Kamado Joe Big Joe Series I Rescue (Fire Box replacement and new casters)

[Spinaker]

Waiting for the shipping confirmation on these parts from KJ is killing me. I am really hoping this is not gonna be delayed for weeks or months.

I did get some new casters for the cart. I went with some 5" wheels to make it easier to wheel around and less likely to tip over on the concrete. Not that I am going to move it much, but I hate the casters that are on my BGE nest.

I got a BGE for my Dad at his place, I told him not to move it unless I am there to help him. Well, he did it by himself and those little casters on the nest caught a little crack and then Egg tipped over and broke! RIP lakeside BGE. I am hoping 2" bigger casters will make a big difference.

[Spinaker]

Yeah, well, it's come full circle, since I did my fair share of NOT listening to him over the years. so......
hoovarmin

[Huskee]

Spinaker I can't wait to pay my sons back some day for their not listening to me right now...

[Spinaker]

Hahaha, so far it has cost me one BGE. He's not even close to what I cost him for my insubordination.

[Spinaker]

Shipped yesterday........I apologize to KJ for not having more faith in their shipping department. Should arrive on Saturday! LFG.

[Spinaker]

The new casters have arrived. I think these will work out great for the stand in the Big Joe. These are a set that others have used, so they should work. I will put these in the nest while the Joe is still in the back of my truck. It will also give the Joe a lift which I will really like being that I am taller than the average Joe....... (Sorry, not sorry)

[barelfly]

Taller than the average big joe! Sorry…..I’ll see myself out…

[Spinaker]

hahahahaha barelfly

[Michael_in_TX]

Oh I get it now! It's called a nest because the ceramic cooker part is often called an egg!!!

::looks around:: What....come on, am I the only one?

[Spinaker]

Hahaha, yeah, I am not sure what KJ calls them.........

[STEbbq]

Ahem. +1.

And I have a BGE.

[Spinaker]

She's home! The move went great. The Kamado Chariot worked awesome. I highly recommend it, if you have to move a Kamado. I added the Ceramic Grill Store Chimney Cap to the Big Joe, as they work much better than the stock, cast iron one. It is a tight fit, but it seals tight and that is what matters. This also came with the Kick Ash Basket, the Divide and Conquer System and a drip pan.

I put on the new 5" casters and those work great for rolling around on the concrete. Much better than the tiny, stock wheels.

We used the chariot and then placed it on my tailgate. The base of the KJ Big Joe is 19" at the bottom, so I used a 20" tire as a bump damper in the bed of my truck. The Chariot allowed us to simply lift the KJ and place it in the tire, then we slid it to the middle of the truck bed. I used two straps to secure it from the front and back. Honestly, I could have just left it in the tire as it was nice a cozy jsut sitting in the tire, but for peace of mind I strapped her down.

[LA Pork Butt]

Happy moving day!

[Spinaker]

Sweaty Paul Last picture above! It works really well. For a large, I'd use an R17 or R15. Not sure what the base is. I picked up the tire for free, from my buddies farm. I know tire shops will give them to you too, cause they have to pay to get rid of them anyway.

[Sweaty Paul]

@Spinaker...Ah ha! I understand now! was a bit confused, but, now I get it. I had imagined in my mind having the tire around the "waist" of the cooker and was completely bum fuzzled.

[Oak Smoke]

Spinaker I need to replace the castors on my old KJ. Are the bolts on the castors metric or standard? I’ve seen some I like at Tractor supply but they aren’t metric.

[Spinaker]

It is a 16 and an18. I had to use a channel lock to get them off. There is not enough clearance for a wrench. I took the old ones off and I put these on before I put the KJ back in the nest. I highly recommend getting the ones I did. having the 5'' wheel is really nice. I am gonna get a set for my BGEs too.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B1JZWHF/?tag=amazingribs--20

[Oak Smoke]

I’ll get those ordered right away. Thank you Spinaker

[Spinaker]

You bet, glad I could help out. Oak Smoke

[Spinaker]

I installed the new guts!! We are all ready to go for the first run. it was not too big of a deal to install, The pedals seems much thicker and heavier than the old KJ firebox. (I think the BGE Firebox is much more substantial that the old KJ firebox.)



I put the new firebox base at the bottom of the Joe and then placed the pedals in, one by one. Then I used the top fire ring to get them all lined up. There was a little jockeying to get them in place, but it was not too bad. As long as they do not crack, it will be all good.


(Now, it looks like I need to strip that old gasket and add a new one, eh? )

[Henrik]

So nice! Great job on the wheels. Many commercial grills/smokers (BGE, KJ, and PK360 is the worst) have tiny tiny wheels. I just don’t get it. With the size, weight and price tag on those grills surely bigger wheels should be standard. Looking forward to seeing photos on the first cook. Good call on replacing the top vent too.

[Spinaker]

Thanks, I hate those wheels too. My Dad lost an Egg last year from rolling one over pavers with those tiny wheels.

[Mosca]

I never even bothered with the egg stand. I bought my egg without one, and got a table instead. There’s good and bad with a table; it limits where you can put it, for one. But I’d rather not worry about wind and accidents. Any wind that is knocking that table over, we are going to have bigger problems.

[Spinaker]

Yeah, I'd like to build a table to hold the BGE and the Big Joe.

[DavidNorcross]

I have been thinking about purchasing another kamado. This thread is not helping my MCS itch!

[Spinaker]

Famous last words! I have 4 now. They are a ton of fun and they are the most versatile backyard cooker you can own.

[Sweaty Paul]

Like potato chips. Can't have just one.

[Spinaker]

Honestly. If I was going to order a new one, I would order a BGE. It feels like the ceramic parts are heavier duty and higher quality. The new fire box I just ordered, cracked on the second cook. (See below) With my KJ Jr., I noticed that the quality wasn't the same as BGE. I figured, "oh well....it's the Jr, so maybe that is why"....I am quickly finding out here, that it's not just the Jr. The base and lid seem to be fine...Far as I know...The parts? Not so much. Now I gotta see what KJ will do

[Spinaker]

I used an old 18” grate I had from one of my BGEs. I went to the hardware store and got some 5 inch stainless steel bolts to use as legs. I got some locking nuts and washers and tighten them down. I think this is gonna work great.

[hoovarmin]

Ingenious!

[Spinaker]

Thanks!

[Spinaker]

I noticed in this photo, that the new firebox I installed has a crack, after the second cook. I am going to have to take this up with Kamado Joe. Hopefully, they replace it without an issue. I will let you know how that goes.

Cool photo but bummer.........

[RonB]

Nice fire, but the crack surely does suck.

[hoovarmin]

Dang it. You were on a roll.

[Spinaker]

Yeah, kind of a bummer. Hopefully it is just a lemon. And hopefully KJ is willing to replace it. Kinda wonder if they will honor it since I am not the OG owner. Although, I did just purchase said firebox, so I think I should be good.

[Spinaker]

Couldn’t find anyone at KJ to reach out so I posted a review of the firebox I just bought. Looks like it got moderated for being a negative review. No offer to replace, I added pictures……nothing…..no offers to fix it, replace or have some reach out. Gonna give them one more chance to make it right and then I’m done with KJ for ever. (Also just realized they are now owned by Masterbuilt….quality at every turn. Nice)

[SheilaAnn]

Do not like

Do you throw in “do you know who I am?” card?

[Spinaker]

Ha, unfortunately, that means nothing to them. (Not that I am anybody, anyway)

[Alan Brice]

Ohh, how little they actually Do know. They must be educated.

[fzxdoc]

Oh, man, that's tough. A crack on the second cook? Unbelievable.

Let us know what happens with this. Hopefully they'll respond and do the right thing by you.

Kathryn

[dpearce]

What the what? Seriously? They send you what obviously is a defective part, then complain when you bring it to their attention? And they have no official channel/method for contact?

Wow. That's lame.

Sorry to hear that Spinaker Hope somehow they figure out their mess and make it right.

[Spinaker]

Nope nothing. Then I "edited" my review to add more pictures, then the "moderated" that one too and said they are not posting it.......and still offered no help to fix or replace.

[dpearce]

Spinaker that's a bit crazy. With all the competitors out there, with very similar products, customer service is about all they got to lean on these days.

[Oak Smoke]

This is very discouraging. I’ve been a big KJ fan for years. Every crack or problem was addressed promptly and to my complete satisfaction. I hate when a good brand sells to those seeking quick profits before they drive it into the ground. If KJ goes to heck I’ll buy or build a barrel smoker. I think with the help of the insulating techniques I learned in the oil field and some well placed stainless steel I could build one great barrel smoker. They sell stainless barrels now.

[Spinaker]

Just gonna go BGE from here on out. I'd love sell the KJ now, and just get a XL BGE. Just looking at this thing on my patio pisses me off. LOL

[Oak Smoke]

I wish we were closer I’d make you a deal.

[Spinaker]

Yeah, I wish!