let it rest until it 145f, then sliced it like bone-in steaks.  It was tender, juicy, and delicious.  

It’s just fine to eat your prime rib medium. For goodness sake, don’t tell anyone though! Jeez!
😜

stlcharcoal

Don't sweat it too much.  I've put together 100+ eggs and sometimes you can barely get the nut on that band.  It doesn't take much extra of the paint on the egg or bands to change the diameter.....or where they made the fold on the band.  

pgprescott

stlcharcoal said:

Don't sweat it too much.  I've put together 100+ eggs and sometimes you can barely get the nut on that band.  It doesn't take much extra of the paint on the egg or bands to change the diameter.....or where they made the fold on the band.  

They finally lengthened the bolts for new XLs. I’ve used channel locks to hold the band together to get started in the past. The horror! Much better now. 

KennyCJR

Pearland Ace Hardware and Lumber really came through for me.  They got the new Acacia Egg Mates in, then brought them out to my house and installed them.   They are quite a bit smaller than the composite ones, but look really nice and seem sturdier. 

thetrim

Very cool.  I really like the redesign on the top of the XL. I have an '06 era model one, and the dome is so short. 

I may spring for a new XL one of these days!

Enjoy!

Photo Egg

Glad Ace came through for you.
This place is fairly close to you and they are great with BGE related stuff and have a great selection of spices.
https://www.chimchimneys.com
Nice people!