Cracked XL Base

soicwby

The other night I was preheating for pizza, was at about 500 I heard a lot pop or crack coming from the egg.  I originally thought my platesetter gave way.  I went in the house to grab the pizzas, and came out and my table was on fire, there were flames under the egg and up the side.  I looked under the egg and it was like a blow torch of flames shooting down out of the egg to my table.  I tried to snuff out the fire but closing up the egg vents top and bottom, threw corn meal down that I had handy and got it out.  So the next day, I took all of the stuff out of the egg to check out the damage, large cracks in the bottom of base and up the side.  If I wasn’t out near the egg, I would have lost the entire table, attached a pic of the table before hand for reference and photos of the damage.  I haven’t taken the egg out yet to survey what I  need to replace or repair on the table, but I am sure the shelf the egg sits on will need replacing.  So under the egg what you can’t see I had a sheet metal (aluminum) "heat deflector" of sorts, that was totally toast.  I had that there to gauge how much heat transferred into my shelf, which was minimal and to clean out the ash and stuff easy from under the egg.  I will also add that before I fired up the egg, I had taken out the firebox and did a really good ash removal, and did not see any cracks or anything.  My question for you guys is, do I go to my dealer for warranty or contact the mothership?  I would suspect they will not do anything about my table?  Any comments welcome.

pgprescott

dealer

pgprescott

Always go to the dealer first and hopefully last.

Cornholio

Dealer, I just picked up a new/replacement firebox from the dealer I got my egg from 8 years ago and it was an easy process. Hopefully you have your receipt (good reminder for everyone to take pictures of your receipts, just email them over with any warranty claims). 

They (dealer or mothership) will not do anything about your table though. 

GoooDawgs

FWIW, this has happened several times on my XL (4 times so far).  I don't think it's possible to do high heat pizza cooks on the XL and not eventually crack it.  So the "cracked egg" gets rolled into the driveway for high heat cooks now, and the replacement stays on the deck only for cooks < 400 degrees and anytime I'm smoking.  

speed51133

I have done countless pizzas on my XL at 700-800F. 

GoooDawgs

speed51133 said:

I have done countless pizzas on my XL at 700-800F. 

You are one of the lucky ones.   Check underneath the base,  or shop vac the inside.  I bet there's a hairline crack from the front near the sliding screen to the back.  

GaBGE

I am currently on my third XL base. Luckily nothing like you experienced, I have noticed the hairline cracks before they got as bad as yours. I have a great dealer, sent pictures both times and he has gotten me a new base. 

YukonRon

2 types of Ceramic grills; 1) cracked ceramic grills and 2) Ceramic grills that are going to crack.

BGE has been amazing with my warranties. That is why I have the Eggs.

westernbbq

I am on my 4th base for xl.  All warranty replaced
Cant figure out why they keep cracking

cookingdude555

Still on my xl first base. Sold a ten year old xl last year, it was on its first base too

WildmanWilson

I’m curious what people that have cracked XLs use for stands? Are they in factory nest or tables? I have one that’s rather new and haven’t cooked at high temps yet. 

YukonRon

I have mine in the factory nest. It has held up well thus far. My XL.....not so much.

1st issue was an exploding fire grate. Which at 330⁰F is when it blew, lifted the lid about 4 inches and imbedded chunks into the dome. My dealer took care of that pronto. Replacing both Dome and fire grate.

2nd was a cracked plate setter. It broke in two after a long low and slow. Dealer replaced that.

3rd issue was a cracked base. Happened immediately after removing the fire grate for a KAB. Perhaps the issue was a coincidence, I have no idea, but I was doing a blazing hot grill for a bunch of steaks.
My dealer replaced it.

Since then, I have kept my old fire grate in and placed the basket over it and have had zero problems. When I got my KAB it was recommended to keep the fire grate in. I had spoke with others, that removed the grate and had zero problems. So I thought I would try it. Cracked the first cook without it.

This was a couple years ago, no problem since.

So, for my XL the only things not replaced are my ceramic fire rings. They remain the only original pieces left from my initial purchase.

I have a MiniMax that has had zero problems, and continues to perform stellar.
It also has the KAB, and runs without the grate. No issues.

GaBGE

WildmanWilson said:

I’m curious what people that have cracked XLs use for stands? Are they in factory nest or tables? I have one that’s rather new and haven’t cooked at high temps yet. 

My fist base that cracked was in BGE nest. Since then I have built a table and my XL sits in a BGE table nest on top of pavers. 

I also use a KAB but use it on top of factory charcoal grate. 

soicwby

Thanks guys, I am going to stop at my dealer tonight after work.  I do have a KAB and have been using it for years in my XL with no factory grate.  Same set up in my MM as well.  I am using a factory table nest in my XL. 

speed51133

Oh, my plate setter did crack. It is still usable, but it did crack. Dealer replaced and let me keep the cracked one. I use the factory nest. 

JRWhitee

I thought you were going to say your base cracked when Chase Young was getting his 4th sack...lol. 

 My large cracked a few years ago just like yours, dealer had me a new base by the weekend. 👍 Go Bucks.

Thegrim1

On my 3rd XL base in three years. Both cracked under vent through bottom.