Major alignment issue

Spydermunky · April 2015

Hey everyone,

I've been having issues with an underbite for the past few weeks, so I decided to pull my dome off last night and try to finally straighten everything out. However, I seem to have made everything worse.

Several times I would get the dome and base lined up, and get the bands tightened, but the second I put the springs back on it would knock everything out of whack. Like so out of whack I would have a 1/2 inch underbite AND a 1/4 gap between the dome and base in the back. I took it apart and tried again what felt like a thousand time, and always got the same result.

So, my question is what's causing this? Are the bolts in my hinge loose? If so, how tight should they be? Or am I just missing some key portion of the straightening process?

Thanks in advance for any help.

SoCalTim · April 2015

Don't know if we're on the same page, but there's 2 small pieces of white plastic (maybe 1" x 2") that you use to hold the springs in the closed position, while you make proper adjustments. They are on the spring assembly from the factory.

If you bought your egg un-assembled you (in theory) should still have them, if not .. your local dealer might have some spares from when they assembly the eggs in their store.

Hope this helps.

Spydermunky · April 2015

SoCalTim said:

Don't know if we're on the same page, but there's a small piece of white plastic maybe 1" x 2" that you used to hold the springs in the closed position, while you make proper adjustments.

If you bought your egg un-assembled you (in theory) should still have them, if not .. your local deal might have some spares from when they assembly the eggs in their store.

Hope this helps.

Thanks. I think that'll probably fix my band alignment issue. But I'm also worried about the tightness of the bolt/nuts on the hinge. Any idea what tension they should be at?

johnkitchens · April 2015

My eggs came pre-assembled and my second one was out of alignment. I loosened everything and got my dome in position. I then slowly tightened everything.

It took a a couple of times, but I finally got it. I probably just got lucky.

SoCalTim · April 2015

Thinking back to when I assembled my egg, I just gave it a firm tightning. Maybe you should go on You Tube and take a look at the assembly process.

Maybe there's something you missed. Good luck brother!

Ozzie_Isaac · April 2015

125 in-lbs

Spydermunky · April 2015

Thanks for the insight everyone. In watching the youtube assembly videos I can see some of the areas I've gotten wrong. I'll get with my local dealer to see if they have any of the white clips an spacers.

SoCalTim · April 2015

@Spydermunky .. if your dealer doesn't have any, contact me ... I'll send you some. Tim

Spydermunky · April 2015

@SoCalTim .. Just got off the phone with Duance at BGE customer service and he's dropping some in the mail for me. But I truly appreciate the offer and can't thank everyone enough for the help.

THEBuckeye · April 2015

Same problem. WIll try the spring holder thingy dingies.

Canugghead · April 2015

Recently I took my Large apart for bottom replacement, top gasket, etc. Misplaced the tabs so I tied the hinges with heavy wire. Unfortunately I tied them in the wrong place and one of them popped out of place into open position. I was able to remove the stretched spring (be careful) and swing that arm back into closed position.

To reassemble, I place the dome on bottom, attached just the metal bands to the ceramic, attached the hinge assembly with one spring missing. I then opened the dome carefully until the two spring attachment holes are closest to each other ... this allows the missing spring to be reattached with almost no stretching.

Any chance you can post closeup photos of your hinge? may be someone can spot something that might help?

edit: IMO the tabs prevent the hinge arms from popping into the open position, they don't necessarily contribute to overbite/underbite issue directly? Mind you I do have a slight underbite though, but no big deal.

SmokingPiney · April 2015

Same problem here. I didn't get the spring tabs with mine, and I have a considerable gap by the hinge. I guess I'll try loosening it all again to get the gap closed.

Chubbs · April 2015

@RRP to the rescue. Sorry Ron

Spydermunky · April 2015

So after extensive time on the phone with Duane from BGE twice today, I finally got about a 90% fix. And to be honest I feel like an idiot for how easy it was...

Primary issue was my hinge alignment. I had loosened and re-tightened all the bolts on the hinge in an effort to get it right, and at some point had overtightened the two bowls that the bottom of the spring attaches to. This was causing the rear of the dome to either stay lifted when I was closing it, or slide back because the tension wasn't allowing the hinge to close right. Once I got my bands on plane and the hinge set right, I tightened all the bolts except those two, put the springs back on and my alignment was a lot closer than before, with only a mild underbite.

Now I'll probably have to repeat soon to replace the gasket the underbite burned out!

mahenryak · April 2015

Spydermunky said:

...
Now I'll probably have to repeat soon to replace the gasket the underbite burned out!

@Spydermunky piggybacking on Chubbs' comment above, you know to contact RRP for a replacement gasket, right?

SmokingPiney · April 2015

I spent about an hour loosening and re-positioning the bands / hinges. I managed to get the gap closed all the way around, but I still have a small underbite in front. My next cook is tomorrow evening so I'll know soon if the gasket is leaking. I'm going to ride as long as I can on the factory gasket and replace it when it fries.

johnkitchens · May 2015

My second one was a royal pain in the butt to align. I worked and worked with, but I eventually got it. You will get it worked out.

Begger · May 2015

Of all the issues I've read about, this is #1.
My egg was aligned fine, but after 4 or 5 cooks, developed an underbite. Dealer came out and fixed and I'll be darned if I know how.

If I COULD, I'd do a CLEAN SHEET redraw of a new hinge with more rational adjustments that would STAY.

Spydermunky · May 2015

@Begger I have the opportunity to switch to a large Primo Oval, and I'm seriously contemplating it solely because of this issue. Their band setup seems a lot more logical to me.

johnkitchens · May 2015

Spydermunky said:

@Begger I have the opportunity to switch to a large Primo Oval, and I'm seriously contemplating it solely because of this issue. Their band setup seems a lot more logical to me.

Don't do that! You will get this worked out. If nothing else see if your dealer can help you. You don't want to get rid of your egg over this.

4Runner · May 2015

Bolts tighten to 10# but I go more. The key for me has been to get the bottom band high up on the edge and level. Then the top band low (use spacers) down on the lip and level. It will run parallel to the bottom. Then tighten. I also gave mine a slight turn when warm for good measure.

Spydermunky · May 2015

johnkitchens said:

Spydermunky said:

@Begger I have the opportunity to switch to a large Primo Oval, and I'm seriously contemplating it solely because of this issue. Their band setup seems a lot more logical to me.

Don't do that! You will get this worked out. If nothing else see if your dealer can help you. You don't want to get rid of your egg over this.

I bought it second hand, but still in the box.

I would prefer to keep the egg AND buy the Primo, but I doubt the wife would go for that one.

johnkitchens · May 2015

Do you know anyone else with an egg that could maybe come over and help you? I had an awful time with my second one, but I finally got it. You will too and you will love it once you do.

Spydermunky · May 2015

4Runner said:

Bolts tighten to 10# but I go more. The key for me has been to get the bottom band high up on the edge and level. Then the top band low (use spacers) down on the lip and level. It will run parallel to the bottom. Then tighten. I also gave mine a slight turn when warm for good measure.

The only way I've been able to keep mine aligned is by having the hinge bolts really loose. If leaves some play in the hinge, but keeps the alignment relatively correct and doesn't seem to cause any issues.

THEBuckeye · May 2015

My white spring spacers do not fit - nor can I stretch them in order to loosen the band and hopefully re-align.

I

Spydermunky · May 2015

THEBuckeye said:

My white spring spacers do not fit - nor can I stretch them in order to loosen the band and hopefully re-align.

I

Can you post some pics of your hinge and underbite? Someone may be able to identify your issue.

4Runner · May 2015

Spydermunky said:

4Runner said:

Bolts tighten to 10# but I go more. The key for me has been to get the bottom band high up on the edge and level. Then the top band low (use spacers) down on the lip and level. It will run parallel to the bottom. Then tighten. I also gave mine a slight turn when warm for good measure.

The only way I've been able to keep mine aligned is by having the hinge bolts really loose. If leaves some play in the hinge, but keeps the alignment relatively correct and doesn't seem to cause any issues.

Sounds like something isn't right if this is the case. I did have to punt last year and ordered and new hinge/spring/band assembly from the Mothership. Made a huge difference for me.

SmokingPiney · May 2015

Looks like I got it!

I still have a slight underbite in front but I had no leakage this evening. I did chicken thighs over the plate setter and pushed the temp to 450 for a little crisping towards the end. No smoke leaked when I shut it down.

Looks like all of my mechanical gymnastics worked out yesterday.

Begger · May 2015

Did a 9+ hour cook of a pork Shoulder last nite. Off by about 0700 when the wife woke early and found it 'done' at about 170 internal.

Jury still out on this hinge / band / alignment but I'm willing to do the work to eventually figure it out and maybe save someone ELSE from my learning curve.

Spydermunky · May 2015

Begger said:

Did a 9+ hour cook of a pork Shoulder last nite. Off by about 0700 when the wife woke early and found it 'done' at about 170 internal.

Jury still out on this hinge / band / alignment but I'm willing to do the work to eventually figure it out and maybe save someone ELSE from my learning curve.

I'm fine with having to buy new bands if that's the final verdict. I just want to exhaust all efforts before I drop $160....

Major alignment issue

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