damper adjustment screw on PBC

[coventryhale]

No matter how many times I have attempted it This screw will not stay tight thus allowing the damper to close unannounced in the middle of a cook! I have attempted to reach down inside to the bottom to tighten up the nut or whatever is in there but the depth of the barrel makes this Very difficult. Any suggestions?

[Huskee]

If you can't reach in to tighten it, maybe a folded piece of foil to wedge under it to tighten it? Or a large flat magnet to help hold it.

[Steve R.]

Can you open it up all the way and reach in through the vent hole enough to get a wrench on it? I was thinking it was actually a sheet metal screw, because it would seem to tighten up if I just righty-tighty'd the head of the screw/bolt. But I don't have my PBC anymore, so I could be wrong.

[Spinaker]

I replaced the nut and screw with a larger one. I used a pliers to tighten it down and now it works great.

Wedging a piece of paper or a piece of foil helps too, but it is a temporary fix. I did the same thing for a while before I switched to the larger nut.

[Skip]

This is a "Wiz Nut". Usually they don't need much holding and stay tight because those notches you see in the picture dig in and hold themselves. These are available at most good Hardware Stores. Replace your screw and nut with a bolt and a whiz nut. Put the nut on the inside and tighten the bolt head from the outside. Hope this helps.

[MBMorgan]

My concern with using a Wiz Nut is that those teeth will be digging into a porcelain finish and not just bare metal. That could possibly shatter the porcelain and set up the possibility of future rusting.

Edit: And then again, I might be wrong. I'm not sure that the porcelain extends into the inside of the barrel. Since my PBC has gone to a new home I can't check ... but one of you might. If no porcelain on the inside then a Wiz Nut or even a lock washer could be the perfect solution.

[MBMorgan]

Loctite is available with a heat rating up to 450F (the 272 red product) but I don't know if that would be sufficient in the PBC (I kind of doubt it given close proximity to the charcoal basket). However, there may be similar high-temp products similar to loctite out there. If I google across one, I'll let you know.

[HawkerXP]

Mine loosened up also. Changed to a heat resistant lock nut 11/32 is the wrench needed. Or try a locking washer.

[JimLinebarger]

Maybe some Loctite 2422 Ultra High Temp Blue Threadlocker (650F). Permatex is rated at only 450F.

[coventryhale]

I guess what I'm thinking is its' a damn shame to spend 300 bucks and then have to fix yourself the most important part of the product because it wasn't constructed properly in the beginning. I contacted PBC about this problem and have not heard anything from them!

[MBMorgan]

Call them ... they are always responsive, especially on the phone.

[jfmorris]

Is the issue being able to reach the nut with a wrench on the inside, and then being able to hit the screw on the outside at the same time with a screwdriver? Try getting it tight with the vent fully open, so you can hold it through the hole, then just barely back off the screw enough to rotate the vent, and tighten the screw again. Hopefully if it is pretty tight already, the nut won't spin when doing that... short of that, get a longer wrench, or get someone to hold the wrench while you position and tighten down the screw on the vent.

[MBMorgan]

I guess what I'm thinking is its' a damn shame to spend 300 bucks and then have to fix yourself the most important part of the product because it wasn't constructed properly in the beginning. I contacted PBC about this problem and have not heard anything from them!

Pit Barrel Cooker Co.

[VideoWolf88]

I've had the same problem my last three cooks. Masking tape has worked just fine.

[TBoneJack]

I dislike this particular aspect of the PBC. To me, the screw adjustment for the air intake is the weakest part of the unit, and should be replaced with some sort of discrete setting dial that allows the PBC intake to be easily adjusted during a cook. And to prevent the circular cover from coming loose during a cook and closing, as the OP stated.

But overall, I love my PBC.

[Razor]

I dislike this particular aspect of the PBC. To me, the screw adjustment for the air intake is the weakest part of the unit, and should be replaced with some sort of discrete setting dial that allows the PBC intake to be easily adjusted during a cook. And to prevent the circular cover from coming loose during a cook and closing, as the OP stated.

But overall, I love my PBC.

Not sure why it's not a slide like on some hibachis. I have a WSM and dislike the dials, I find even they loosen up over time.

[TheQuietOne]

It's a great little smoker and I love mine, but this is a definite design flaw. I ended drilling a small hole and fixing the damper in place with a blind rivet. It truly is set it and forget it so I had no need to adjust it once it's in its proper place for our elevation.

[coventryhale]

That's' the point, that set it and forget it slogan they use is way over done. They actually emailed me and told me I had to tighten the screw with a phillips screwdriver,DUH