I received and assembled my 22 today. It's one of the Originals with the folding side table. Anyway, something looks strange to me. On the lid bail, both ends are bent at 90 degrees. Then a large plastic spacer goes on, followed by a washer right before the protrusion on the bail, then another washer on the inside and a nut. It's assembled correctly, but check these pics... the plastic roller spacer is way shorter than the area it slides on.
Is this normal on these? Pics on the SnS website don't show the spacers being this short, nor do SnS's youtube assembly videos.
Just curious by what you mean by the “originals” with the folding side table? They all have or had, the folding side table. The original SNS was grey, it had a side table. The current black one, which replaced the grey, also has a folding side table.
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It shows the one I have as "SnS Grills Original Charcoal Grill". Yes it is black, and I know the original originals were grey, but they changed the color.
The new "Black Edition" on that same page is a similar but significantly different model. It does not have the folding side table and the grate is plated steel rather than 304 stainless.
Dunno if it makes any difference, but this is an Original model rather than the Black Edition.
There are a lot of changes on mine compared to the assembly video and website pics.
The wheels and lower rack attach with nuts now.
The top vent and ash sweeper both use coil springs now.
They succeeded in making the ash sweep handle even more difficult to install, and the whole ash sweep assembly is very loose. So is the top vent.
There is this wierd bail issue. I'm sure it will all work fine, but it made assembly "more interesting".
You cannot insert the bail any deeper into the kettle hole due to the crimp or whatever it is to keep it from going through the hole in the kettle any farther.
Even if it would go through,it would have an inch or more of bare bail wire inside the kettle, and there would be no way to tighten it.
Seems to me they changed the spacers or the bail and one or the other (I think the spacer) is the wrong length.
Last edited by michaelnel; August 7, 2025, 09:38 AM.
I have written to [email protected] showing the issue. Looks like the older models had these shorter spacers, but the 90 degree bend part of the new bail is longer.
I'm just speculating here but they may have made the roller a floating device so that it follows the contour of the lid. Being round as you roll it into the holding bail it's narrower at first and then widens out as it drops into the bail.
I'm just speculating here but they may have made the roller a floating device so that it follows the contour of the lid. Being round as you roll it into the holding bail it's narrower at first and then widens out as it drops into the bail.
Yes, that could be. It sure is aesthetically annoying though.
Regarding the lid holder, we understand that the bale wire might look different from our previous cradle design. This is intentional, as the new cradle is designed to accommodate the improved shape of the lid. This new design provides increased cooking space, which is ideal for larger items like turkeys, and also allows for more room to add accessories in the future. There is no defect in the part you received.
Spent some time playing with removing the lid and stowing it in the newly designed bail and spacer setup on my grill.
It sucks this way.
I found that I am as likely to put the lid down so the edge hits the bare bail and misses the plastic thing completely as I am to hit it right. When it does that, the lid sits cocked at an angle over the grill. So you have to lift it off and watch it as it engages with the spacer... if it hits the spacer it's fine.
But think about it. Normally I would be standing in front of the grill with the folding table to my right, and the SnS insert in the far side of the grill. So at least for me, I will lift the lid off with my left hand. Smoke and heat come billowing out. Stowing the lid should be a thing done by feel, not by visual guidance.
Longer spacers would fix it, but SnS won't fix it because they think it's fine.
Just a thought here, what about some type of flexible insulated tubing you can cut to the length you need? To fill the gap? Is there even enough space for 2 of their spacers to fit on one side? Not necessarily this, but something that can handle high heat. Just a thought here…
If you have a local trade school that teaches machinist they would probably make you a full length pair just for the practice. If not a local machinist could make you a pair. They would be very easy to turn out. I’d volunteer to make you a pair but I’m packing up my whole shop to move.
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