starting a new mod to the broiler slide plate for the 850 PRO SERIES

[MKinHB]

ordered the broiler plate slide cover from the older 820 model for my 850.
this one is solid without the slots, heat and ash comes through the slots, and grease can drip and creep through these slots into the underbelly which is a fire hazard and a mess.
so I am modifying it to prevent this, I will make a push me pull you type of operating handle for it too. No problem.
I will post pics when I am done with this mod. This is just the beginning.

 

[RCAlan]

ordered the broiler plate slide cover from the older 820 model for my 850.
this one is solid without the slots, heat and ash comes through the slots, and grease can drip and creep through these slots into the underbelly which is a fire hazard and a mess.
so I am modifying it to prevent this, I will make a push me pull you type of operating handle for it too. No problem.
I will post pics when I am done with this mod. This is just the beginning.

That’s a very useful and inexpensive Mod. A 5/16th inch treaded rod costs about $4.00 dollars at the Home Depot and it’s very easy to drill the hole through the Flame Broiler Slider Plate and out through the grill. FYI... Once you’re bitten by the Modification Bug, it’s hard to stop... and there’s no vaccine for it either... lol

Pellet Pro Austin XL and a few more mods... In SoCal and Always... Semper Fi

 

[MKinHB]

got a 5/16 rod from McMaster Carr 4-5 bucks for 6 feet, cut, turned and threaded where I needed and the rest will follow.
welded a couple eyes on it to push / pull from and now to make a couple quick detachable fingers to control.

 

[MKinHB]

So here are the finished components for the new broiler plate slide cover. 5/16" rod, cut turned and threaded to 5/16-18 thread pitch.
I made it in 3 parts so it can be removed if necessary. I used coupling nuts to connect the rod segments together and small round knobs to finish off the outside ends. Welded the eyes to the slider, welded the 'fingers' to the center rod with compensation for the slant of the broiler plate, I didn't want a slanted rod. This goes through the original hole for the old rod and will come through a hole I will make in the other side. Changed the grommets to fit the new rod diameter, (the old grommet fails anyway, not enough wall thickness). I will post pics when it is installed in the grill this weekend. Now this solid plate will not let the grease drippings creep through the slots, or the heat and ash to come up through, there are no slots!

 

[MKinHB]

So I installed this new slide system in the grill, I had to make a couple changes to the original version but it works.
I am still going to make tweaks to get it exactly right. But here are some pictures of it now. I drilled a 5/8" hole in the right side directly across from the original hole on the left, put in new grommets and assembled. You can slide it with your right or left hand or both, (push me pull you). It rotates to release rod finger from slider for grill dissasembly.

 

[MKinHB]

This is the latest on the broiler plate slide cover mod.
I changed to a one finger operating control. Works good this way.

I heated up and bent down the tab that you would normally use to slide. easy to foil this thing now with no obstructions or rods in the way. Welded the remaining slots and ground it down smooth.

 

[MKinHB]

did a pork shoulder roast for some pulled pork sandwiches, came out good, 5.5 lbs.

6 hours.

 

[DaveXDm9]

Looks great thanks for sharing

 

[cordirman]

Awesome Mod, where/how did you procure the 820 cover by itself?

 

[MKinHB]

Awesome Mod, where/how did you procure the 820 cover by itself?

I ordered it from Pit Boss, part# 74518 $22.oo
Called Pit Boss to ask if the radius was the same, they didn't know so I went to Lowe's and switched parts from an 850 to an 820 to verify the fit, it worked out obviously

 

[mark hutton]

That’s a very useful and inexpensive Mod. A 5/16th inch treaded rod costs about $4.00 dollars at the Home Depot and it’s very easy to drill the hole through the Flame Broiler Slider Plate and out through the grill. FYI... Once you’re bitten by the Modification Bug, it’s hard to stop... and there’s no vaccine for it either... lol

Pellet Pro Austin XL and a few more mods... In SoCal and Always... Semper Fi

I had this made for my 1150 and welded a 7x7 stainless plate for extra heat dissipation it's low enough an 8x8 foil pan will sit below the grates . Really helps to even out the heat

 

[MKinHB]

Here is what I did for heat distribution.
I can adjust the heat left to right or just even it out.
I get even heat on both right and left side gauges.

 

[JayPH]

Here is what I did for heat distribution.
I can adjust the heat left to right or just even it out.
I get even heat on both right and left side gauges.

That's really similar to what I want to do but I want to use that rod to slide the Sear Daddy heat diffuser in and out of position.

 

[txflytyer]

So here are the finished components for the new broiler plate slide cover. 5/16" rod, cut turned and threaded to 5/16-18 thread pitch.
I made it in 3 parts so it can be removed if necessary. I used coupling nuts to connect the rod segments together and small round knobs to finish off the outside ends. Welded the eyes to the slider, welded the 'fingers' to the center rod with compensation for the slant of the broiler plate, I didn't want a slanted rod. This goes through the original hole for the old rod and will come through a hole I will make in the other side. Changed the grommets to fit the new rod diameter, (the old grommet fails anyway, not enough wall thickness). I will post pics when it is installed in the grill this weekend. Now this solid plate will not let the grease drippings creep through the slots, or the heat and ash to come up through, there are no slots!

Awesome mod

 

[ThommyV]

Here is what I did for heat distribution.
I can adjust the heat left to right or just even it out.
I get even heat on both right and left side gauges.

Great idea and well executed!