I finally got my bands adjusted and now have a good dome seal...

BBQEd

After a year of cockeyed bands and a less than good seal all of the way around the egg I decided to take another stab at getting the dome to seat properly.[p]First I loosened the bands and pushed them as far up on the dome and as far down on the base as I could. At first I used a screwdriver and my palm to try to persuade the bands to move, then I got out the hammer. After a few dinks and chipped paint in the bands I replaced the screwdriver with a small piece of wood and went to work around the perimeter of the egg. I re tightened the bands and closed her up to find an air gap at the back side of the egg. (surprised?) After a little thinking, I loosened up the 4 nuts that connect the top bands to the hinge assembly, exerted a small downward force on the dome. Pulled out 3 sheets of paper closed the lid on them and still no joy. I then loosened the 4 nuts that join the bottom band to the hinge assembly and leaned a little on the top of the hinge assembly. As soon as I pushed on the top of the hinge assembly I could see the hinge assembly and back of the dome go down, I tightened the lower 4 nuts while leaning on the top of the hinge assembly. I pulled out my paper, closed the dome on it and found that I really had to tug on the paper to slide it. I now have a really tight seal all of the way around the egg.[p]Just to expand a bit, when I say I leaned on the hinge assembly I don't mean that I used my full body weight it was more like a moderate downward push to hold the hinge assembly down while i tightened the nuts.[p]My dome is still slightly misaligned laterally, maybe 3 or 4 mm but the seal is outstanding.[p]I hope this helps anyone that suffers with the same issue I had.

Retread

BBQEd, Thanks for explaining your methodology. I have been have the same problem and will give your method a try.

BBQEd

Retread,[p]Let me know how it works out. I retested the seal on my egg tonight and it is still very tight all of the way around.

Celtic Wolf

BBQEd,[p] How many drinks exactly and what type? That could be important....

BBQEd

Celtic Wolf,[p]LOL, maybe you had a few dinks before you read my post. I guess dink must be a yinzer or local dialect thing, around here dinks a and dents are synonyms. I guess I won't tell you I used a gumband to attach my Polder to the handle of the egg.[p]

pattont

I am having a similar problem.. The top of my egg sits about 4mm to the left of the bottom. No amount of pushing has pushed it back into place. Also, I have only had it about a month and the back of my seal loose and charbroiled. I have bought a replacement already, but I don't want to replace it until I fix the issue of the mis-alignment.

Panhandle Smoker

Go back through the band instalation instructions. Make sure it is all correct. The gap is the likely cause of the gasket getting burnt.

http://forte-products.com/img/BGE SAB Manual 7-16-07.pdf