The tip on putting a bit of balled up paper behind the plates to assist in placing the ring on is priceless!! Also slightly embarrassed I didn’t think of something like this before.
Never fails. I have my new big joe 3 and as I am settling into the basics of operating it I realized that the air hinge was not holding the lid like it should. Thanks for the informational video, James!
Such a Life saver. On today I had the problem that my dome won’t stay in position anymore. Just a quick check on your video to fix it within seconds. Really helpful content. Keep up the good work ✌️
I really like the tip to leave the ash catcher tool out as I used to have a lot of ash behind and under it, leading to more frequent disassembly and cleanouts. One thing that I have found that helps me clean up between cooks is using a 2 inch paint brush to sweep the ash from the sides and bottom into the ash pan during clean out.
I cooked some short rib over the weekend and it wasn’t the best. Just watch this vid and decided to check the calibration of the Kamado Joe thermostat. Well it was 20c/68F out. This means i was cooking much hotter than i thought. Thanks for the fix James, it makes feel a bit better about the overdone short rib. Will start to check the stat more often.
Thank you. Ran through an overheat cycle where the thermometer was pinned at max and now the thermometer seems off. I will be taking it off and calibrating before my next cook. Keep up the good work.
Hi James, first of all thankyou for your channel. I just bought a Big Joe and if wasn't for your videos , I wouldn't know what to do. You are my hero!! I have a question. Do you use a drip tray? I haven't see you using one. Where all the juices end up? Don't they make a mess in the Kamado? If you use it where do you put it if you use deflectors or the smoking attachment? I know it's a lot of questions but I know you are the best source of information. Thank you again.
Wow!!! Paper towel balls! GENIUS!!! Great video James. Anyone who cleans their Kamado knows the pain of those ceramic pieces and getting them lined up. Lol. Thanks for sharing.
My classic 3 arrives tomorrow morning. Doing the leftover tail of the whole beef tenderloin from Christmas dinner that I took out of the freezer this morning...cant wait!
Excellent video! New KJ Big Joe III owner here. Do you have tips on cleaning grills / stones / Slo Roller tops just after a regular use (maintenance, not full clean-out). Maybe I'm just not used to having food drip so much (I'm coming from a Kettle Grill where I used pans). After doing 2 Spatchcock chickens yesterday it was a big mess. Just wipe off the chunks? Scrape them? Scrub them in the sink? Thank you for all of your videos.
i find prevention (drip pans help a ton - SmokeWare (10”/12”14”) drip pans (Save 5% code: SDBBQ) - bit.ly/SmokewarePans) is what i use and they just gave me a discount code to pass on. second, after a cook i turn the grill up to 400f and let it burn off anything missed and then shut it down. clean and ready to go next time, i flip the sloroller top each cook to burn off anything on it
Hi, I have a Kamado Big Joe and the metal band that holds the fire box pieces together has distorted. Is there an alternative way to hold the pieces together or do I have to buy a replacement band. Thanks for your help. I love your videos and I have learnt so much from them, keep the good work up. All the best. Serge
Thank you for this. Got the Joetisserie and for the life of me, couldn't figure out how to latch the dome down on it. I watched a couple of your wings videos and in one or two frames it was obvious that the latch was not clasped. "Ah ha!", said I. The reason I was looking to latch instead of rest was that the dome wouldn't stay down or in any spot. It was too tight on the hinge nut...and for what it was worth it was a 17mm wrench on my Classic II.
Do you have a video for changing out the hinge and bands, preferably on a Big Joe? I have an original classic BJ and the hinge isn't holding the dome open any longer, no matter how much I tighten the screws. Figure while I'm at it I'm going to replace the worn out gasket as well.
thnx for the tips, my question on the dome thermometer is that ever sinds i calibrated it , it has moisture in it. i had it in the oven on 180 c for 30 min, took it back to the kamado and intantly it was coming back again. i'm now wondering rather i should drill a 1 mm hole in it or not so it can escape naturally . kind regards
Hi. Thanks for your videos it has helped me a lot. My Big Joe III dome has an overbite and the rear part of the top gasket in front of the hinge rubs against the divide and conquer "level tower" every time I close and open the lid. I can see the hinge system is tilted slightly forward which I believe is causing this overbite. How can this be adjusted? Thanks.
I have a big Joe series one how do I align the dome. Half of the grill won’t hold a dollar bill. The other half is tight and I try to pull it from the grill. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Great video and perfect timing. Just put up the KJ yesterday and my lid was not staying in place. There is nothing in the book that came with it that talks aboot the adjustment. The paper towel trick is brilliant. You need three people in there to hold everything in place to get that ring on. It's like playing wack-a-moose, get one in place and one falls oot. Do you think putting the top vent cap in a pot of boiling water would clean it withoot damaging it? Maybe do that and calibrate the thermometer at the same time? Subscribed and looking forward to some Great White North BBQ! Thanks!
Thanks so much. Just helped neighbors not to long around and they were stuck on the firebox and had noticed the lack of instructions so I thought this would be helpful for people. My vent cap seasoning came off when I rubbed it with a paper towel so not sure if that helps. I don't worry about the look so I toss it in the grill now at 450-500 for 20-30min to burn off the gunk. Wash it and season it like cast iron and it slides like the day it was new
Hey, 1st point - how do you keep your kontrol tower clean and does it shed / flake paint? 2nd point - when your joe heats up do you find the kontrol tower gets loose from the dome neck?
Hey Nick, ya my biggest pet peeve on the KJ is keeping the vent cap looking new. The design is the best i've used ... the paint, has to be last lol. I have been experimenting with olive oil and trying to season it like cast iron with limited success. You can add a little more gasket material to the top if you have it to stop the second issue you mentioned
Good stuff but you talk about the thermometer calibration sometimes being 30 40 50 degrees off. I see over a 100 degree difference between the KJ thermometer and what the Meater probe registers any thought why that could be ?
I've watched a few videos on maintenance and tips on cleaning. Why doesn't anyone use water to rinse out the ashes? And to mix with a dish soap to scrub the components (like we would a pot we cook in) Thanks
i am not sure but the water content might present a cracking risk under high heat .... in general a clean burn is the best way to make the inside look new again
Thanks for the tip for loosing the vent control. I also have an issue where the vent itself seems too loose. It will lift right off and spins around when I'm trying to adjust the vent. How can I get the gasket tighter?
Hey James, I am new to KJ and have the KJ BJ3 and loving it. Your videos are great and help newbies but have a question. I have an overbite on my KJ and I have tried what most people suggest to fix it, loosen the nuts Reallohn and then tighten, managed to get it right but then after first burn and heat expansion the lid hits the catch again and doesn’t close until I press the catch a little bit... any idea how to fix ? Thanks
How do I install a sheet metal sliding intake vent with screws on a 65 year old Original Kamado that has a ceramic vent cover? How do I drill hole without cracking Kamado body?
I just bought a joe classic and I can't wait to start cooking on it I bbq cook for 2 1/2 years on black jack oak and it was pretty cool and I do almost all the cooking for my wife and I and my family your videos are awesome and I enjoy watching them keep it going BBQDad
Hey did you find the lid needed to be adjusted to use it with the joetisserie. Put the joetisserie ring in and close the lid and the lid just opens right up haha. Or it opens about an inch above the ring. Keep.moving it so.it makes the best seal I can, but maybe would the tip to adjust the lid solve this? Will give it a try.
I was just given a used Big Joe from a customer. The issue is, I need all the internal parts (firebox, ring, etc..) I cannot seem to locate any of these online. Any help is greatly appreciated. TIA
Hey SDBBQ, how can I adjust the back height of my KJ Classic 2? When it's closed, you can see the back part of the dome is a little higher than the rest, and smoke escapes from there when smoking. Thanks for the great videos!
You had mentioned tightening the bands for the dome. What torque spec is recommended in order to prevent over tightening the bands and potentially snapping one?
@@SmokingDadBBQ well, I have done what you suggested above and when the weather turned colder in the winter, one of the bottom bands snapped on my Big Joe Classic. Kamado Joe replaced the band assembly, after I needed it to smoke a Thanksgiving turkey, but just telling people to tighten bands without a specification can cause more harm than good.
I like the idea of removing the ash assembly and just using the slide tray. My question is is it safe to remove the fire grate for better air flow. I had it plug once and had to clean mid cook. I've also heard of possible ceramic cracking cooking without the fire grate, what's you opinion James? I do use a KAB.
right on, congratulations! the bands are the metal rings that hug your two ceramic parts (base and dome) which are connected to the hinge. they can get lose over time so you want to tighten them when you get your grill and then check spring and fall
One problem that I have had is my Kamado "Josephine" her lig wouldn't stay locked down. I found that the upper catch had worn smooth. The easy fix is to take the catch off then using a dremel tool or even a small file cut a groove in the back. reinstall the upper catch and "voilà" it locks down again.
Great vid! Would you recommend calibrating the temp gauge after assembly of the grill before the first use aswell, or are they accurate enough upon first arrival?
I have not had one arrive out of whack but it never hurts. normally I use a digital probe and if the temp range is too different I remove the probe and test it in boiling water to find out
the egg is just as easy to maintain ... with the exception maybe the bands. my eggs tended to develop and over / underbite after a few years use which drove my OCD a little crazy but other than that they are similar for maintenance
Ok.. I am a new owner to the KJ3. For the first 4-5 cooks I could get up to temp no problem. Since then no. I’ve cleaned it out, I’ve been careful with airflow. I’ve been careful with making sure the charcoal is spaced for airflow. Now I can’t get it above 450. The only thing I can think of now is not enough charcoal? It’s driving me crazy. Lol. I don’t get it..
Very helpful videos. I see you have two KJ classic sizes (18" ) - at least it looks like two classic sizes - and I was wondering what your thoughts on are on the different sizes. Big Joe, classic, and Jr. If you could only own one, which one? Why two KJ classic as opposed to 1 Big Joe and one Jr (or some other combination). If you could only have two which two. What about different scenarios such as a family of four, or someone who does lots of entertaining. How much fuel do the different sizes use. How much longer to heat up for each size? And finally, which size do you think one should buy first.....
thanks. I hope to be able to do a three sizes comparison later this summer but until then the thinking for the two classics is that it’s normally enough grill for everything we do but for parties we have double the space and can share accessories back and fourth vs having to buy dedicated for each.
is the gasket in good shape? if yes and the dome is not aligned are the bands tight? likely lose at one point and moved. lock the air lift hinge with the tool it came with and then align the dome
Any issues with the ring that holds the pedestals together warping on the Big Joe? Mine has, I’m assuming from high heat cooking. Makes the reassemble process much more difficult and I have to be careful not to bump it the wrong way during use or it will pop off and make grates and deflector plates crooked and un-level in the middle of a cook.
Hi, I just got my Big Joe 3 and the latch is loose(has a little wobble to it)...there is a small screw on the side of the latch that looks as though its not screwed in completely...do you know had to resolve this issue? Thanks
I have a Joe Jr. to supplement my Classic II. My issue is the lid is slightly offset side to side. It's sealed well front to back but it's about an 1/8" off to the right. I've googled but can't find a good descritption on how to adjust this. Can you help?
is the thermometer centred on the handle? is the dome actually off or did the gasket material not get applied perfectly giving the illusion that it’s off a little? in general if it’s not leaking smoke you’ve got a good seal and things like 1/8th don’t bother me
So glad I found your videos. Two quick questions. Do you recommend using a water/drip pan directly on the half moon stones to create moisture and to collect fat drippings and how do you lock the divide and conquer rack into the coal basket?
Great questions Gary, thanks for the note. I don't use a water pan, the Kamado holds plenty of moisture and I've found it hurts the bark. Instead I spray with water if needed on a long cook. I clean the stones but turning the heat up after the cook to 450f for 10-15min, they look good as new and i am ready to go next time after this. If you don't, you need to add time to the start of your next cook for the gunk to burn off. The divide and conquer on the series three has little hooks that you rotate into the notches on the basket so that you can lift it all out together
@@SmokingDadBBQ One last question. When I use a temperature probe on the grate, the temperature on the thermometer in the dome reads higher. I checked it's accuracy, so which temperature should you use?
Don’t overthink it. The grate temp will always be higher than the dome temp. Just go by the dome temp. Most cooks assume you’re reading from that one anyway.) it’s nice to check the grate temp but they should both reach an equilibrium at some point and that’s when you know your grill is in perfect sync with whatever temp the dome is reading anyway.
Thank you! I'm going to plop down $1200USD for one of these bad boys this weekend. Yikes! For a BBQ! So I've been studying the reviews of this, Green Egg, pellet grills, etc. I think that the Kamado Joe II class 18" is the right one for me. I plan to get a cover for it too since it will be sitting outside in my backyard. Along my back fence is a public trail. People walking by can see over my fence into my back yard. I'm sure that they will see this in my yard. I was thinking of getting some sort of bike lock for it to thwart an opportunistic thief. Any advice on locking these down is appreciated. Sad that I have to worry about this. But there are addicts running around my town breaking into people's cars and mailboxes looking for anything of value they can steal. They have already broken into my car once and stole my parking change.
sorry to hear that’s a possibility. built into a table it becomes a real deterrent as the 265lbs Joe and a table at 200-400lbs becomes its own security. without that a lock isn’t a bad idea
Hot tip ( literally ) from a recent newcomer to Kamados. I initially had problems maintaining high temperature on my classic 2. They do not come with a charcoal basket as standard - but they are available separately. The holes in the charcoal grate at the bottom of the standard classic 2 easily become blocked by ash , making it difficult to reach high cooking temps. A basket seems to allow better airflow. and makes it easy to lift and shake off ash on leftover charcoal between cooks.
Hi, I have a question and hope you can help. You give tip on this video about what to do if you vent get stuck and how to loose it. But my is too loose. If I completly open the top vent, and do the lit open, the complete vent get of his place. And it's not like I don't use it not ofte, I think at least once a week it's turned on. With also low and slow sessions of more then 6 hours. Any tips?
Thanks so much. Never had that before... but I would try tightening the allen wrench screw head you can see when the kontrol tower top is in its extended position
Hi James, have you ever had to adjust your lid? I got a brand new Big Joe a few weeks ago and the lid has an overbite that is bad enough that it sometimes won't close if I don't open the front latch. Customer service at KJ told me to use the disengagement tool, loosen up all the bolts on top and bottom hinge and realign the dome. I've read on various forums that this can be very tricky (near impossible to do). Curious for your thoughts. Thanks.
it’s not impossible at all. it’s pretty straight forward. you can as a first step adjust the latch left, right and up and down with the Allen key in it to help
So I’m having an issue. I can’t seem to get my kj to cook at a low temperature. I completely cut off Both vents but still holds 450 degrees. It’s brand new just did my first cook on it.
do you have a smoke leak any where? check this video on band alignment and smoke leaks, especially the dollar bill test to answer this - th-cam.com/video/qWM6mFkfnmI/w-d-xo.html
Got a Big Joe 3 n January and loving it so far. Question I haven’t been able to find anywhere. My dome hinge is working great and holding it up when open but it squeaks when you lift and lower. Thoughts on how to fix?
Hey, have you had any issues with warping on the stainless steel firebox ring after only one season? I was doing a full clean out and shifting to another level of the deck. Is it that big of a deal, I got it back together without too much of an issue and with the additional weight it set back in place.
only if the moving portion is causing you trouble, you get lots of rain, or you have a hard time recreating specific temps and the lines would make it easier to find your settings
We get monsoons here in Houston. I have a Big Joe 1. I just ordered the tower from Kamado. Thanks for all you do. Your videos put me on the fast track to getting cooking on my Kamado. (First time ceramic grill owner here)
Andy Larson I saw a thread on Kamado Guru about that a long time back. I believe the official answer from KJ support involved loosening the bands on the side of the grill with the big bolts. It didn’t say this but I would loosen the air lift hinge so it didn’t lift out of place while you have some slack on the bands. I found it easiest to use plumber pliers on the back of the hinge lifting up or down to slide the dome forward or backwards. Once it’s centred tighten back up
Question on temperatures. I am cooking a turkey. My pit probe on the grate says 248 degrees and the dome says 330 degrees. Both units have been tested for accuracy. What should I use for my cook? Do I raise the grate temp to 325 or go by the dome?
how soon are you testing (aka are the ceramic plates just installed and potentially not heat soaked yet?). i don’t always use digital probes so I often use the dome as that’s consistent
@@garykazanjian824 I’ve never had a spread on two accurate probes that wide. I suspect your fire has drifted to one side, likely the front so hot air is maybe hitting your dome probe but not heating the entire grate evenly. I would check your fire burn direction and maybe adjust the seams direction for more equal cooks. I try to light straight down
@@SmokingDadBBQ Thank you. I bet you are correct that my fire was to one side instead of the middle. BTW, do you ever use a drip pan with water in it to help moisture in?
I have a question 🙋🏻♀️ I have a Kamado Joe Classic II, I just purchased an outdoor kitchen to put it in. The hinge of the Kamado is so long that I would have to set it up way too high for the hinge. Is there a replacement hinge to be able to set it on a more normal height? I just realized this issue when we were going to transfer the Kamado in the kitchen.
So I am torn between SAVING UP A LITTLE MORE AND GETTING THE JOE VS THE BROIL KING KEG. FIRST WHICH ONE IS BEST? One thing I am concerned about is when I move in about 4 years that some how the movers CRACK IT SOMEHOW. How sturdy is the K JOE?
I’ve moved mine without an issue. just remove all the internal components and make sure the joe itself is secured with straps. I just got a big joe and have been really impressed with the utility of the extra space
Hello, My Kamado Joe Jr's lid does not close even, the lid tilts toward the front.....IE the front shows zero space and the rear is almost a 1/2 inch? How would I change or adjust this? Thanks
@@SmokingDadBBQ Thanks, Kamado joe is sending me some new bands, since my grill is only a month old, they think they could be warped or bent? Since the jr doesn't have any type of hinge leveling adjustment I'm hopeful this corrects it. Thanks
@@SmokingDadBBQ thank you James! I was getting ready to join Instagram and ask you to call me. also I'm leaking smoke from the gasket. what's your advice ? Thank you so much, my brother from Canada!! Brad.
I have the issue with the dome dropping down 4-6” when in the fully open position. Adjusting the nut on the air lift hinge doesn’t help. This makes removing the D&C rack and slo roller a pain. Any tips?
@@SmokingDadBBQ It will hold at all positions except in the fully open position. When I open dome all the way up, the dome drops back down 4” and will slowly drop an additional 2”. Tightening bolt doesn’t help the issue. This is a 3 week old BJIII
@@jamesmack3122 I have tightened to the point the dome will open up on its own after being unlatched. However, when opened to the fully open position it will still drop back down several inches.
Hi James ..a little off topic but do you have the dimensions of a Kamado Joe 3? I'm looking to purchase one but need to know if it will fit in my existing table and I can't find any dimensions on line. I need to know the hight from the bottom of the hinge housing to the bottom of the BJ3. Any idea what this is? Thanks
I need to know how to unfreeze the entire top vent and prevent it from locking up again. The slide vent is not frozen on my Joe. The entire top will not rotate away to entirely open the top. Please advise. Thanks.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 84 วันนี้!! คู่เอก "ก้องศึก vs เมืองไทย"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3kuzsAIDf1c/mqdefault.jpg)
Must watch KJ videos:
Dome alignment issue? - th-cam.com/video/qWM6mFkfnmI/w-d-xo.html
KJ 101 (start here) - th-cam.com/video/x3nvkwmwuFw/w-d-xo.html
Top 10 KJ beginner mistakes - th-cam.com/video/gdcaOjQt_I0/w-d-xo.html
Don’t buy these accessories - th-cam.com/video/ORcbo6fTHmk/w-d-xo.html
Smoke wood secret - th-cam.com/video/2qtHrFjWY1U/w-d-xo.html
First 5 cooks for a new owner - th-cam.com/video/JA84ZvYL47Y/w-d-xo.html
The tip on putting a bit of balled up paper behind the plates to assist in placing the ring on is priceless!! Also slightly embarrassed I didn’t think of something like this before.
hahaha thanks
Never fails. I have my new big joe 3 and as I am settling into the basics of operating it I realized that the air hinge was not holding the lid like it should. Thanks for the informational video, James!
Glad to help
Such a Life saver. On today I had the problem that my dome won’t stay in position anymore. Just a quick check on your video to fix it within seconds. Really helpful content. Keep up the good work ✌️
I really like the tip to leave the ash catcher tool out as I used to have a lot of ash behind and under it, leading to more frequent disassembly and cleanouts. One thing that I have found that helps me clean up between cooks is using a 2 inch paint brush to sweep the ash from the sides and bottom into the ash pan during clean out.
That's a great idea!
Super idea!
Why am I watching this? I even finished the entire video, and I don't even own this grill. lol
franticfoto lol but now you know how to fix them 😂
haha same
Me neither, but...its coming soon. His vids are really good!
OMG!! You should! it's worth every penny....
Talez From the DashCam 💯 agree
Man! Wish I would’ve watched this paper towel hack before my last spring clean! Thank you for this great content!
Happy to help! isn’t that such a life saver?
Really well done,very informative thank you for this.
Glad it was helpful!
I cooked some short rib over the weekend and it wasn’t the best. Just watch this vid and decided to check the calibration of the Kamado Joe thermostat. Well it was 20c/68F out. This means i was cooking much hotter than i thought. Thanks for the fix James, it makes feel a bit better about the overdone short rib. Will start to check the stat more often.
J Des so glad it helped. It’s one of those things I used to forget about ... now I check them when doing my furnace filter lol
Thank you. Ran through an overheat cycle where the thermometer was pinned at max and now the thermometer seems off. I will be taking it off and calibrating before my next cook.
Keep up the good work.
yes this can cause that.... time to do the boiling water calibration
Since the temp gauge is also in celsius, I would recommend using celsius when using boiling water. 100°C is the temp of boiling water.
Good call out, thanks for watching
At sea level. Higher up, water boils at lower temperature
wow. big thanks to you. I am new to Kamajo Joe and I didn't place the base (the first circular piece) opening properly.
Glad it helped!
Hi James, first of all thankyou for your channel. I just bought a Big Joe and if wasn't for your videos , I wouldn't know what to do. You are my hero!! I have a question. Do you use a drip tray? I haven't see you using one. Where all the juices end up? Don't they make a mess in the Kamado? If you use it where do you put it if you use deflectors or the smoking attachment?
I know it's a lot of questions but I know you are the best source of information. Thank you again.
check out 5:50 on this video to see how I setup for drip trays - th-cam.com/video/pRQEKUPAkgk/w-d-xo.html
Wow!!! Paper towel balls! GENIUS!!! Great video James. Anyone who cleans their Kamado knows the pain of those ceramic pieces and getting them lined up. Lol. Thanks for sharing.
This changed my life lol... ok maybe not that significant but defiantly a must have trick to have up your sleeve. Thanks for watching and commenting
My classic 3 arrives tomorrow morning. Doing the leftover tail of the whole beef tenderloin from Christmas dinner that I took out of the freezer this morning...cant wait!
boom 💥
Excellent video! New KJ Big Joe III owner here. Do you have tips on cleaning grills / stones / Slo Roller tops just after a regular use (maintenance, not full clean-out). Maybe I'm just not used to having food drip so much (I'm coming from a Kettle Grill where I used pans). After doing 2 Spatchcock chickens yesterday it was a big mess. Just wipe off the chunks? Scrape them? Scrub them in the sink? Thank you for all of your videos.
i find prevention (drip pans help a ton - SmokeWare (10”/12”14”) drip pans (Save 5% code: SDBBQ) - bit.ly/SmokewarePans) is what i use and they just gave me a discount code to pass on. second, after a cook i turn the grill up to 400f and let it burn off anything missed and then shut it down. clean and ready to go next time, i flip the sloroller top each cook to burn off anything on it
Hi,
I have a Kamado Big Joe and the metal band that holds the fire box pieces together has distorted. Is there an alternative way to hold the pieces together or do I have to buy a replacement band.
Thanks for your help.
I love your videos and I have learnt so much from them, keep the good work up.
All the best.
Serge
Fantastic tips! Thanks very much!
Thanks so much for this. I needed to adjust my hinge and didn't know how. I know it seems simple, but I didn't want to muck it up. Thanks again!!!
Glad it helped!
Is there any videos out there about fixing a gap on the dome seal? My Classic 3 just all of a sudden has a gap between the seal.
I have the exact same problem and can't find anything...
@@acrolix I think I fixed my gap by tightening the airlift hinge.
I will get to work on a dome alignment video
Thank you for this. Got the Joetisserie and for the life of me, couldn't figure out how to latch the dome down on it. I watched a couple of your wings videos and in one or two frames it was obvious that the latch was not clasped.
"Ah ha!", said I. The reason I was looking to latch instead of rest was that the dome wouldn't stay down or in any spot. It was too tight on the hinge nut...and for what it was worth it was a 17mm wrench on my Classic II.
yes if your dome won’t stay down it’s too tight at the back
I just recently bought a Kamado Classic 2. Love it so far but im having an issue with the grates falling. Is this normal?
Do you have a video for changing out the hinge and bands, preferably on a Big Joe? I have an original classic BJ and the hinge isn't holding the dome open any longer, no matter how much I tighten the screws. Figure while I'm at it I'm going to replace the worn out gasket as well.
thnx for the tips, my question on the dome thermometer is that ever sinds i calibrated it , it has moisture in it. i had it in the oven on 180 c for 30 min, took it back to the kamado and intantly it was coming back again. i'm now wondering rather i should drill a 1 mm hole in it or not so it can escape naturally . kind regards
This video is great! and let me
Tell you your paper towel trick is so helpful. I’ve always struggled with getting that ring on.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video James! Thanks for the tips! I will use them when cleaning my KJ! Your channel is taking off! Congrats! It shows how nice your videos are!
Beers-Jack of BBQ thanks so much
Hi! My kamadojoe spring has started to creak, as if it were an old piece of rusty metal but it’s clean; how come??
How do you repair chipped outer layer of paint/shell of the kamado?
Thanks for the great video! could you make video how to clean after each use too please?? can I use left over charcoal again??
Great suggestion!
Seconded please
the paper towel trick has saved me a lot of muttered curses thanks a lot!
Glad it helped!
Hi. Thanks for your videos it has helped me a lot. My Big Joe III dome has an overbite and the rear part of the top gasket in front of the hinge rubs against the divide and conquer "level tower" every time I close and open the lid. I can see the hinge system is tilted slightly forward which I believe is causing this overbite. How can this be adjusted? Thanks.
i will make a video on this
I have the same problem.
I have a big Joe series one how do I align the dome. Half of the grill won’t hold a dollar bill. The other half is tight and I try to pull it from the grill. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
did you go through my dome alignment video already? th-cam.com/video/qWM6mFkfnmI/w-d-xo.html
This is very helpful James. Thank you so much for your tutorials.
Thanks so much Cathy! Greatly appreciated
So helpful!!!!!! Definitely saving this video.
Awesome! Thank you! Take care Steven
Thank you very much for this video. I love my Kamado Joe ll Big Joe and you helped me a lot with ways to fix issues.
d307p thanks so much
Superb video mate, answering a lot of questions I get asked a lot!
The Smokin' Elk thanks so much Dan
Great video and perfect timing. Just put up the KJ yesterday and my lid was not staying in place. There is nothing in the book that came with it that talks aboot the adjustment.
The paper towel trick is brilliant. You need three people in there to hold everything in place to get that ring on. It's like playing wack-a-moose, get one in place and one falls oot.
Do you think putting the top vent cap in a pot of boiling water would clean it withoot damaging it? Maybe do that and calibrate the thermometer at the same time?
Subscribed and looking forward to some Great White North BBQ! Thanks!
Thanks so much. Just helped neighbors not to long around and they were stuck on the firebox and had noticed the lack of instructions so I thought this would be helpful for people. My vent cap seasoning came off when I rubbed it with a paper towel so not sure if that helps. I don't worry about the look so I toss it in the grill now at 450-500 for 20-30min to burn off the gunk. Wash it and season it like cast iron and it slides like the day it was new
Hey, 1st point - how do you keep your kontrol tower clean and does it shed / flake paint?
2nd point - when your joe heats up do you find the kontrol tower gets loose from the dome neck?
Hey Nick, ya my biggest pet peeve on the KJ is keeping the vent cap looking new. The design is the best i've used ... the paint, has to be last lol. I have been experimenting with olive oil and trying to season it like cast iron with limited success. You can add a little more gasket material to the top if you have it to stop the second issue you mentioned
Good stuff but you talk about the thermometer calibration sometimes being 30 40 50 degrees off. I see over a 100 degree difference between the KJ thermometer and what the Meater probe registers any thought why that could be ?
Jump to 05:26 in this video for some ideas th-cam.com/video/ND7GLjQJxqg/w-d-xo.html
Great video, mine will be on order for this summer!
Good choice! hope you enjoy it as much as I do
Great videos. Did you ever had to deal with the common paint peeling off issues with the kontrol tower?
yes early on, i got a warranty replacement which has been holding up better
Thanks for your videos. Any tips on using during the winter months? Can the Kamado Joe survive in -30 degree weather?
Yes, absolutely. I am going to record some tips now that we have snow but in short yes
I've watched a few videos on maintenance and tips on cleaning. Why doesn't anyone use water to rinse out the ashes? And to mix with a dish soap to scrub the components (like we would a pot we cook in) Thanks
i am not sure but the water content might present a cracking risk under high heat .... in general a clean burn is the best way to make the inside look new again
Hi sir do you by any chance have a video on how to replace the casters on Kamado joe big joe 2? Thank you
No, sorry i don't
Thanks for the tip for loosing the vent control. I also have an issue where the vent itself seems too loose. It will lift right off and spins around when I'm trying to adjust the vent. How can I get the gasket tighter?
if you have this try adding a little extra gasket material to the base under the cap... amazon has some high heat felt ones that are not expensive
I noticed your grill grates are rusty, is this normal? How do you recommend cleaning the grates? Do you recommend reasoning them also?
i think its just food, when i clean them i don't see any rust
Hey James, I am new to KJ and have the KJ BJ3 and loving it. Your videos are great and help newbies but have a question. I have an overbite on my KJ and I have tried what most people suggest to fix it, loosen the nuts Reallohn and then tighten, managed to get it right but then after first burn and heat expansion the lid hits the catch again and doesn’t close until I press the catch a little bit... any idea how to fix ? Thanks
the front latch can be adjusted lefts for right and up snd down which might help sort you. otherwise it’s a fresh remove the bands and redo
I have an older spring loaded top on the extra large Kamado. It will fall if left unattended. Is there an adjustment to fix?
sounds like you need a spring replacement... i would submit on the KJ site
No getting up to temp. What kind of charcoal did you buy. Next did you keep it out of the humidity. Have you cleaned out the ashes
I use Fogo, JD and KJ as my top 3 coals, and I remove the ash every cook
Im wait for my joe classic 3. Cant wait
so excited for you. congrats
How do I install a sheet metal sliding intake vent with screws on a 65 year old Original Kamado that has a ceramic vent cover? How do I drill hole without cracking Kamado body?
I just bought a joe classic and I can't wait to start cooking on it I bbq cook for 2 1/2 years on black jack oak and it was pretty cool and I do almost all the cooking for my wife and I and my family your videos are awesome and I enjoy watching them keep it going BBQDad
congrats and thanks so much
Thanks I'll keep you posted and I'll keep watching your videos
Hey did you find the lid needed to be adjusted to use it with the joetisserie. Put the joetisserie ring in and close the lid and the lid just opens right up haha. Or it opens about an inch above the ring. Keep.moving it so.it makes the best seal I can, but maybe would the tip to adjust the lid solve this? Will give it a try.
pull the joetisserie as far to the front as you can, if the dome pops open you need to reduce the spring tension as its too much
Awesome tips and awesome videos in general!
I live in Calgary, just got a Big Joe 2 and wondering if a cover is necessary for the grill?
I have some protection with the pergola so I don’t use a cover. if you have no protection it’s not a bad idea
I was just given a used Big Joe from a customer. The issue is, I need all the internal parts (firebox, ring, etc..) I cannot seem to locate any of these online. Any help is greatly appreciated.
TIA
Hey SDBBQ, how can I adjust the back height of my KJ Classic 2? When it's closed, you can see the back part of the dome is a little higher than the rest, and smoke escapes from there when smoking. Thanks for the great videos!
i will have to do a video on that, you need to reseat the dome in the band
You had mentioned tightening the bands for the dome. What torque spec is recommended in order to prevent over tightening the bands and potentially snapping one?
i will see if i can find official settings, i just use an allen key without too much leverage and hand tighten as much as i can.
@@SmokingDadBBQ well, I have done what you suggested above and when the weather turned colder in the winter, one of the bottom bands snapped on my Big Joe Classic. Kamado Joe replaced the band assembly, after I needed it to smoke a Thanksgiving turkey, but just telling people to tighten bands without a specification can cause more harm than good.
I like the idea of removing the ash assembly and just using the slide tray. My question is is it safe to remove the fire grate for better air flow. I had it plug once and had to clean mid cook. I've also heard of possible ceramic cracking cooking without the fire grate, what's you opinion James? I do use a KAB.
Yes, absolutely. the new gen 3 doesn’t even come with the cast iron plate
What are the bands? I’m seriously thinking of buying one this week. Great video!
right on, congratulations! the bands are the metal rings that hug your two ceramic parts (base and dome) which are connected to the hinge. they can get lose over time so you want to tighten them when you get your grill and then check spring and fall
Smoking Dad BBQ ah! That makes perfect sense. I’m pulling the trigger today. It’s a classic for $499 new. That seems like a great deal or no?
Great video. Thank you. My tower on top of the Kamado Joe ll is quite loose. Is that supposed to be the case?
try adding some more gasket material so it’s secured to the base
One problem that I have had is my Kamado "Josephine" her lig wouldn't stay locked down. I found that the upper catch had worn smooth. The easy fix is to take the catch off then using a dremel tool or even a small file cut a groove in the back. reinstall the upper catch and "voilà" it locks down again.
Thank-you, cheers
Great vid! Would you recommend calibrating the temp gauge after assembly of the grill before the first use aswell, or are they accurate enough upon first arrival?
I have not had one arrive out of whack but it never hurts. normally I use a digital probe and if the temp range is too different I remove the probe and test it in boiling water to find out
Would you recommend these over the green egg for troubleshooting?
the egg is just as easy to maintain ... with the exception maybe the bands. my eggs tended to develop and over / underbite after a few years use which drove my OCD a little crazy but other than that they are similar for maintenance
@@SmokingDadBBQ brilliant reply thanks!
how about chips on the outside paint?
you can order KJ touch up paint from their website that is colour matched
Ok.. I am a new owner to the KJ3. For the first 4-5 cooks I could get up to temp no problem. Since then no. I’ve cleaned it out, I’ve been careful with airflow. I’ve been careful with making sure the charcoal is spaced for airflow. Now I can’t get it above 450. The only thing I can think of now is not enough charcoal? It’s driving me crazy. Lol. I don’t get it..
if the firebox is in position and not blocking anything then you might need more coal
@@SmokingDadBBQ I think your correct. I’ll try that tomorrow. Thank you so much for your videos, advice and inspiration
Very helpful videos. I see you have two KJ classic sizes (18" ) - at least it looks like two classic sizes - and I was wondering what your thoughts on are on the different sizes. Big Joe, classic, and Jr.
If you could only own one, which one? Why two KJ classic as opposed to 1 Big Joe and one Jr (or some other combination). If you could only have two which two. What about different scenarios such as a family of four, or someone who does lots of entertaining. How much fuel do the different sizes use. How much longer to heat up for each size? And finally, which size do you think one should buy first.....
thanks. I hope to be able to do a three sizes comparison later this summer but until then the thinking for the two classics is that it’s normally enough grill for everything we do but for parties we have double the space and can share accessories back and fourth vs having to buy dedicated for each.
How does the control tower remove? Does it need to be pried off or should it come off easily?
if it’s snug on the dome, that’s ok. if the cap won’t open / slide then the grease needs to be cleaned to have it slide open properly.
When tightening the bands, what would be the correct tightness?
Or is there a torque setting you can use on the nuts?
I need to look to see if there is a proper setting. I am it using a torch wrench. just an Allan key until it stops moving under moderate effort
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
How do you adjust dome if smoke is leaking (i.e. leaks from back side of dome).
is the gasket in good shape? if yes and the dome is not aligned are the bands tight? likely lose at one point and moved. lock the air lift hinge with the tool it came with and then align the dome
Any issues with the ring that holds the pedestals together warping on the Big Joe? Mine has, I’m assuming from high heat cooking. Makes the reassemble process much more difficult and I have to be careful not to bump it the wrong way during use or it will pop off and make grates and deflector plates crooked and un-level in the middle of a cook.
maybe a warranty?
My top gasket has pulled loose some, what’s the best way to attach it back without having to replace it? It’s in good shape just come unstuck. Thanks
Good question! you need bison high heat red (in a blue bottle) silicon from amazon. mine needs this as well. just waiting for the shipment
@@SmokingDadBBQ thanks, I hadn’t thought about that. I was going to try double stick tape but that probably wouldn’t last. Thanks again.
Struggling to get my temperature up with both diffusers in place? Should I let the temperature come up before inserting them?
I have them open like a pizza so they prefer heat snd don’t block heat in the dome. then I close them when I see the temp I want and adjust the vents
Hi, I just got my Big Joe 3 and the latch is loose(has a little wobble to it)...there is a small screw on the side of the latch that looks as though its not screwed in completely...do you know had to resolve this issue? Thanks
the 4 bolts are to adjust left and right latch position and the allen key is the vertical alignment
I have a Joe Jr. to supplement my Classic II. My issue is the lid is slightly offset side to side. It's sealed well front to back but it's about an 1/8" off to the right. I've googled but can't find a good descritption on how to adjust this. Can you help?
is the thermometer centred on the handle? is the dome actually off or did the gasket material not get applied perfectly giving the illusion that it’s off a little? in general if it’s not leaking smoke you’ve got a good seal and things like 1/8th don’t bother me
So glad I found your videos. Two quick questions. Do you recommend using a water/drip pan directly on the half moon stones to create moisture and to collect fat drippings and how do you lock the divide and conquer rack into the coal basket?
Great questions Gary, thanks for the note. I don't use a water pan, the Kamado holds plenty of moisture and I've found it hurts the bark. Instead I spray with water if needed on a long cook. I clean the stones but turning the heat up after the cook to 450f for 10-15min, they look good as new and i am ready to go next time after this. If you don't, you need to add time to the start of your next cook for the gunk to burn off. The divide and conquer on the series three has little hooks that you rotate into the notches on the basket so that you can lift it all out together
@@SmokingDadBBQ Thank you very much for your reply. BTW, those gloves are out of stock on Amazon. Is there another pair you recommend?
Gary Kazanjian I haven’t used all the brands. The extra long length and 900f is what I would look for
@@SmokingDadBBQ One last question. When I use a temperature probe on the grate, the temperature on the thermometer in the dome reads higher. I checked it's accuracy, so which temperature should you use?
Don’t overthink it. The grate temp will always be higher than the dome temp. Just go by the dome temp. Most cooks assume you’re reading from that one anyway.) it’s nice to check the grate temp but they should both reach an equilibrium at some point and that’s when you know your grill is in perfect sync with whatever temp the dome is reading anyway.
Thanks for the video. Question, how and what do you use to clean the exterior painted areas of the grill?
jrobforever I just use a micro fibre wash cloth
Thank you! I'm going to plop down $1200USD for one of these bad boys this weekend. Yikes! For a BBQ! So I've been studying the reviews of this, Green Egg, pellet grills, etc. I think that the Kamado Joe II class 18" is the right one for me. I plan to get a cover for it too since it will be sitting outside in my backyard.
Along my back fence is a public trail. People walking by can see over my fence into my back yard. I'm sure that they will see this in my yard. I was thinking of getting some sort of bike lock for it to thwart an opportunistic thief. Any advice on locking these down is appreciated.
Sad that I have to worry about this. But there are addicts running around my town breaking into people's cars and mailboxes looking for anything of value they can steal. They have already broken into my car once and stole my parking change.
sorry to hear that’s a possibility. built into a table it becomes a real deterrent as the 265lbs Joe and a table at 200-400lbs becomes its own security. without that a lock isn’t a bad idea
Hot tip ( literally ) from a recent newcomer to Kamados. I initially had problems maintaining high temperature on my classic 2. They do not come with a charcoal basket as standard - but they are available separately. The holes in the charcoal grate at the bottom of the standard classic 2 easily become blocked by ash , making it difficult to reach high cooking temps. A basket seems to allow better airflow. and makes it easy to lift and shake off ash on leftover charcoal between cooks.
Hi, I have a question and hope you can help. You give tip on this video about what to do if you vent get stuck and how to loose it. But my is too loose. If I completly open the top vent, and do the lit open, the complete vent get of his place. And it's not like I don't use it not ofte, I think at least once a week it's turned on. With also low and slow sessions of more then 6 hours. Any tips?
Thanks so much. Never had that before... but I would try tightening the allen wrench screw head you can see when the kontrol tower top is in its extended position
Hi James, have you ever had to adjust your lid? I got a brand new Big Joe a few weeks ago and the lid has an overbite that is bad enough that it sometimes won't close if I don't open the front latch. Customer service at KJ told me to use the disengagement tool, loosen up all the bolts on top and bottom hinge and realign the dome. I've read on various forums that this can be very tricky (near impossible to do). Curious for your thoughts. Thanks.
it’s not impossible at all. it’s pretty straight forward. you can as a first step adjust the latch left, right and up and down with the Allen key in it to help
Can I use fiberglass wire mesh gasket tape on Kamado Joe Classic I or Big Joe I?
you can but it goes flatter which is no problem. amazon nomax high heat gasket is fine for felt as well or some go Rutland
So I’m having an issue. I can’t seem to get my kj to cook at a low temperature. I completely cut off Both vents but still holds 450 degrees. It’s brand new just did my first cook on it.
do you have a smoke leak any where? check this video on band alignment and smoke leaks, especially the dollar bill test to answer this - th-cam.com/video/qWM6mFkfnmI/w-d-xo.html
Changing your name, to THE KJ Expert! Great information, my only issue is at the end of every video, I want to buy a Kamado!
hahaha thanks buddy. Cant wait see your double brisket cook on your new offset
Hey do you have any tips for cleaning the grease and dripping build up on the heat deflector plates?
yes, flip and burn it off the next cook and repeat next time etc.
@@SmokingDadBBQ Thank you! I would like to think I could have figured that out :)
Got a Big Joe 3 n January and loving it so far. Question I haven’t been able to find anywhere. My dome hinge is working great and holding it up when open but it squeaks when you lift and lower. Thoughts on how to fix?
you could try reducing the tension on the air lift hinge to see if it’s too tight making that noise
Hey, have you had any issues with warping on the stainless steel firebox ring after only one season? I was doing a full clean out and shifting to another level of the deck. Is it that big of a deal, I got it back together without too much of an issue and with the additional weight it set back in place.
i find if it is seated properly it is less prone to warping
Is it worth upgrading the daisy wheel to the kontrol tower?
only if the moving portion is causing you trouble, you get lots of rain, or you have a hard time recreating specific temps and the lines would make it easier to find your settings
We get monsoons here in Houston. I have a Big Joe 1. I just ordered the tower from Kamado. Thanks for all you do. Your videos put me on the fast track to getting cooking on my Kamado. (First time ceramic grill owner here)
@@kristopherpdavis so glad to help
Your videos are great , you should represent kamado joe .
thanks so much
Dome overbite or underbite adjustment. Mine has an overbite from the factory.
Thanks Andy... are you the the first generation or one of the two most recent generations with the air lift hinge?
Smoking Dad BBQ Big Joe 2
Andy Larson I saw a thread on Kamado Guru about that a long time back. I believe the official answer from KJ support involved loosening the bands on the side of the grill with the big bolts. It didn’t say this but I would loosen the air lift hinge so it didn’t lift out of place while you have some slack on the bands. I found it easiest to use plumber pliers on the back of the hinge lifting up or down to slide the dome forward or backwards. Once it’s centred tighten back up
All the stainless steel inside my grill is horribly caked with grease and gunk. Any good methods of cleaning the grill, accessory rack, etc?
I should do a video on this for spring cleaning
@@SmokingDadBBQ That would be great.
THNX!
No problem!
Question on temperatures. I am cooking a turkey. My pit probe on the grate says 248 degrees and the dome says 330 degrees. Both units have been tested for accuracy. What should I use for my cook? Do I raise the grate temp to 325 or go by the dome?
how soon are you testing (aka are the ceramic plates just installed and potentially not heat soaked yet?). i don’t always use digital probes so I often use the dome as that’s consistent
@@SmokingDadBBQ Hello. This was 2 hours into the cook, so everything was up to temperature.
@@garykazanjian824 I’ve never had a spread on two accurate probes that wide. I suspect your fire has drifted to one side, likely the front so hot air is maybe hitting your dome probe but not heating the entire grate evenly. I would check your fire burn direction and maybe adjust the seams direction for more equal cooks. I try to light straight down
@@SmokingDadBBQ Thank you. I bet you are correct that my fire was to one side instead of the middle. BTW, do you ever use a drip pan with water in it to help moisture in?
I have a question 🙋🏻♀️ I have a Kamado Joe Classic II, I just purchased an outdoor kitchen to put it in. The hinge of the Kamado is so long that I would have to set it up way too high for the hinge. Is there a replacement hinge to be able to set it on a more normal height? I just realized this issue when we were going to transfer the Kamado in the kitchen.
it’s usually best to cut a notch for the hinge to fit in the table vs trying to sit above it.
So I am torn between SAVING UP A LITTLE MORE AND GETTING THE JOE VS THE BROIL KING KEG. FIRST WHICH ONE IS BEST? One thing I am concerned about is when I move in about 4 years that some how the movers CRACK IT SOMEHOW. How sturdy is the K JOE?
I’ve moved mine without an issue. just remove all the internal components and make sure the joe itself is secured with straps. I just got a big joe and have been really impressed with the utility of the extra space
Smoking Dad BBQ THANK YOU !!! Great INFORMATION....
BBCETAT BBCETAT cheers 🍻
Hello, My Kamado Joe Jr's lid does not close even, the lid tilts toward the front.....IE the front shows zero space and the rear is almost a 1/2 inch? How would I change or adjust this? Thanks
you may need a band replacement
@@SmokingDadBBQ Thanks, Kamado joe is sending me some new bands, since my grill is only a month old, they think they could be warped or bent? Since the jr doesn't have any type of hinge leveling adjustment I'm hopeful this corrects it. Thanks
hi James, It's Brad.
my Kamado Big Joe is not centered with the clip where you close it? what should I do ?
thank you,
Brad.
any tips James
the 4 nuts allow for left right adjustments for the latch and it has a nut on it for up and down
@@SmokingDadBBQ thank you James! I was getting ready to join Instagram and ask you to call me. also I'm leaking smoke from the gasket. what's your advice ?
Thank you so much, my brother from Canada!!
Brad.
@@brad1909 you might need to re-seat the dome if it’s not sitting flush
@@SmokingDadBBQ OK, how do I do that one, did the latch and thank you !!
I have the issue with the dome dropping down 4-6” when in the fully open position. Adjusting the nut on the air lift hinge doesn’t help. This makes removing the D&C rack and slo roller a pain. Any tips?
you tighten the bolt and it still won't hold? you might need a warranty spring replacement if so
@@SmokingDadBBQ It will hold at all positions except in the fully open position. When I open dome all the way up, the dome drops back down 4” and will slowly drop an additional 2”. Tightening bolt doesn’t help the issue. This is a 3 week old BJIII
@@sethboyett7092 and the nut at the back won’t tighten further? If no contact KJ
@@jamesmack3122 I have tightened to the point the dome will open up on its own after being unlatched. However, when opened to the fully open position it will still drop back down several inches.
Hi James ..a little off topic but do you have the dimensions of a Kamado Joe 3? I'm looking to purchase one but need to know if it will fit in my existing table and I can't find any dimensions on line. I need to know the hight from the bottom of the hinge housing to the bottom of the BJ3. Any idea what this is? Thanks
This is all I have as well - i.shgcdn.com/7e9f0dd6-5605-44e6-a102-bd0bfc143867/-/format/auto/-/preview/3000x3000/-/quality/lighter/ does that help?
@@SmokingDadBBQ thanks James I also found this and it looks like my current table will work. Ordering my BJ3 this week...can't wait !
I need to know how to unfreeze the entire top vent and prevent it from locking up again. The slide vent is not frozen on my Joe. The entire top will not rotate away to entirely open the top. Please advise. Thanks.
likely too much grease. hold a torch on the inside for a moment which will help it release so you can clean it
Just found this...DAAANNNNNGGG !!!
hahah hope it helped