UPDATE: 26.75" OTP ; or Should I Fix This Leg Socket?

[CharliefromLI]

What about a ring with brackets on the outside that would fit cart, then the 26" bowl could sit in the ring?

You could interchange the 26 and 22 bowls as needed?

Or you could keep it simple and get a warranty replacement bowl from weber. I get the sentimental value but the best way to honor the sentiment is to cook on it.

[jcnaz]

Maybe i should have said what is your plan to anchor it to the stand

My thought is to use some aluminum 90 angle stock to make brackets. I will bolt the horizontal portion of the brackets to the frame tubes where the current bowl tabs go. The vertical portion of the brackets will be formed to fit around a portion  of the bowl, drill some holes and attach with SS bolts.

Um. Gravity.

Marty, I spilled my coffee all over the desk when I read this!

[Hogsy]

26 OTP gets my vote

[jcnaz]

The bottom line on the 26er is that I love cooking on it, but I think I will like it better if it is more stable. This can be accomplished if the kettle is mounted to a cart, table, or stand. I am going to attempt to create these brackets out of some scrap material from our shop at work. I will be able to verify the fit and function of the plan before I have to drill anything, so my risk is low. I would be able to use the brackets to mount the 26" bowl on any of my four-legged Webers, so I could leave my OTP for the rotisserie. I have an SS Performer and a recently acquired 2nd gen. Performer that could be candidates for 26" greatness!

And if I don't love it, I can put everything back and deal with the socket.

Unfortunately, I am out of town and it will be next week before I can look at it. 

[swamprb]

Do the Ranch Kettle Mod and never look back!

[jcnaz]

Do the Ranch Kettle Mod and never look back!

Brian, I have thought about that too. I will have to price out the ranch leg kit.

[Heyjude]

Get a new bowl form Weber. No one is going to know ir care. Raichlen is not that special! He didn't invent the Weber or BBQ.
Maybe if you cooked with him or he autographed it.. Maybe..
Get a new bowl and convert the old one to a Frirepit..
Just my 2 sense.. Do what YOU want..

[jcnaz]

Get a new bowl form Weber. No one is going to know ir care. Raichlen is not that special! He didn't invent the Weber or BBQ.
Maybe if you cooked with him or he autographed it.. Maybe..
Get a new bowl and convert the old one to a Frirepit..
Just my 2 sense.. Do what YOU want..

This^^ is what I wound up doing.
I spent the hottest August that I can remember out in the garage fiddling around with this, but was never satisfied. My sentimental attachment to my original bowl melted away as the temperature climbed well over 110°. 

This almost happened:










Weber C.S. was awesome. The new one arrived in 4 days.
I also find that with the new bowl installed, my 26er stands as firm and steady as my 22 OTG! I had been under the impression that the amount of wobble that I was experiencing was to be expected on the 26. Now I believe that the old bowl was just "outa whack".

[Craig]

That's a sweet setup! How did you find out that it was used on one of Raichlen's shows? That makes it even more special.

[TexasOnion]

...

[jcnaz]

That's a sweet setup! How did you find out that it was used on one of Raichlen's shows? That makes it even more special.

This 26er popped up on CL in Tucson a couple of years ago. G$ acted as my agent and got the story.
The guy that was selling it had previously run a BBQ/grill store that was no longer in business.  He stated that Raichlen's show had used some grills from his store when they were shooting in Tucson. The front handle of this grill had been autographed, but it had also been used, and was dirty. The ink pretty much washed off with the dirt.
The Zavod44 handles look and work better anyhow!

The mount on the SS frame could work, but the mounts that I worked up weren't the right material for a final product. The bowl also sat too high to mount the gas assist.

[SmokenJoe]

Hummmmmm,  sounds like you need a home-made custom wooden "Sequoia"-like cart            SJ

[TheDude]

Hummmmmm,  sounds like you need a home-made custom wooden "Sequoia"-like cart            SJ

Hell yeah!