[email protected] Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Hello. I'm new here. A friend gave me this grill. Need to find out if it's a genuine KK grill or a knock off. I would like to know how to go about getting a new bottom fire box and what I can do to re tile it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Jon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5698k Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 That's a KK alright, looks like an older one, but still a KK. I suggest you call Dennis, you'll need to speak with him about age/parts. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firemonkey Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Wow...that's a really old one. I haven't seen one of the legged fireboxes in years. Looking at the pictures, and comparing the evolution to today's KK shows how far Dennis has come. firebox...latch...flexible grout and thinset....beveled lips.... 2 layer construction That grill is probably 12-13 years old. Can't wait for Dennis to chime in with who the original owner was (assuming they were ever part of the forum) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogsfan Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 I wonder if that gasket is original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschaaf Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Wow, very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted March 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 46 minutes ago, Firemonkey said: Wow...that's a really old one. I haven't seen one of the legged fireboxes in years. Looking at the pictures, and comparing the evolution to today's KK shows how far Dennis has come. firebox...latch...flexible grout and thinset....beveled lips.... 2 layer construction That grill is probably 12-13 years old. Can't wait for Dennis to chime in with who the original owner was (assuming they were ever part of the forum) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted March 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Fire monkey. Do you think that four legged fire box is replaceable or is there a retrro fit for the older models. The KK web site has no info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firemonkey Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 What's wrong with the firebox? Those things were built like a tank. The legs are like 3x6 cement posts, and even though it looks like one of yours is broken, it still works fine to hold all the weight. You could patch it back together with some kiln repair cement, but I don't know if I'd even bother with that. Just leave it in place like you have it and try not to take it out any more than you have to. You can use a shop vac with a drywall filter to suck out all the ash when its full. It looks like you are just missing the charcoal basket that went inside of it. I think the baskets on the current models are deeper and have straighter sides than the old ones which were more dish-shaped, but Dennis might be able to help you out with one that fits it. Otherwise, in a pinch you could get a replacement charcoal grate from a Weber Kettle and just set it in the bottom to cover the hole. You wouldn't have the convenience of a basket to pick up and take the charcoal out, but that's not a big deal. You could still poke a stick down in there and knock the ashes off to get ready for the next cook, which is all I do with my basket between cooks anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted March 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 I got the charcoal basket and all three grates. I will look in to that kiln cement. I have an ash vacuum that I use in my wood stove and other smokers and grill. Thanks for the advice. What's your take on the gasket between the bottom and lid. Wonder if I could use some wood stove gasket fiberglass material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firemonkey Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Does the gasket leak, or you just want to replace it because it got greasy? You can get braided fiberglass wood stove gasket, and glue it down with high temp RTV silicone. The last time I needed to fix up a kamado with fiberglass gasket, the braided fiberglass was gray instead of white, which helps it not show charcoal dust as much. You can scrape off all the old gasket and silicone, then cut a new piece to fit. Before you do any glue down, you might want to take off the spring on the back of the grill, and loosen the nuts on the hinge plate to make sure the lid is sitting flush to the base. Tighten up the nuts, re-tension the spring, and then you can lay down a bead of high temp silicone on the base. Put the gasket on top of the bead of silicone, and close the grill up for a few hours until it cures. That should seat everything straight and tight. Don't press down on the lid any more than required to close the latch while the silicone is wet. You want the bead to stay thicker and help close any irregularities in the mating of the two surfaces. Your latch looks like it took a sideways ding? Does it still catch tight? If not, get that straightened up first, so that you'll be able to make a good seal. As for the tile work - see if you can find some color matched caulk from the tile section at your local Lowes or Home Depot. You should be able to find some sanded caulk that matches your existing grout color, and just use that to both adhere the tiles and fill the gaps between them. When I have done that, it was with high temp black silicone so I didn't have any concerns with heat. You should be fine as well, but if you're worried about the heat go with some regular thinset. People that have used regular thinset on... ahem...other...grills have have excellent results. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firemonkey Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 If you're going to reattach the leg on the firebox, maybe drill a hole in each piece, so you can set some stainless rod to help hold the two pieces together? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted March 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Yep the gasket leaks abit. The latch works just fine. As for the tile I found some at HomeDepot that matches almost exactly. I will take in to account everything you have said. Very helpful and informative. I will keep you updated with my progress. Thanks again. Jon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Awesome friend, awesome grill. Seems like with a little bit of love you'll be cooking in no time. Charles - Prometheus 16.5", Cassiopeia 19" TT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
churchi Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 wow thats an unreal find. As the others have said these are built like a tank and will be great to cook on for yourself. a bit of TLC and away you go. Looking forward to seeing the fixes and restoration. @DennisLinkletter may be able to answer the other questions you had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinyfish Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Speckled glass green tile, what an awesome colour. Would love a KK in that colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjs Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Can't wait to see the restored grill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisLinkletter Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Wow.. That brings back memories.. Sold to Steve K. in Brooklyn, WI May 28, 2006 must have been one of the first with the CNC cut metal because I thought they all had the first generation of the hanging firebox. Those very early fireboxes with legs are huge and the cracked leg is not an issue, probably done taking it out as Rick said. That grill also has been superheated probably in an attempt to clean it.. I cringe when I see a lid that is white because of the temps needed to do that.. Wow black painted spring too.. we have zinc then nickel plated ones on the site. will be a better spring as well as more cosmetically appealing. That grill used standard thin-set and grout so it is PRE-Elastomeric Acrylic grout and it's imperative you keep it well maintained.. all crazing/cracks should be filled with clear silicone.. Those grills will self destroy in a repetitive freeze thaw environment.. as will a granite mountain The Elastomeric Acrylic grout/insulation which is not both the adhesive and grout solved the last problems and the Achilies heel problem of inevitable expansion when taken to high temps.. no escaping physics. I'm guessing that the upper latch plate is not welded to the grill so this can be upgraded to the latch with bearing and cam. May I ask does it have a black fiberglass or Stainless rear hinge spring cover? Please feel free to call me and discuss upgrades.. I tried to make them always work in earlier KK grills. That is not the original gasket we used a ceramic with fiberglass gasket and still stock them.. I also noticed there is no SS lid tail spline which made the ridge point much more durable and prevented the damage shown with this one.. We can probably dig thru a huge pile of old tiles in the factory garden and find and cut some specked glass green half tiles to fix that tail if you like.. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bendupuy Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 Hello. We have a grill like the one in the photos above. The spring has rusted and broken. How can we place it? Thank you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basher Posted July 18, 2020 Report Share Posted July 18, 2020 Bendupuy can we see some photos?I’m sure Dennis will have a solution for you.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisLinkletter Posted July 18, 2020 Report Share Posted July 18, 2020 Here are the spare parts https://komodokamado.com/collections/23-ultimate-spare-parts If you need more just leave a message on the chat window and my staff will take care of you.. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me should you have any questions or there is anything I can do for you. I'm online taking calls and chatting daily EST from 1pm to 5-6pm and then you can also try from 10pm to 6am (hit or miss) Dennis • Los Angeles (424) 270-1948 • Whatsapp +62 818 850-860 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
