Ash catcher on 18" question

[buttman]

I picked up a blue 18" that was missing the ash tray so I thought I would install the OTG system being as it will be used on a wooden deck.
I ordered part 65131 and knew I would have to do some modifications because the grill is a '99 with the older style leg sockets.
Surprisingly, two of the clips fit nicely into two leg sockets. The third was off so I used the hose clamp trick. Everything was nice and secure but when I looked at it I realized all three vents extended past the wall of the ash catcher.
This can't be right. When you "sweep", some of the ash will fall outside the catcher. The diameter seems like it's too small.
Did I buy the wrong part or am I just missing something incredibly stupid.







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[MikeRocksTheRed]

@buttman -  Does your grill have three long slots for the vent or three sets of three holes?  Just want to confirm you don't have a 3 vent daisy wheel model.

[buttman]

Three long slots. The cleaning handle lined up perfectly with the slots on the new catcher. Everything operates as it should. I can plug the area that extends out if I have to. I just want to make sure I didn't do something stupid. I've been known to do that!


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[MikeRocksTheRed]

Three long slots. The cleaning handle lined up perfectly with the slots on the new catcher. Everything operates as it should. I can plug the area that extends out if I have to. I just want to make sure I didn't do something stupid. I've been known to do that!


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Interesting.  I'm sure someone will know what's up with this!

[brewtownbeatdown]

The OT slots were thinner & longer, until they offered an 18" OTG (early 2000's?). That's when they switched to wider & shorter OT slots, since the original design extended past leg sockets.


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[Cellar2ful]

@buttman - I remember reading a least one thread discussing this same issue when adding a OTG ash catcher to 18'ers.  I believe that is the way it fits. Beings as though you will be over a wooden deck, you could cut three small pieces of aluminum or sheet metal and wedge them between the bowl and the top of the ring.  That would deflect any ash into the ash catcher and would have minimal loss of air by blocking those exposed areas outside the ash catcher ring.

BTW, I tried searching for the threads with pictures of the same issue but could not find it/them.  Maybe the author or someone else can find and post them.

[MacEggs]

Did I buy the wrong part or am I just missing something incredibly stupid.

@buttman , No, nothing stupid.  That's just the way it is.  I encountered the same thing here:

http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/one-touch-vent-size/

I don't let it bother me.  Since acquiring this red 18, I have also acquired a black 18" OTG from the early 2000s. 
The intakes are different on the black …. Not as long, and slightly wider.

[HoosierKettle]

I'd be tempted to cover the holes with small pieces of foil tape. They don't stick out far. I don't think they would be visible.


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[MacEggs]

I'd be tempted to cover the holes with small pieces of foil tape. They don't stick out far. I don't think they would be visible.

I actually did that with my above mentioned mod.  It was done on the inside of the bowl, and the sweeps eventually wrecked the tape.
I suppose it could be done on the outside, but the glue will degrade over time with exposure to the extreme heat.

[HoosierKettle]

I'd be tempted to cover the holes with small pieces of foil tape. They don't stick out far. I don't think they would be visible.

I actually did that with my above mentioned mod.  It was done on the inside of the bowl, and the sweeps eventually wrecked the tape.
I suppose it could be done on the outside, but the glue will degrade over time with exposure to the extreme heat.

Yeah I was referring to putting small pieces on the outside. Your probably right about the adhesive degrading but would probably worth a trial run to see.


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[HoosierKettle]

I'd probably try it with nothing for awhile to see how much actually spills out. Probably not much?


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[Speedster]

Wow things that we encounter


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[buttman]

Thanks everyone for all your help! I'll figure something out, it's not gonna be used much. I bought it for my 7 yr old granddaughter to learn on. She helps me make rubs and said she wants to learn how to cook hamburgers and hotdogs. Should be interesting...Lol!


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[swamprb]

@buttman What is the date of your Blue 18? Not that is matters now you found out the hard way as well.

I found that out when I modified my 18" Red "G-Spot". I swapped out the ash can assembly off an 18" OTG. And I believe it was @Troy that mentioned that the one-touch vents were larger on the oldies.





Also what I found on the 18's was the leg socket orientation is off somewhat - (unlike the older 22's) and I was able to trim a little off the ring tab to make it a clean solid fit without drilling and using self tapping screws or the hose clamps.



At first I was a little peeved buy the gap and stuck some high temp 3M duct tape over it, but I usually empty the ash before each cook and its never been a problem for me.

Since I took pics of the mod, I added Cajun Bandit legs and found a drum barrel lid for it to cook over as all my other cookers I use galvanized drip pans from NAPA when cooking on the wood deck.

[buttman]

It's a 1999. I'll try it the way it is and if turns out to be an issue I'll try some of the things everyone has suggested. Thanks everyone.



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