Checked my smoker's firebox bolts after 4 years, 3 were loose

I was cleaning out ash last Tuesday in Tulsa and gave the bolts a quick once-over, three of them had backed out enough to wiggle with my fingers. If I hadn't caught it, that door could have shifted mid-brisket and ruined a 14 hour cook. Has anyone else torqued theirs down on a schedule, or do you just wait for a rattle?

2 comments

2 Comments

jamie_carter875d ago

Buddy of mine had the same thing happen on his offset, but he didnt catch it until the whole door was rattling like a tin can on a dirt road. He spent half a Sunday tightening everything and now marks the calendar every spring for a check. I figure if you are doing a deep clean anyway, a minute with a wrench beats ruining a long cook any day.

bettyroberts5d ago

Wait, is tightening everything really necessary if the seal itself is still good? I've had my smoker for years and the door never rattles, but I also check the gasket and hinges first. If those are solid, I leave the bolts alone because over-tightening can warp the frame. Maybe your buddy was just dealing with a cheap build that needed constant babysitting, not a universal rule.