Tailgating Tune Up Tips

05/08

Have you ever pulled the grill out of the garage and wondered if the "ole trusty" would light up again this spring? Maybe you're one of the lucky ones that have good enough weather to cook all winter and never put the grill away. Either way there are some things that need to be checked, changed or replaced before the next tailgating season begins.

The spring tune-up for the tailgate season begins now! Routine cleaning of your grill should occur frequently throughout the season, hopefully a little more often than not. But this is the time of the year to really knock the cob webs off and look for problems or repairs that need to be fixed before they turn into a serious issue. A typical checklist would start with the physical appearance of the grill; is there any paint peeling, any rust forming? Are all the parts still around? After taking stock of what you can easily see, move into the innards of the grill. Check the piezo lighting mechanisms, the hose and regulator, and the burner itself. Performing a little seasonal maintenance will get your cooking machine purring like a kitten.

First thing to do is wheel the grill into the light of day and lift the lid to see if anything has nested or camped out in the confines of the grill box over the winter. You would be surprised how many little critters use it for a cold weather home. They also like to nest in the burners and intake manifolds, spiders love the tight spaces. Use either a small wire brush or compressed air to clear the pathways. That is an easy problem to spot, and most of the time an easy problem to fix.

Problems in the paint job can be the most painful. Everyone sees them and just like the rust, it eats away at your pride. Fear not though, it really is an easy fix. Use mild detergent kitchen soap and a soft sponge to clean up the area. Once it is cleaned and dried, apply a light coat of cooking oil to seal the area from further damage. To make it a permanent repair, use a more abrasive scrubber along with degreaser. Both items are vital, paint won't stick to a greasy surface and has a hard time adhering to a smooth surface. Last but not least, do yourself a favor and get a good high temp paint and follow the directions closely. You do not want to paint any surfaces that will come in contact with food, and be sure to let it dry completely before heating up the grill.

The igniters on grills always seem to be the most finicky little gadgets. Plan on them not working and bring matches and lighters. Then, if they do work, you can consider yourself lucky and head straight to Vegas! Most of the time, the problem with auto igniters is an easy one to fix. There is a wire that comes out from the button and should end near the burner head. Like a spark plug in your car, that wire should have a little gap between it and the burner. That is where the spark jumps from the igniter to the burner to light the unburned gas. Check to make sure the wire is connected on the push- button end, and that the right gap is on the burner end. If it still doesn't work, the igniter may just need to be replaced.

The bigger issues lie with what is harder to see. Think about leaks in the gas line, and the insurance nightmare that could follow. Look along the hose and regulator for any holes, cracking or other signs of wear. If anything looks out of place, replace the parts. It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to fuel. Performing a simple soap test is a great way to test the connections of the hose. Mix a small bit of water and soap together, then brush the mixture on all connection areas and watch closely for growing bubbles. If there is a leak present, don't fire up the grill and call the company's customer service department for help.

Parts will rust, fall off and just plain break on your grill, but that doesn't mean that the grill has to be thrown away. There are plenty of websites out there that have all the replacement parts and schematics to help figure out exactly what you need.

www.campchef.com
www.bbqparts.com
www.clagrills.com

Invest in a good grill, and take care of it, and with regular maintenance it should last you through many tailgate seasons. Now, clean them up, shine them up and fire them up! Have a great and safe grilling season!!!