How to remove the cast iron rEGGulator vent cap

pauldeluca1967

I have a Large BGE with a cast iron rEGGulator vent cap. It is not the daisy wheel style but the newer one.

The vent cap was frozen to the Egg. Likely would have come free once the Egg was fully heated but I did not want to wait for my next cook. So, I grabbed a regular hammer and approached the Egg.

I rapidly tapped lightly (ever so lightly) around the circumference of the vent cap. Tapping enough to break eggshells on steel is the best I can describe how hard. That should hard enough.

I then tapped on the flange (lightly) in an attempt to spin the cap free. On the first tap, the cap jarred slightly. I grabbed it with my hand and voila! It came right off.

The purpose of this event was to install a new cast iron rain cap. I needed to remove the vent cap in order to route the mounting bolt from the underneath side and attach the new cap.

Here's a link to the cap:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08C7S33SN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Came out pretty good!

Botch

Very cool!  After reading your first 3 paragraphs I was expecting disaster.    
And, Welcome!  

johnmitchell

Welcome.

lousubcap

As above, I was expecting the shattered story.  A win is a win.
Welcome aboard and enjoy the journey.  Above all, have fun.  

Langner91

I have two eggs with rEGGulators.  My MiniMax is so loose, you have to be careful to not twist the whole thing when opening it.  My large would require the same removal persuasion that @pauldeluca1967 had to use.  Odd.

Glad to see it turned out well!

nolaegghead

I was going to suggest a hammer after only reading the title.  Validated.

Mark_B_Good

Botch said:

Very cool!  After reading your first 3 paragraphs I was expecting disaster.    
And, Welcome!  

Me too, my stomach still has a knot in it. Glad it worked out.

RRP

I realize your approach turned out fine and all that, but for future eggers who read this thread who don’t understand the term “tapped lightly” I revert to a wise old suggestion that a ceramic BGE and a hammer should NEVER meet! Instead of using a hammer, then use a wooden mallet, or even a short piece of wood, like a large limb or even a piece of 2x4. A mere slip of the hand or deflection using a hammer could break the egg, damage the glazed surface or both.
You were gentle but also lucky! The other readers may not be so lucky and their mishap is not something covered by warranty!

TWags15

Was the rapid tapping around the circumference done at the top of the rEGGulator (tapping downward), maybe like you'd loosen a lid to a jar? Or was it around the side? I'm having the same issue and want mine off so I can replace it.

littlerascal56

I Agree with Ron.  A piece of wood works.  I only removed mine every 4 months for cleaning, and it was stuck tight every time.  I had a piece of 1” hardwood that I put between the egg top and bottom of cap, and a gentle pry popped it loose every time!

xfire_ATX

I have that cap and the BGE rain cap... I can see using this in flipped up version to avoid lots of heat buildup on that rain cap but I only use that cap if its raining.

It rains so rarely and to match up with egging Ive only used it twice.

Skims_Smokehouse

I might go up through the dome and apply upward force on the cap using a wood dowel.  I might also try some loosening torsion with a rope wrapped around the cap and a screwdriver s twisting the rope very tightly.

xfire_ATX

xfire_ATX said:

I have that cap and the BGE rain cap... I can see using this in flipped up version to avoid lots of heat buildup on that rain cap but I only use that cap if its raining.

It rains so rarely and to match up with egging Ive only used it twice.

I realized today that BGE doesnt come with Ceramic cap anymore, hence why I use the Reggulator rarely and maybe once a year the cover on it.

Sumaru

Glad you had success! I'll admit, the hammer method also gave me the heebie jeebies! I just used my Looftlighter to heat the Reggulator, and with my heavy Weber leather BBQ gloves and an automotive trim plastic pry tool, twisted and pried around the circumference until she came off.