Help! Stuck lid

onpoint456

Last night I was burning off the lump that was leftover from the last cook. There was quite a bit lump and the grill got really hot, 700°+. Now, the lid is stuck shut. I assume the seal is shot and needs to be replaced. Any suggestions to get it unstuck?

Also, is there a better gasket to replace it with?

johnmitchell

@RRP...He is the man for Rutland gaskets

milesvdustin

Get a thin metal putty knife and hammer it between the halves, then work it around to free the top. Then get an @RRP gasket and egg on. 

ColtsFan

Light a few pieces of lump and put it in the bottom of the egg. That should be enough heat to free the gunk and allow the lid to open.

Ron's the man when it comes to Rutlands

Carolina Q

onpoint456 said:

Last night I was burning off the lump that was leftover from the last cook. 

Why? A waste of perfectly good lump.

pgprescott

The gasket isn’t necessarily junk IMO. Heat up like they said above by lighting through lower vent. Then take a putty knife and slowly and carefully work it between the gaskets. Usually it’s a combination of grease and sauce etc. that was in the gasket getting heated up to a molten gunk and then solidifying together when it is cooled down. If
you feel you need to replace after opening , you know the characters. 

Good luck

onpoint456

Carolina Q said:

onpoint456 said:

Last night I was burning off the lump that was leftover from the last cook. 

Why? A waste of perfectly good lump.

I am reasoning a CI skillet. Normally i would put it in the oven on 500° for an hour or so to burn off everything but the wife didn't like that it stinks up the house. Plus I'm trying to get rid of the last bit of cowboy lump.

haroldopsf

onpoint456 said:

Last night I was burning off the lump that was leftover from the last cook. There was quite a bit lump and the grill got really hot, 700°+. Now, the lid is stuck shut. I assume the seal is shot and needs to be replaced. Any suggestions to get it unstuck?

Also, is there a better gasket to replace it with?

I had that happen twice, doing the same thing you are doing (cleaning with heat). The reason why they are stuck is due to grease residues solidifying in your gaskets. You will have to pry the lids open, slowly with a spatula or paint scraper. Your gaskets will be useless after this.
Yes, I believe the gasket that comes with the egg is the cheapest POS they could put it there. The Rutland is probably better, but still not good enough. I ended up buying this:

https://www.bbqguys.com/kamado-joe/fiberglass-gasket-for-24-inch-bigjoe-grills

It arrived at my house a couple of days ago. Will update the thread I have going on this as soon as I replace it. My bro in law has the Big Joe, and his gasket looks new after almost 2 years of use. It is costly, but if you are looking for the best gasket, I think that is it. 
For reference, this is the other recent thread I started about the subject:
https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1221373/ordered-the-new-kamado-joe-wire-mesh-fiberglass-gasket

Cornholio

Get a free gasket from @RRP, just ask @WesJohnson how.  

onpoint456

Thanks all, I used a spackle knife and was able to get it opened. The gasket is very hard and no longer "spongey". Looking to replace asap.

CornfedMA

haroldopsf said:

onpoint456 said:

Last night I was burning off the lump that was leftover from the last cook. There was quite a bit lump and the grill got really hot, 700°+. Now, the lid is stuck shut. I assume the seal is shot and needs to be replaced. Any suggestions to get it unstuck?

Also, is there a better gasket to replace it with?

I had that happen twice, doing the same thing you are doing (cleaning with heat). The reason why they are stuck is due to grease residues solidifying in your gaskets. You will have to pry the lids open, slowly with a spatula or paint scraper. Your gaskets will be useless after this.
Yes, I believe the gasket that comes with the egg is the cheapest POS they could put it there. The Rutland is probably better, but still not good enough. I ended up buying this:

https://www.bbqguys.com/kamado-joe/fiberglass-gasket-for-24-inch-bigjoe-grills

It arrived at my house a couple of days ago. Will update the thread I have going on this as soon as I replace it. My bro in law has the Big Joe, and his gasket looks new after almost 2 years of use. It is costly, but if you are looking for the best gasket, I think that is it. 
For reference, this is the other recent thread I started about the subject:
https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1221373/ordered-the-new-kamado-joe-wire-mesh-fiberglass-gasket

100 doll-hairs definitely qualifies as pricey. My original gasket has lasted about 5 yrs on one of my XL’s. I find it hard to believe that an extra $75 gets me a legit lifetime gasket. Anyone else used these? 

caliking

CornfedMA said:

haroldopsf said:

onpoint456 said:

Last night I was burning off the lump that was leftover from the last cook. There was quite a bit lump and the grill got really hot, 700°+. Now, the lid is stuck shut. I assume the seal is shot and needs to be replaced. Any suggestions to get it unstuck?

Also, is there a better gasket to replace it with?

I had that happen twice, doing the same thing you are doing (cleaning with heat). The reason why they are stuck is due to grease residues solidifying in your gaskets. You will have to pry the lids open, slowly with a spatula or paint scraper. Your gaskets will be useless after this.
Yes, I believe the gasket that comes with the egg is the cheapest POS they could put it there. The Rutland is probably better, but still not good enough. I ended up buying this:

https://www.bbqguys.com/kamado-joe/fiberglass-gasket-for-24-inch-bigjoe-grills

It arrived at my house a couple of days ago. Will update the thread I have going on this as soon as I replace it. My bro in law has the Big Joe, and his gasket looks new after almost 2 years of use. It is costly, but if you are looking for the best gasket, I think that is it. 
For reference, this is the other recent thread I started about the subject:
https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1221373/ordered-the-new-kamado-joe-wire-mesh-fiberglass-gasket

100 doll-hairs definitely qualifies as pricey. My original gasket has lasted about 5 yrs on one of my XL’s. I find it hard to believe that an extra $75 gets me a legit lifetime gasket. Anyone else used these? 

Serious question - does this gasket come with a warranty? 

caliking

onpoint456 said:

Thanks all, I used a spackle knife and was able to get it opened. The gasket is very hard and no longer "spongey". Looking to replace asap.

 nothing wrong with a hard gasket. Other than it may get stuck again if you're doing pizza or a clean burn. 

BUFFALOMOOSE

Haven't had a gasket 10 years.    

BUFFALOMOOSE

And I am.not unique (Although my wife says I am.) LOL.

milesvdustin

My gasket doesnt really seal anymore but it doesnt make a difference. No way I'm paying 100 bones for a gasket. 

haroldopsf

caliking said:

CornfedMA said:

haroldopsf said:

onpoint456 said:

Last night I was burning off the lump that was leftover from the last cook. There was quite a bit lump and the grill got really hot, 700°+. Now, the lid is stuck shut. I assume the seal is shot and needs to be replaced. Any suggestions to get it unstuck?

Also, is there a better gasket to replace it with?

I had that happen twice, doing the same thing you are doing (cleaning with heat). The reason why they are stuck is due to grease residues solidifying in your gaskets. You will have to pry the lids open, slowly with a spatula or paint scraper. Your gaskets will be useless after this.
Yes, I believe the gasket that comes with the egg is the cheapest POS they could put it there. The Rutland is probably better, but still not good enough. I ended up buying this:

https://www.bbqguys.com/kamado-joe/fiberglass-gasket-for-24-inch-bigjoe-grills

It arrived at my house a couple of days ago. Will update the thread I have going on this as soon as I replace it. My bro in law has the Big Joe, and his gasket looks new after almost 2 years of use. It is costly, but if you are looking for the best gasket, I think that is it. 
For reference, this is the other recent thread I started about the subject:
https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1221373/ordered-the-new-kamado-joe-wire-mesh-fiberglass-gasket

100 doll-hairs definitely qualifies as pricey. My original gasket has lasted about 5 yrs on one of my XL’s. I find it hard to believe that an extra $75 gets me a legit lifetime gasket. Anyone else used these? 

Serious question - does this gasket come with a warranty? 

I have no idea, so assuming it does not. I am expecting this gasket to remain spongy enough longer than the ones I have tried so far. It is definitely thicker. When my gaskets get hard overtime, there will be small gaps here or there around the egg, despite it being seemingly perfectly leveled. When I watch my bro in law close and latch his KJ lid, when the latch engages, his top lid is tilted forwards a lot (big gap in the rear, no gap in the front), and yet the gasket fills everywhere,  you cannot squeeze an atom through anywhere. The thing is so sealed it takes effort to actually close the lid and squeeze the air out. I want that, please.
I will install the KJ gasket next week, probably monday night. Will post results and pics on the other thread

haroldopsf

Installed this awesome gasket last night. See pics in my last post:

https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1221373/ordered-the-new-kamado-joe-wire-mesh-fiberglass-gasket