They promised rain today but I decided to take a bit of a chance and try to assemble my new BBQ grill instead of letting it sit in its carton in the rain as it did right after it was delivered on Thursday. I was too busy to do it yesterday and that was too bad because it did not rain. For today though, the weathermen predicted a good amount of rain starting this afternoon and into tonight. I decided to give it a go and try to beat the rain.
I began the whole assembly process at about noon. It was partly cloudy/partly sunny - not a bad day. It was warm but not too much. I opened the cartons (one inside the other with a few smaller ones inside the large inner one. After pulling out this and that and the almost fully assembled grill body (thank you Brinkmann) I found the manual. I went over the parts list and checked off each and every part against it, they were all there! Wow, what a pleasant surprise for something made in China (I had no idea where it was made when I bought it). I started to read the assembly instructions, read a few steps in advance and said let's do it because the instructions were in good English and seemingly made sense. It looked as if it would be pretty straightforward and easy to accomplish. In fact, it was pretty easy; one of the hardest things of the whole deal was getting it all out of the main carton but that was none too difficult and I was able to manage it by myself, including the grill body.
As I said, it was pretty easy to put together thanks to very good to excellent instructions. I had to redo one step because I used two screws with washers, when I was not supposed to use washers, and I needed the washers for another part. Otherwise I got it done without a hitch - at least as far as I can tell now. I have not tested it to assure that it does not leak gas but if it does leak - well then that was a problem straight out of the factory as I had nothing to do with the assembly of the gas line or burners except that I tightened some screws that held the burners in place. There were only a few things for which I would find fault with Brinkmann: 1) virtually 75 to 80% of the screws on the grill body assembly were loose (while 8 of them were supposed to be loose and tightened later once a couple of pieces were put in place, all the others were a different story and were proof that quality control in the Brinkmann factory in China sucks), 2) There were a few small dings on painted parts, a few scratches on the stainless steel cover and a pretty large dent in the bottom panel (that I straightened out pretty much okay). None of that will effect how it works and other than some design quirks that I am used to already because I had the same grill for three years prior to this replacement, I am satisfied with it for the price I paid. he only thing I noticed that has changed since I bought my original one over three years ago is the thermometer - certainly not anything major. I figure I will get at least a couple more years out of this one if I am careful not to let grease buildup and thus allow for major flare-ups.
As for the rain that I was worried about: It's raining out now. It also was raining a bit when I took the dogs out for a walk, became a downpour once we were committed to about halfway in the walk, poured until we were about 75% through with the walk, stopped a few minutes before we got home BUT it did not rain even one drop in the 3 1/2 or so hours it took me to put the grill together (and I took my time with it). I made sure to get every tool I could think of that I might need, cleaned my mess as I went along (all the cardboard, plastic bags and Styrofoam), read each and every step of the instructions twice (except maybe the one about not needing two washers when I used them by mistake) and enjoyed my coffee throughout the process. My son walked outside just as I was done (great timing) and asked how it was coming along and if I knew when it was supposed to start raining. I was happy to report it was done and that I was dry but that yes heavy rain was predicted.
Perhaps I will have to cook on it tomorrow, that is if it dries out by then. Being the knucklehead I can be, and being lost in the fog of happiness that is little known to me for actually getting something like this done without a problem, I forgot all about the rain to come. I also forgot to do one thing after I had assembled it. I had laid the cover across one end of it so I would not forget to cover it completely, then rolled it into its cubby hole next to my fence. Of course, I left the cover draped right where it was over one end of it. At least that end is dry, then again so is the garden gnome!
All the best,
Glenn B (Master Grill Assembler)
I began the whole assembly process at about noon. It was partly cloudy/partly sunny - not a bad day. It was warm but not too much. I opened the cartons (one inside the other with a few smaller ones inside the large inner one. After pulling out this and that and the almost fully assembled grill body (thank you Brinkmann) I found the manual. I went over the parts list and checked off each and every part against it, they were all there! Wow, what a pleasant surprise for something made in China (I had no idea where it was made when I bought it). I started to read the assembly instructions, read a few steps in advance and said let's do it because the instructions were in good English and seemingly made sense. It looked as if it would be pretty straightforward and easy to accomplish. In fact, it was pretty easy; one of the hardest things of the whole deal was getting it all out of the main carton but that was none too difficult and I was able to manage it by myself, including the grill body.
As I said, it was pretty easy to put together thanks to very good to excellent instructions. I had to redo one step because I used two screws with washers, when I was not supposed to use washers, and I needed the washers for another part. Otherwise I got it done without a hitch - at least as far as I can tell now. I have not tested it to assure that it does not leak gas but if it does leak - well then that was a problem straight out of the factory as I had nothing to do with the assembly of the gas line or burners except that I tightened some screws that held the burners in place. There were only a few things for which I would find fault with Brinkmann: 1) virtually 75 to 80% of the screws on the grill body assembly were loose (while 8 of them were supposed to be loose and tightened later once a couple of pieces were put in place, all the others were a different story and were proof that quality control in the Brinkmann factory in China sucks), 2) There were a few small dings on painted parts, a few scratches on the stainless steel cover and a pretty large dent in the bottom panel (that I straightened out pretty much okay). None of that will effect how it works and other than some design quirks that I am used to already because I had the same grill for three years prior to this replacement, I am satisfied with it for the price I paid. he only thing I noticed that has changed since I bought my original one over three years ago is the thermometer - certainly not anything major. I figure I will get at least a couple more years out of this one if I am careful not to let grease buildup and thus allow for major flare-ups.
As for the rain that I was worried about: It's raining out now. It also was raining a bit when I took the dogs out for a walk, became a downpour once we were committed to about halfway in the walk, poured until we were about 75% through with the walk, stopped a few minutes before we got home BUT it did not rain even one drop in the 3 1/2 or so hours it took me to put the grill together (and I took my time with it). I made sure to get every tool I could think of that I might need, cleaned my mess as I went along (all the cardboard, plastic bags and Styrofoam), read each and every step of the instructions twice (except maybe the one about not needing two washers when I used them by mistake) and enjoyed my coffee throughout the process. My son walked outside just as I was done (great timing) and asked how it was coming along and if I knew when it was supposed to start raining. I was happy to report it was done and that I was dry but that yes heavy rain was predicted.
Perhaps I will have to cook on it tomorrow, that is if it dries out by then. Being the knucklehead I can be, and being lost in the fog of happiness that is little known to me for actually getting something like this done without a problem, I forgot all about the rain to come. I also forgot to do one thing after I had assembled it. I had laid the cover across one end of it so I would not forget to cover it completely, then rolled it into its cubby hole next to my fence. Of course, I left the cover draped right where it was over one end of it. At least that end is dry, then again so is the garden gnome!
All the best,
Glenn B (Master Grill Assembler)
2 comments:
But the question for you. laddie, is were ya wearin' yer kilt while you were aseemblin' yer chinese made grill?
I readily admit, no I was not wearing a kilt then. I had to break down the old grill too, so I wore a crappy pair of pants
I am happy I did because they got slimed with greasy gooey gobs of gopher guts from the old grill.
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