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My name is Ron and......

Bacchus
Bacchus Posts: 6,019
edited November -0001 in EggHead Forum
...I haven't been tightening my band bolts.
Working from home today, I decided to take a break and take care of a few areas of procrastination. 2 Eggs, 4 bolts, all tightened for the first time in well over 6 months. I achieved several turns on each. :ermm:
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Comments

  • eenie meenie
    eenie meenie Posts: 4,394
    bad boy
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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 34,574
    yep, gotta check those, the bend were it bolts opens up over time and ive noticed that it gets looser when doing alot of real hot cooks over time, they may even be expanding over time with the constant heatups. i dont believe its the nuts loosening
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • Dave in So Cal
    Dave in So Cal Posts: 603
    We are just about ready to reset the clocks for daylight savings time. This is a good reminder to check your bolts and snug 'em up if needed.

    Thanks for the reminder.
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  • Kenny 13
    Kenny 13 Posts: 321
    I noticed when I was assembling mine that there are actually recommended torque values for the band bolts in the assembly instructions. I think it was something like 123 inch pounds if anyone actually has a small torque wrench handy to do the job.
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  • Village Idiot
    Village Idiot Posts: 6,959
    A good reminder. Thanks.
    __________________________________________

    Dripping Springs, Texas.
    Just west of Austintatious


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  • Bacchus
    Bacchus Posts: 6,019
    I believe the general consensus is that over tightening is not possible. I have never heard of anyone cracking or otherwise damaging anything.
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  • Grandpas Grub
    Grandpas Grub Posts: 14,226
     
    Thanks for the post, I haven't checked mine in a year now.

    But, it is snowing and I will do it tomorrow, maybe.

    GG
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 26,451
    I haven't checked mine in years - ever since I double nutted them. Four more nuts for less than a buck...really cheap insurance!
    Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 
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  • Kenny 13
    Kenny 13 Posts: 321
    Bacchus wrote:
    I believe the general consensus is that over tightening is not possible. I have never heard of anyone cracking or otherwise damaging anything.

    Not sure if this was aimed at my post about the torque values. If so, my concern wasn't about over tightening, but rather making sure it's tight enough. Those kinds of things just stand out to me because I work for a company that manufactures torque tools and does industrial bolting work. I guess I was just thinking out loud, but I have seen applications where a bolt seemed too tight and turned out it actually wasn't tight enough when a torque wrench went on it.
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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 34,574
    you will still want to check them after a few cooks, then after a few months, then twice a year, either the bands stretch a little or the bends give out a littlebut they do loosen up over time. with thermal expansion and a high temp cook, they can get real loose
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • Kenny 13
    Kenny 13 Posts: 321
    Yeah, you definitely need to check them periodically as heat causes expansion too, so they will expand & contract as they heat & cool.
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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 34,574
    it expands and contracts, but over time it contracts a little less each time. never seen the math that would back that up but i work with some pretty hot systems and i know its true
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • Kenny 13
    Kenny 13 Posts: 321
    Yeah, you're correct on that. Kind of like stretching a rubber band. As you keep stretching, it starts returning less and less to its' original size.
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  • Weekend Warrior
    Weekend Warrior Posts: 1,702
    Ron, I really don't think the second nut does anything to help keep the bands tight. I think that second nut is giving you a false sense of security. I think you properly tightened the oem nuts in the first place and that's why you've been lucky and never had a problem. There is no mechanism in place(vibration, etc.) that would cause the oem nut to loosen by itself. As fishlessman said, band tightness or lack of same is a product of heating and cooling and expansion and contraction of the bands. I hope you don't loose a dome someday because you've convinced yourself that double nutting is a failsafe. I check my bands every couple of months for tightness and adjust if necessary. Just my 2 cents.

    Mark
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  • Capt Frank
    Capt Frank Posts: 2,578
    Good advice, thanks! :)

    Capt Frank
    Homosassa, FL
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  • Florida Grillin Girl
    Florida Grillin Girl Posts: 5,011
    Hi Ron. I have never tightened mine. Guess it's a miracle that the 14 year old large even opens and closes! It must be a guy thing - you guys just like to fiddle with your nuts and bolts!

    Faith
    Happily egging on my original large BGE since 1996... now the owner of 5 eggs. Call me crazy, everyone else does!
     
    3 Large, 1 Small, 1 well-used Mini
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 26,451
    for kicks and giggles I just went out and checked all my nuts and could not tighten a single one! Keep in mind fishlessman cooks his pizzas over 1,000° so maybe he sees more metal expansion and contraction than most of us.
    Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 
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  • cookn biker
    cookn biker Posts: 13,407
    Whew, I'm not alone. Me neither Faith. Sam, my boss/friend had my medium for a bit and I told him to tighten those.
    Molly
    Colorado Springs
    "Loney Queen"
    "Respect your fellow human being, treat them fairly, disagree with them honestly, enjoy their friendship, explore your thoughts about one another candidly, work together for a common goal and help one another achieve it."
    Bill Bradley; American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, former U.S. Senator from New Jersey
    LBGE, MBGE, SBGE , MiniBGE and a Mini Mini BGE
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  • thechief96
    thechief96 Posts: 1,908
    I've only done a few low temp cooks but will check tomorrow
    Dave San Jose, CA The Duke of Loney
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