HELP NEEDED...XL lid will only lift up 3 inches

jeremyf0923

Hello everyone - hoping someone out there has experienced this.  I've had my XL for about 10 years and out of nowhere a couple of days ago I was grilling and when I went to lift the lid it would only lift about 3 inches.  It was just enough space for me to pull my chicken off.  No amount of force will open the lid beyond the 3 inches.  I suspect it is an easy fix, but can't find anything on this forum or via Google search regarding this specific issue.  Please let me now as soon as possible - my wife is going to be very upset if we can grill tomorrow for Easter! 

Thanks in advance!

Jeremy

CornfedMA

Have you checked your hinge assembly? It sounds like something broke or is binding really badly to not allow it to open. 

Canugghead

Welcome! Can you post some photos, may be someone can spot the problem. Any unusual high temp cooks recently?

Mattman3969

‘I believe @Photo Egg or @Botch has mentioned that the nuts on the hinges will tighten themselves over time and that they need to oiled and adjusted periodically.  Maybe he will chime in. 

lousubcap

As above, absent any changes, start wrenching. Loosen everything (NOT band bolts) and go from there.  That should take of the immediate issue.  If not then you had a spontaneous alignment problem pop up and that's unlikely.  FWIW-

Photo Egg

Check the bolt in center of photo.
It’s at an angle and the back end of bolt will hit the band and can self tighten over time. I took mine out on both sides and hit with a grinder to shorten a bit. And I now oil the joints a couple times a year. Trust me, it’s normally just an issue on one side and it doesn’t seem possible that 1 little bolt can lock up the bands like it does. Hope this helps

Eoin

Check that the pivoting bolts are not too tight and then add some oil. Being outside all the time and with a steel on steel pivot, the surfaces will get dirty and rusty and bind over time.

Matt86m

Have someone lift the lid slowly while you look to see if/where it is binding.

rick2752

Check your brackets.  You probably have them to right or have bent one.   Compare sides.   

jeremyf0923

Thanks everyone!  I ended up having to tweak all of the bolts on the right side a bit, but ultimately found the sweet spot and it began opening and closing again with ease. 

@Eoin - what type of oil do you suggest I use on it? 3-in-1 or something else?

Eoin

jeremyf0923 said:

Thanks everyone!  I ended up having to tweak all of the bolts on the right side a bit, but ultimately found the sweet spot and it began opening and closing again with ease. 

@Eoin - what type of oil do you suggest I use on it? 3-in-1 or something else?

Sunflower last time I did mine!

Photo Egg

jeremyf0923 said:

Thanks everyone!  I ended up having to tweak all of the bolts on the right side a bit, but ultimately found the sweet spot and it began opening and closing again with ease. 

@Eoin - what type of oil do you suggest I use on it? 3-in-1 or something else?

3-in-1 is perfect. Or any other concentrated oil like a good saltwater fishing reel oil.