Replace Gasket on the BGE

Unknown

I need to replace the gasket on my large BGE. I've ordered it and it will arrive next week. Is there any advice I might need to get this done? I've had the Egg for 5+ years, and now this is the first issue I've had with it. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.[p]Thanks, John

The Naked Whiz

John Welsh,
When I replace mine, I take the top off the egg so I can get it into a position that I can work on it. I like to take a razor blade scraper and get every last little bit of goo and gunk off with the old gasket. So, I sit there and scrape away. When I'm done, then I take some rubbing alcohol and a rag and rub it down to get any grease off. When you get the gasket, cut it in half. There is enough to do both the top and the bottom, so if you cut it in half, guarantee enough for each half. Then, I pull off the tape for about a foot and start applying the gasket. Don't pull or stretch the gasket. There is plenty there. Just lay it down as you go and press it in place. Keep pulling more of the backing off as you go so that you can keep going around the circle. (The gasket won't go around the turn with the paper in place.) It's pretty simple really. Just scrape off the old one and stick on the new one.[p]TNW

Spring Chicken

The Naked Whiz,
Glad y'all brought this up. It reminded me I need to change mine. I like using the felt because the Egg was designed for it. However, I replaced mine about a year ago using the method you described and the first time I heated it up the top and bottom layers stuck together at a couple of points, and pulled away from the ceramic. I managed to get it back in place but I now have a smoke leak near the front handle. I loosened the bands and re-seated the lid but it still leaks. [p]My question is once a new felt gasket is put on how do you make sure it seats evenly and sticks properly? I thought I might spray some Pam on it but not until I talk to some Eggsperts. Any suggestions would be appreciated.[p]Spring Chicken
Spring Texas USA[p]

Tom Harmon

Spring Chicken,[p]I tossed the felt and put the Rutland's tape gasket down. First benefit is you only put on base, no need to do the top. Second, does not 'melt' together anymore. [p]If you have access to a belt sander it works wonders on cleaning up the ceramic.[p]Sounds like you may have some adhesive on the felt for the problem you describe. Or perhaps you spilled something that once it cooled acted like an adhesive?

The Naked Whiz

Spring Chicken,
The instrucstions say to let it cure for 24 hours before using. That might help it stick better. I've never had a problem with the two halves sticking together. Well, only once.... That was on my first cook. I did steaks. I forgot about flashback. I opened the lip. WHOOOOOMMMMP. I dropped the lid. Lid and bottom stuck together with very expensive meat trapped inside. Bugger! Force lid open, ripping gaskets off the egg, rescuing meat. Order new gasket. Install new gasket. Never forget about flashback again.[p]TNW

Painter

John Welsh, I use the 3M paint stripping wheel on my portable drill to remove any leftover adhesive. Non agressive to the ceramic, but makes short work of the old adhesive.
If you want you can strip the whole gasket, and all with this thing. Made of a heavy duty plastic abrasive and does't harm the ceramics. One will last you almost forever for this chore. You will lose it before you wear it out.
Bob

[ul][li]3M paint stripper[/ul]

Unknown

John Welsh,
I haven't tried it on gasket adhesive (yet), but I saw a post on a woodworking forum the other day. It said to remove the adhesive from the stickers that come on those million-dollar pieces of oak that I buy from Home Depot, use a heat gun. The other day, when I screwed up attaching some formica, the heat gun worked wonders removing contact cement. I would assume it would work well for the gasket glue.[/b]

Unknown

qbabes husband,
don't know, but I'd think if the adhesive was that susceptible to high temps then every time someone did I burn off to nuke crude then their gasket would fall off. Personally I switched to Rutland rather than to replace that wimpy felt.

Tim M

Spring Chicken,[p]I would avoid Pam or anything else like that. You want to avoid food, grease, etc from getting on the gaskets as they will just attract more crud. I only replaced my gasket that one time and didn't have a problem. I would avoid a real high temp steak searing fire or pizza and do something lower in temp like chicken breasts at 350-375 for a cook or maybe two to help the glue set. Avoid stretching that gasket too. I did have a section start to move because it was stretched too much and the glue sort of let it go. I stretched it back and left the dome closed a couple days on it - and it's fine.[p]Tim

Unknown

John Welsh,
Folks,[p]Thank you so much for the great info on changing gaskets on the BGE. I really appreciate all the helpful advice.[p]John