Let's Talk BBQ
FORUM SPONSORS => MAK Grills => Topic started by: Lantern on April 16, 2018, 08:31:40 AM
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I've had my MAK 1 star with the new flame zone installed for a couple weeks now and have been a happy camper.
However, there's one thing that bugs me. The back grill grate comes in contact with the flame zone cover. Meaning that while very close it slides right past the first cover it bangs up against the back cover and needs to be picked up and laid down in place to keep the flame zone cover from being dislodged and everything having to be taken back out and started again. Once the grate is in place there is STILL contact, but it's not like it's a huge problem other than the heat transfer in that area will be higher due to direct contact.
My question is does everyone's flame zone do this or should I give them a call?
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Mine does not do that. I’d give MAK a call.
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Nope mine either. Get on the phone my friend with the good folks at MAK.
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I called and talked to Dennis and sent in a few pics. He's gonna call me back after going over it with some other folks.
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Just got off the phone with Dennis. I went outside and took the grill apart with him on the phone. I had done this several times before so I knew the funnel system was seated well, but what I DIDN"T do was take my big head and get really close to the left side of the flame zone. There, in the middle it was raised up just a bit. Now, when I put the flame zone back on I look for the F, I place it on and slide it left, right, forward and backwards to make sure it's in place. All seemed well.
HOWEVER, after sticking my fat head in there real close I noticed that even though it felt in place it was actually catching on the back left lip of the funnel and raising it about 1/8 of an inch. I lifted while pushing and bang it sank right down.
TOTALLY MY FAULT!!! Thanks to Dennis and MAK for being so nice and walking me through this. I am usually really REALLY technically savvy, but I'll be danged if I wasn't eating a sack of idiot sammiches on this one.
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Here's something to check.
In this picture group (top two pics) you can see a flange around the perimeter at the top of the funnel. Check to be sure the left side of the FlameZone drip pan is not resting upon this flange. If it is, it will definitely cause the cover to make contact with the grate. The FlameZone Drip Pan should be seated flat down in the channel surrounding all four sides of the flange like in the bottom right pic.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Tun2NiZu8tCkg0cFw2H3Hql-noG4IGF1OsoehFqoU1aEu4PsN0iUdVawAdeke1A_pop6bIHTRnfMx_t5Ew_oPhqH9cg-drfkY4rKCQww3tA9wPeFMzNBFji2QWSPy7XHc8NNfC3a-WEqzVQiSDbcBLrd5vcwdb8zsggnlwzySq-stNkau5ZZsGlv5MLiWkBYv8DovfcU_t1KFsoJuAbvWA4dpVgao4fxjB1E65bYF-azknwSqzwxeVv9kJ5jgkwJXAh3MYZrBnulgVmi2VWJHjSE-TRvTy_R6xTSmcwCYJTfeOHhPRT-gt_dt5hRizFKTIksCthsNUq0Ym40OAudu5NVxTeBw7Sxh8uzs-ph3Bb80wyWKlIWt8976GfxpijpGMzzZthANkvQisV8i3zxxRYV5ykM9eC79rArcrynf6sIusAtcIAr2_T0lvJVQZhFxTSRciYaoAEObSuuBv1HFgDeblHoYxQN4Ccn1vb5d-Ow4BZLzhtyHc4yRgelLxgxwKPVQhwovI21XbpL2fTGlM-M3Sc3faRf0iaPY_ZOOwfn-mqr2VgIBhI1Ye1RQdE-UzQCnOLmrUc1i3Wp-v_GZk8Rr0m231hNHS8EnQtDXiydlhaGo-aL=w740-h556-no)
I went out to look at ours, and it would be a very easy thing to do and not notice.
Hope this helps!
Cliff
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I had a feeling that might be it. Sounds like you figured this out as I was posting the above! :D
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I was going to thank you for your effort anyway. Still, can't believe I've done that THAT many times. I've cleaned it out 4 times already due to high cooking volume and long cooks. See where the hole in the house shaped flame zone plate is? That's where I noticed it wasn't touching the funnel system. My eyes followed it towards the back and BANG I could see the lip sticking out.
BTW..... that's a seriously clean flame zone!!!
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BTW..... that's a seriously clean flame zone!!!
That was when it was brand new. Trust me, it doesn't look like that now! ???
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Sounds like you and I ate the same idiot sammich when our MAK’s were new… LOL! After putting my MAK together, I had about 12 screws left over. Thinking to myself, there’s no way that I should have this many, I contacted MAK. Bruce answered. I told him my situation, also explaining that I’ve gone over this thing several times and was positive I had not missed a step. Very politely, he got Dennis on the phone. In less than a minute, Dennis had shown me the error of my ways. He was very kind about it but I felt like an idiot...lol.
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Robb, you weren't an idiot; you just had a few screw loose! :D
Which explaineds why you for in so well around here! ???
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Robb, you weren't an idiot; you just had a few screw loose!
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Robb, you weren't an idiot; you just had a few screw loose!
Is having a few screws less a better reputation than an idiot?
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Yes, yes it is.
Folks with screws loose make me smile. Stupid people make me wanna stab them.
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Yes, yes it is.
Folks with screws loose make me smile. Stupid people make me wanna stab them.
ROFL!!!! :D :thumbup: