Don’t you sometimes feel like God just hates you?
Like you’ve scraped up and bought a griller for 1000 bucks and it stopped working one fine morning.
The thing is-
Recently I faced just that when my big green egg griller showed some hinge problems. From there I’ve learned a few things.
And guess what? There are countless problems that come with this wretched hinge.
So, what are the big green egg hinge problems?
The main big green egg hinge problem is loose bolts. Along with that the misalignment of the top lid and lower gasket also causes the hinge to not work. Another possible reason is rust development on the hinge. Lastly, a broken hinge can cause severe problems that need to be fixed right away.
Sounds enticing? Let’s dive in!
Source: biggreenegg.com
Troubleshooting Big Green Egg Hinge Problems
The big green egg has been in business since 1974. It has become a household staple over the past decade.
It’s famous for good reasons. It’s multifaceted and just by adding a few big green egg accessories, you can use it for all-purpose cooking.
However, at times this big green egg starts to show some complications. One of the most common complications that consumers face is with the hinge of the egg.
So, whether it be fixing tough corned beef or a faulty hinge, we first need to identify the cause. Therefore, without wasting any time let’s start with the first problem.
Problem 1 of 4: Loose Bolts
What’d be the first possible reason that comes to your mind when you think of hinge problems? It’d probably be loose bolts and you’d be right.
With continuous use, the nuts and bolts of the big green egg hinge come off. Also, sometimes the bolt-on on any side of the hinge doesn’t sit properly.
As a result, the hinge becomes loose and refuses to function properly. The big green egg lid doesn’t line up because of loose nuts and bolts.
Source: grillgirl.com
Solution: Screw the Bolt Back
So, how do you fix loose bolts? I’ll show you.
Start by getting a good pair of screwdrivers. Here are our top picks for screwdrivers:
- Best overall – Craftsman Screwdriver Set
- One with the most varieties – Swanlake 117pcs Magnetic Screwdriver Set
If you have the original bolts of the hinge with you then use a screwdriver to tighten the bolts.
Now, in case you’ve lost the bolts, get the missing bolts first and then screw it back on. These bolts can be found as parts of the big green egg accessories.
Problem 2 of 4: Alignment Issues Due to Overbite or Underbite
Possibly the most annoying issue that you’d come across while using the egg is the improper alignment. When the grill isn’t correctly fastened, the heat escapes. As a result, your hot, steaming food will be a bit undercooked.
As the big green egg is super versatile, you can cook a host of items here. It can also be used as a grill. However, as it’s not just a grill
Cooking hot food causes underbite and overbite to increase over time. The big green egg gasket also comes off with extensive use.
Just beside the gasket, there’s the grill of the big green egg. This grill is well renowned for its versatility. So, it isn’t included in the list of best gas grills.
Solution: Straighten the Overbite and Underbite
Now that you know what’s causing your hinge to not work properly, let’s begin the fixing part.
Start by loosening the bolts of the hinge. Use a screwdriver to turn the bolt slowly. This will loosen the bolt. After that using your hands, manually straighten the overbite and the underbite. Once you’re done, simply tighten the bolts to their normal state.
As we can see in this video the in-depth process has been explained.
Problem 3 of 4: Rust Issues
You might’ve noticed by now that the hinge of the big green egg is made of metal. Now, as the green egg comes in contact with water, this metal is prone to rust development.
As if that’s not enough, over time rust can severely damage your hinge.
Source: eggheadforum.com
Solution: Limit Contact with Water
First and foremost check whether rust has developed on the hinge of your green egg. Lift the big green egg handle which is made of metal and carefully inspect the hinge. If you see that indeed your hinge is rusty then move on to the next step.
Yes, we know that it’s quite impossible to stop your egg from coming in proximity to water. So, what you can do is, as soon as your hinge is exposed to water, make sure to dry it rapidly.
One more viable option that you can dive into is rust removers. I’ve seen some rust converters on the market that effectively removes rust from surfaces.
Here are some of my recommendations for rust removers:
- You can get the best value for your money by picking up the Evapo-Rust ER012. On top of that, it’s super easy to use.
- For getting rid of rust and prevent future rust from forming get this VHT Rust Converter
Problem 4 of 4: Broken Hinge
The last thing we want after buying a $1000 egg is for it to get its hinge broken. But a blunt force trauma or fall from a high place may cause your hinge to break.
So, in case, something like this happens we would suggest you inspect the hinge very carefully. And God forbid you to find any crack you’d need an immediate solution.
Solution: Replacement
Now, if, unfortunately, your hinge is broken, your best bet would be to replace it. But thankfully big green egg also sells a band and hinge assembly kit. You can easily replace the hinge using the big green egg assembly kit.
- For large band get the Big green egg large band assembly kit
- Medium bands need the Big green egg medium band assembly kit.
Preventing Future Hinge Problems
Maybe your hinge didn’t start showing symptoms of problems yet. Or maybe you just fixed your hinge and don’t want to go through all of that again.
Either way, you need to look into some prevention tips to make sure your hinge stays perfect.
- Always look out for loose bolts. As soon as you find the bolts on your hinge to loosen, tighten it immediately.
- If your egg remains outside for the majority of the time then invest in some big green egg covers.
- Handle your big green egg with ease and make sure to not use it roughly.
- If you want to prevent future rust then apply anti-rust coatings.
FAQs
Are big green eggs worth it?
Yes, big green eggs are absolutely worth it if you can afford them. These are versatile and tend to last a lifetime.
How do you adjust the hinge on a big green egg?
Firstly, you need to loosen the bolts using screwdrivers. After that use your hands to slowly adjust the hinge back to its normal place.
Will a big green egg crack in cold weather?
No, your big green egg will not crack in any weather conditions. So, you can use this all year round.
Bottom Line
And just like that, we’ve reached the end of this segment! I hope that I could walk you through all of the big green egg hinge problems and their solution.
Make sure to always fix overbite and underbite as soon as they appear. Otherwise, it’ll get worse over time.
Until then stay happy and healthy. Looking forward to seeing you again!
