Weber kettle issue

[DRAGONFLY53]

Hi,
I've been using a Weber gas for years but due to the current prices, I purchased a Weber Kettle. My question is, the rim of the kettle body has an incomplete weld for about 6 or 7"; I can push a good sized piece of paper through it.
I can't seem to get a good heat on it and the steak and hotdogs at room temp I have grilled just don't get a good char. Do you think its the air flow from the rim void? I've used 1/2 bag or higher of fully involved coals, lot of white ash and glowing red, added a vortex, but nothing is working. The dogs are the usual thickness, the steak was about 2" think. The steak was cooked through before it even sizzled.
I like my dogs burnt at the ends but that doesn't happen unless I leave them on for a long time
Granted its been many years since I've worked with charcoal so it might just be user error.

On the split topic, I contacted Weber via their site asking for a new body and sent them a picture; they responded twice my email was received but please send pictures. Does the picture below tell the story or do I need more pics? Any suggestions will be appreciated as I am not sure what they want to see, its just the grill bottom part
Thanks for your advice, Terri

[JLR]

The picture worked for me. It should show them the problem with the weld.
I'm not sure about the heat issue, but it certainly seems it could be the weld as that would disrupt the air flow. You might be able to put some fire barrier/heat resistant caulk where the weld is missing. That should allow you to test it with steaks and hot dogs.

[HawkerXP]

I would think having a void like that would give you more air and as such more heat. What brand of charcoal are you using? The Vortex the way you have it installed will act just like any charcoal basket. Turn it over, small hole up, and see that this baby will peg the gauge on your lid.
Weber will take care of your bowl issue I'm sure.

[HawkerXP]

10 year warranty on metal parts.

[Steve R.]

Do you have the bottom vents all the way open and nothing blocking the air flow through the charcoal grate under the Vortex? Like HawkerXP said, you should be getting too much heat, if anything.

As for the picture, I would try to get one from a lower angle to where you can see daylight through that void. I did something similar when I had a 26" kettle with a mostly unwelded leg socket on the bowl, and they promptly sent me a replacement with the same defect.

[LA Pork Butt]

+1

[Murdy]

The weld is clearly wrong and Weber should take care of it.

That said, I agree with Hawker, I can't see how this would cause the heat issue you are experiencing. I generally grill with the lid off (are you?), which obviously allows for a lot of air flow, can't see how a little more air would be a problem.

[Angryfish]

Sounds like a fuel issue I think.

[Purc]

That is bizarre! Weber should replace the bowl asap! I have never heard of anyone having that problem..

[jfmorris]

On my kettles, that area has no weld - it's just rolled over sheet metal. If there is an opening there, it's a machining or fabrication error for sure. I would take a closeup picture of it from the inside and outside of the kettle, with light shining through the gap.

[JimLinebarger]

+1

[Jessterr]

As Angryfish indicated, the low heat issue may be related to your charcoal. Tell us about it, what type and brand, was it new or old, could it have been sitting in a damp location for a while, etc?

[DRAGONFLY53]

I bought Royak Oak Supersize charcoal at Lowes, it was stored inside but who knows whether they had it on a pallet outside at some point. I'll try - its been heavy rain here at least once every two weeks. I'll try another batch,

[Bob's BBQ]

I'd recommend trying it again with a bag of Kingsford original. I've had issues in the past with Royal Oak.