Weber Kettle Club Forums
Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: Bbqmiller on March 28, 2013, 04:15:35 PM
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Since you don't find too much info on rehabbing a RK, I thought I would document my experience. Just started tearing her down. There is very little rust anywhere on the bowl, lid, and cart. I think she will look brand new when done.
Bowl and lid - you can see bright shiny porcelain where the gunk has peeled away in a few places. The bowl actually isn't that heavy, and it is easily maneuvered with one hand.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/C061D39A-31D6-48F8-8797-3E1082A5C9CF-2614-0000008F1CF52D86.jpg)
Bowl has a fair amount of dirt/dust in it. The rust is from the charcoal grate flaking off.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/D1AE8CCA-DB60-4D18-A77F-8E449A68DC71-2614-0000008F20990931.jpg)
Ash bowl - just dirty
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/107B8794-8CA9-412A-BBD0-B5BC02AE5EB5-2614-0000008F2DAAFAA2.jpg)
Other side of ash bowl
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/05201FCE-3B92-44BF-9CE9-0503F2778862-2614-0000008F32CAFDEA.jpg)
Three DO bottom vents - they weren't rusted shut.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/880898B9-4E49-4F4B-8971-D9DC41DFEF8D-2614-0000008F3837E40A.jpg)
Charcoal grate - good shape and not warped to any extent
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/0AC39D6A-491E-4A3F-BD3D-0465516F483A-2614-0000008F283FE03A.jpg)
Stainless steel grate - this is what will take some time. There is some rust, but the grate is worth saving and has a lot of life left - these cost $200 new.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/0322B4B1-7B46-40A0-AC50-74608D14B17C-2614-0000008F24687405.jpg)
One of lid rollers. As you can see these are a little larger than those found on the smaller kettles. I noticed that this one didn't spin freely. Once I got it off, the washer and nut had melted into the body. Got my hacksaw out and got them out. Sanded the end down to get s nice flat surface -,should work fine now.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/D9B319B7-E569-46E7-883B-CC958030AEA3-2614-0000008F3C2D03B4.jpg)
I am hoping to finish it up tomorrow with a day off from work. Got some 000 steel wool - it sounds like that works good for making these kettles shine like new again.
Mike
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Nice job so far Mike...I use 0000 steel wool on mine. It won't scratch...only polishes the porcelain finish. I use it on chrome as well! Look forward to more pics!
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looking forward to finished pics 8)
hurry up already ;D
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Very cool. That ranch is going to be amazing! I don't need one. I don't.
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Very nice! How long have you owned it for?
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That RK was seriously abused. I'm glad you got it, I hope you can get it back to presentable condition. Those are great for block parties.
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Looks like a fun project saving an RK. I might have missed the thread, but you must have gotten a great deal on it.
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NICE! I cant wait to see how it turns out.
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I use a $10 Harbor Frieght grinder with a 4" brush wheel to clean up grates.
Works grate! 8)
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Looks like a fun project. I have one I'm gonna redo this spring. 8)
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Here's the top vent damper before cleaning
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/5E772320-F154-42BB-BF28-3797C0AC1071-2614-000001CC982882A2.jpg)
Lid ready for cleaning
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/D4BE623A-0902-46A4-891C-3FB264D87C71-2614-000001CC95258E0A.jpg)
Lid after cleaning with dawn and 0000 steel wool - it doesn't look the same
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/D5274CB9-8B3E-4CAC-8D15-92CE77BDF31C-2614-000001CC9B8F57AC.jpg)
See the clouds in the reflection
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/DDAC30DA-CB4A-4999-94C3-1E8BE5C822CA-2614-000001CC9E386956.jpg)
If the rest cleans up that good it will look almost new
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LOVE that lid-after shot with the sky and bare trees and all. What a nice way to spend a day. Keep those photos coming!
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Nice work, Mike!
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Nice work! I also found that a wire wheel on a drill works excellent for cleaning the grill grates.
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Very nice, Mike. I am excited to see how the grate turns out.
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Here is the bowl before cleaning - I didn't know how it would turn out since it was so funky, but I did believe it was mostly dirt and gunk that could be removed with a little elbow grease.
Inside of dirty charcoal bowl
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/489A86E4-1A9F-4BB4-9426-702BDF329CE5-2614-000002016F7FA1B3.jpg)
Bottom of bowl - this didn't look so bad once removed.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/DA36DF00-31A9-43E6-8ACA-ED0132FF054A-2614-000002018CF6F80C.jpg)
Dirty cart
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/A2D093CF-EE2E-4674-A005-95E71CD111CD-2614-0000020194C8B44D.jpg)
Clean bowl - bottom
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/ED66F858-A98C-4DB4-8714-D25F12B5E55B-2614-000002019C8866EF.jpg)
Inside of charcoal bowl - hard to believe this is the same bowl shown earlier. See the clouds in the reflection.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/14DE12DC-E8C5-4EDC-807E-47D03E29EFD5-2614-00000201A14CC6F1.jpg)
Inside of lid after cleaning
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/13FC14B5-145D-446A-BE3E-A345D5BAA94E-2614-00000201ABFFF893.jpg)
Cart cleaned up well
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/3CD4C27F-17AD-426D-A4D0-3E74726AF0DA-2614-0000023A7291424D.jpg)
Bowls (top and bottom) and ash pan look pretty good. Will work on the grate tomorrow. Wife wanted to go to the garden center so the grill rehab will continue tommorrow.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/DA8D640F-BBD0-4345-9863-1481F4D80D4A-2614-0000023971534DD4.jpg)
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Now I really want a RK
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Very nice! How long have you owned it for?
3 weeks - just picked it up from CL. Paid $400 - could have negotiated a little, but I think it was fair given the condition. It was stored covered so it has very little rust/weathering. Jaranimo had posted this listing.
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Awesome score and outstanding cleanup! It's coming together very nicely!
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Now I really want a RK
I told you to go buy it!
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That is looking AWESOME! Nice score!
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Now I really want a RK
I told you to go buy it!
Yeah yeah..... And you said I'd regret it
You were right , I was wrong
We all learn by our mistakes
My cars got gas, my wallets full.... Look out anyone in the state looking to sell a RK cause im ready to roll
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See if that guy still has that one you were thinking about......
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Looking great! So 0000 steel wool wont hurt the porcelin?
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Looking great! So 0000 steel wool wont hurt the porcelin?
Nope, it makes it shine!! 8)
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Its looking great so far. You better have a kick ass meal ready to make on it once its all put together!
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See if that guy still has that one you were thinking about......
I have and he does but he wants $600 for it
Plus $300 freight plus it needs some serious work, some which is probably irrepairable
Way out of my league......
I think I'll just bide my time and wait for one to pop up
There's been 2 in the last 6mths pop up locally for $800
My day will come
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no doubt....
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Well, I am still working on the grate but I did get some new hardware and put it back together.
Lid rollers - the one on the right was the one that didn't turn since it was melted into the nut. Fixed it up and sanded it down. I added an extra washer that should minimize this in the future. The both spin well now.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/9FEC4B52-E5E5-4C45-876B-A7D099C45A65-53468-000005F1BE4849FC.jpg)
Compare the before and after with the lid open.
Before
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/C061D39A-31D6-48F8-8797-3E1082A5C9CF-2614-0000008F1CF52D86.jpg)
After
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/110ADAB4-450A-4740-9FEF-7322682A2E8A-53468-000005F1C27ACFAE.jpg)
Couple of pics of assembled kettle
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/BD81DCD7-7226-477F-AC27-EE9CF9AEBAC6-53468-000005F1C66D1E2E.jpg)
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/4005A714-3B08-4E2C-AF68-4B1A2859B399-53468-000005F59FE80EB4.jpg)
I ordered a couple of handles from Brian to put on the lid. Doesn't seem right not to dress her ip a bit
I hope to get the cooking grate in shape for cooking by next weekend. It is looking pretty good, but I want to work on it some more.
Mike
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Great work
Love the two lid open shots
It's amazing how well they come up after a bit of elbow grease
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I really want a RK......
Now I need one!
Sent from my Nexus using Tapatalk 2
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You killed it on that rehab! The before and after pics are awesome! Good work.
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That looks brand new! 8)
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Wow. One hell of a job!!!
thanks for sharing
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Great job! Looks showroom condition now.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2
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Hey, how did the grate clean up go? Do you have a before and after of the grate? I saw your first cook pics- looks awesome!
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Hey, how did the grate clean up go? Do you have a before and after of the grate? I saw your first cook pics- looks awesome!
It cleaned up good after a fair amount work with a wire and wheel brush using my drill. Before I cooked last weekend, I heated up the grate and seasoned with grape seed oil. I will take some pics of the newly seasoned grate tomorrow. Cooked some salmon last weekend and it didn't stick that bad. Just need to season it a bit more.
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Thanks, Mike!
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Wow that is a very nice Ranch. Looking forward to a shot with the new handles and your neighbors comments. Makes your 26.75 look like one of my 18.5 kettles. ;D
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New Handles? Helloooooo
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Wow, Nice job!
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New Handles? Helloooooo
Wooden handles from Brian look good - I still need to rework the bottom vents as two of them were deformed from trying to force open at one point.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/644A91EE-D6A2-4C8F-89FF-96D686AA75F9-51542-000005EA2FE2D248.jpg)
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/BE58E6C7-604D-40DF-A768-43AE3502E3B0-51542-000005EA9033E489.jpg)
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/3368723A-CF56-453D-9159-189C76601710-51542-000005EA934EDBF3.jpg)
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Hey, how did the grate clean up go? Do you have a before and after of the grate? I saw your first cook pics- looks awesome!
Here is a before of the grates. It isn't easy to see from the pic, but the grate had a fair amount of surface rust.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/A419CC4C-561E-4ED5-ABBE-8961CFC490E4-53100-000005EE90054E70.jpg)
After first cook and generous amounts of grape seed oil. Will take a few cooks to get I seasoned up well. Once I get the new bottom vents, I will be firing her up again.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/D7698B92-9A8E-4C6A-963D-81CD3360C52F-51542-000005EA746BBFD4.jpg)
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/4218B814-5E63-4AE3-9370-BCAA8522BE8C-51542-000005EA9707E378.jpg)
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are those ones the standard nickel plated / chrome, or does the Ranch go uptown & give you stainless?
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Really great, that is really a nice grill now.....It came out so good. The handles were the icing on the cake ;)
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are those ones the standard nickel plated / chrome, or does the Ranch go uptown & give you stainless?
It is stainless - it weighs a ton. The diameter of the rod used seems larger than the stainless grates used on the 22/26 in kettles. The cooking grate for a RK will cost you $200 - I am happy that I was able to get in working condition again for that reason. Should get a lot of mileage out if this one as I will make sure to maintain it properly.
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New Handles? Helloooooo
Wooden handles from Brian look good - I still need to rework the bottom vents as two of them were deformed from trying to force open at one point.
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/644A91EE-D6A2-4C8F-89FF-96D686AA75F9-51542-000005EA2FE2D248.jpg)
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/BE58E6C7-604D-40DF-A768-43AE3502E3B0-51542-000005EA9033E489.jpg)
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i480/okmiller/3368723A-CF56-453D-9159-189C76601710-51542-000005EA934EDBF3.jpg)
I will install the bottom vents and ensure that your grate is seasoned to perfection. No need to waste your time. Go ahead and fed Ex it to me for a complimentary tune up. :)