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Author Topic: Legs loose in sockets  (Read 1074 times)

Schaefd2

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  • Posts: 1301
Legs loose in sockets
« on: July 07, 2018, 04:07:48 AM »
I have a few legs that are super loose in their sockets on some 22” grills. Is this typically caused by the legs shrinking in size or the sockets getting wider?

How have you guys fixed it in the past? Has the high heat tape worked well?


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HoosierKettle

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Re: Legs loose in sockets
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2018, 04:21:25 AM »
Not shrinking but legs can corrode and lose material that way. You should be able to tell if the sockets are spread or damaged. The foil tape works great.


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vwengguy

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Legs loose in sockets
« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2018, 05:44:41 AM »
I can’t remember who.. but I saw someone use a PBR beer can used as a shim to tighten them up.
I have used a wooden broom handle to re-form the legs to make them tighter.
My experience has told me that the more you move your kettle around in the back yard the more the legs wobble. If your socket welds are good then the aluminum leg tub is the weak link. Excessive moving of the grill or cleaning the grates like Godzilla will stress the legs and crimp them smaller.


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« Last Edit: July 07, 2018, 06:08:14 AM by vwengguy »

LiquidOcelot

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Re: Legs loose in sockets
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2018, 06:59:41 AM »
Yea a soda or beer can usually does the trick. I have some conduit that fits perfect into the legs so i start it into the leg and pound the conduit into the leg opening it back up too

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Schaefd2

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Re: Legs loose in sockets
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2018, 07:57:46 AM »
My dad picked up a WW G code off the curb that happened to be my birth year. I’m trying to restore it a little. I tried the broomstick method but maybe I wasn’t doing it right.

I’m going to try that beer can trick as I have plenty of beer cans laying around and that foil tape is $$$. Did you use a certain type of high heat glue to secure the beer can shim inside the leg socket?




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Cellar2ful

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Re: Legs loose in sockets
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2018, 09:55:20 AM »


I have found switching out the two rear legs sometimes solves the loose leg issue.  You have to remove the wheels otherwise you'll end up with the triangle upside down.  For resizing the legs, I use needle nose pliers and place the tips inside the leg, pulling the handles apart.  This stretches and reforms the leg back to a round shape.  If those two methods fail, my go to fix is using the HVAC tape around the legs.  Sometimes takes a couple of attempts to get the right amount to use.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

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Bertl

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  • Posts: 840
Re: Legs loose in sockets
« Reply #6 on: July 08, 2018, 06:42:32 AM »
Hello gentlemen,  i want to show you my solution for loose legsockets without using tape, screws, cans or anything else.
I do lever out the pressed leg with this tool.


Iff possible to me, i want to upload a short video of ;-))

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« Last Edit: July 08, 2018, 06:56:57 AM by Bertl »

Heyjude

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Re: Legs loose in sockets
« Reply #7 on: July 08, 2018, 07:45:44 AM »
@Bertl

Did you make that tool?
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Bertl

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Re: Legs loose in sockets
« Reply #8 on: July 08, 2018, 08:56:09 AM »
Okay guys, i created a video at youtube, called: "Weber kettle legs refix"
I was trying to upload on here this video but was'nt possible.

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Bertl

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Re: Legs loose in sockets
« Reply #9 on: July 08, 2018, 09:01:52 AM »

Bertl

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Re: Legs loose in sockets
« Reply #10 on: July 08, 2018, 09:26:11 AM »
@Bertl

Did you make that tool?
@Heyjude, i did not create that tool myself.   You can use whatever you find to lever out the prints of the sockets back to a round or minimal oval form to make your kettle stand strait and fix like a stone.

That's all i wanted to mention...

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Heyjude

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Re: Legs loose in sockets
« Reply #11 on: July 08, 2018, 09:39:43 AM »
Thanks, after seeing the video, I realize your just using an offset wrench! Great way for sure..
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Bertl

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Re: Legs loose in sockets
« Reply #12 on: July 08, 2018, 09:47:43 AM »
Thanks, after seeing the video, I realize your just using an offset wrench! Great way for sure..
Please excuse, i don't know the special vocabularys like wrench and tools and so on. This is my best solution for success. Do some practice at some old legs and you will be satisfied.

Share some words and pics about your positive work;-)) cheers

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