Any way to fix a broken weber?

The answer to my question may very well be "Just get a new grill!" but I had to ask....

I have a weber kettle grill that I keep outside all the time. In Massachusetts thats always risky, but the grill has maintained itself very well over the past six years. But last night the bottom vent control snapped off, leaving me with no way to move the vents to and fro.

This is a problem as I can no longer control the heat of my fire. I do a lot of smoking in the grill and this is essential, plus I will now waste all my charcoal as it will just burn itself out everytime.

Anyone know of a way to fix this? Basically looking for a way to restablish some control over the bottom vents.

Thanks!

I would just get another Weber unless you know an experienced metal fabricator that may be able to repair the vent. It depends on the overall condition of the kettle portion. Being a fellow Massachusetts resident, I would recommend you keep it as dry as possible.

I too had an old weber kettle years ago that kept falling apart one way or another. The similar thing occurred to mine except it was the lid vent that snapped off. For quite a while I used several layers of aluminum foil folded together and placed over the opening with pretty good success. Hope this helps.

You could also go to www.gasgrills.com and order a replacement for what broke. They carry most of the parts for Weber charcoal and gas grills. They have always helped me.

John

I've had similar issues with an older Weber kept outside. I'm in MA as well; maybe this should be telling us something. The kettle part is still fine but pretty much all of the moving parts and legs are gone. What I did is buy a new galvanized trash can, set the kettle in the open top, and drill a series of rows of holes around the can about a foot below the rim. This allows enough air circulation to keep things going, but not so much that the coal just burns right up. Another benefit is the ashes just fall to the bottom of the trashcan. This kettle is on its second trash can as of last weekend and still works fine, these things are indestructible.

db

Check around locally. We have 2 places within 1/2 a mile that sell grill parts (a-z) Ones a hardware store, and the other is an appliance store... (For those in the GR area, thats Decker Appliance and Rylees Ace Hardware, both right by Michigan and Fuller)...

If you still have the vent, you could drill a hole through the vent and rivet and run a nut and bolt through. In true Maine fashion, my Weber came from the landfill (read dump), and I had to make one of the bottom vents out of sheet alumininum and attatched in in this fashion. That was three yars ago, and it still works fine.
Top

quote:

Originally posted by Top

If you still have the vent, you could drill a hole through the vent and rivet and run a nut and bolt through. In true Maine fashion, my Weber came from the landfill (read dump), and I had to make one of the bottom vents out of sheet alumininum and attatched in in this fashion. That was three yars ago, and it still works fine.
Top

I'd probably skip the rivet part and use some stainless steel hardware instead..
(Bolt, couple of nuts, flat and spring washers)

Thanks to all! I found the part and ordered it. Hopefully I can fix it. But it was only 11 bucks. Beats buying a new one...I'll hold on to the more creative ideas in case I need them!

Its going to be a real pain getting the housing and control rod off. Thing is rusted into the bottom of the bowl. Gotta try...

quote:

Originally posted by renfrew

Thanks to all! I found the part and ordered it. Hopefully I can fix it. But it was only 11 bucks. Beats buying a new one...I'll hold on to the more creative ideas in case I need them!

Its going to be a real pain getting the housing and control rod off. Thing is rusted into the bottom of the bowl. Gotta try...

Start blasting it with PB Blast or WD40 while you're waiting on the part.. Might make matters easier... Keep us updated on that critical update (repair) to your hardware there...

I just went down and checked my own Weber, and the bottom control vents are pretty much rusted shut! A good dose of WD40 and a pair of vise-grips should put matters to right.

Although you would think that at least SOME of us Massachusetts-based Weber owners would spring for the bloody grill cover!

On tonight's menu: ground lamb burgers and grilled veg. Yum yum.

quote:

Originally posted by Lucky Bishop

I just went down and checked my own Weber, and the bottom control vents are pretty much rusted shut! A good dose of WD40 and a pair of vise-grips should put matters to right.

Although you would think that at least SOME of us Massachusetts-based Weber owners would spring for the bloody grill cover!

On tonight's menu: ground lamb burgers and grilled veg. Yum yum.

Mine are frozen open.. Thats the way I always leave it anyways, but the ash gizmo dont work now so I have to shake the grill. I primarily use the upper vent for temp control, which seems to have worked fine for the last several years..

quote:

Originally posted by Lucky Bishop

I just went down and checked my own Weber, and the bottom control vents are pretty much rusted shut! A good dose of WD40 and a pair of vise-grips should put matters to right.

Although you would think that at least SOME of us Massachusetts-based Weber owners would spring for the bloody grill cover!

On tonight's menu: ground lamb burgers and grilled veg. Yum yum.

Any of you ever hear of a shed or a garage or something??? I too found out that East coast winters are not conducive to long grill life.

MikeS.

Yeah, I've heard of sheds and garages. Wanna come find a place for one in the postage-stamp back yard of a row house, smart guy?

quote:

Originally posted by MikeSh

Any of you ever hear of a shed or a garage or something??? I too found out that East coast winters are not conducive to long grill life.

MikeS.

Too much hassel hauling it in and out every other day... Plus Ma Nature adds her natural seasoning to it!

quote:

Originally posted by MikeSh

Any of you ever hear of a shed or a garage or something??? I too found out that East coast winters are not conducive to long grill life.
MikeS.

Then how do you do the annual New Year's Eve rib BBQ?
Just lit off my dump-reclaimed Weber for jerk chicken tonight.
Top

The best place for Weber parts is Weber itself: [url]www.weber.com[/url]. And for some reason shipping is a flat $5; I replaced my Bar-B-Kettle and Smokey Joe bowls this year and the shipping was the same for each. Weber's customer service dept. has a very good reputation...

Brad O.

Well I got the part. However, The little skate key looking thing that goes through the nut broke off, leaving half of it still threaded through the bolt, and the rod snapped off too, leaving it threaded through the nut as well.

So all I can do is turn the nut round and round because of the threaded bit of metal keeping it locked on.

I started entering "buy a new grill, ass" territory. But on a professional level, I am annoyed. The Weber is in great, seasoned shape. I dont wanna break in a new grill. And I have new gleaming hardware sitting there waiting to be used!

As for keeping it outside, my wife berated me for that...But hey, it was out there for six long years and the only thing that rusted is one itty bitty part. I think that is pretty good.

So I am feeling sorry for myself, but alas! It was my birthday last week and my wife bought me a Ranch Kettle! I am in heaven. Now I just have to put it together. I will keep this baby covered with a tarp, no question about that.

A Ranch for your birthday?!? Wow...will you be paying a visit to the jeweler when her birthday rolls around?

Brad

Drill out the center of the air control. Add extra washers this time so that when you have the same problem in another six years you can cut of the center rod w/ a hack saw.

Heard of garages or sheds? That's where all the junk that isn't enamaled goes isn't it?

My Webers are mostly kept outside (suitcase ones are kept in the shop because they're real easy to steal) and are all so old they have wooden handles. Course this is NC.

I had a similar problem with my old favorite Weber several years ago and called the Weber customer service line. They connected me with their parts/service dept. and in less than a week UPS had delived the part at a very reasonable price.