A Long overdue post:
I found this back in November but it sat untouched in the garage until now due to horrible weather.
Back in the fall i was looking for an 18" kettle that would primary be a small tailgate party grill. Something i would keep unassembled in the garage ready to throw in the trunk and hit the road. My other kettle(s) would be the primary patio cookers.
Ive bought and sold a few craigslist kettles this year and found that clean up is fairly easy and cheap as long as there is no major lid or bowl damage. When looking for a cheap kettle online, the one common part issue i have found that is a deal breaker is the vent fins. Sure they can be removed and replaced but the parts often cost as much as the used kettle does, and the labor involved in removing rusted ones isnt worth it on a one touch kettle. On a performer i would put the work in but i digress. For cheap kettles damaged fins just dont make sense for me.
I found a 18 inch kettle not too far from work and it was priced right on craigslist.
It had a super clean grate which was a bonus
but clearly it was dirty and the photo didnt show the cleaning fins
I was a little leary but given that this was destined to be a basic tail gate grill using primarily high heat for burgers dogs etc. I was willing to take a $20 gamble.
I met the owner and picked up and was surprised at what i saw inside, or should i say, what i didnt see inside.
I couldnt see the one touch fins, because there were no one touch fins, Its a Code EZ 3 wheeler!
The snow finally melted this week so i dragged it out of the garage and gave it a clean up and actually used it for a quick cook the other night.
I do have two questions for the group here:
1. It didn't kill the fire as quick as my other kettles. Normal for an 18? Perhaps the vents may be a touch misshapen. Any advice on reshaping 3 wheel vents back to fit the kettle more snug? The Lid vent spins fairly freely too. Can the rivet be tightened? should i drill out and replace with a screw or bolt? should ignore it if the lid vent is critical in choking off fire.
2. For low and slow i feel the three wheel design does allow more control but i bought this for mostly wide open grilling. Am i better off re-listing on craigslist and try to get a one touch instead? Perhaps someone who specifically wants a 3 wheeler would appreciate it more then i would?
I would to hear your feedback regarding this.