This article goes over what a hopper-barrel gasket is and when and how to replace it.
Applicable Part Numbers:
- KIT0802
What is a hopper-barrel gasket & what does it do?
A hopper-barrel gasket is a square-shaped piece of fiber glass that creates a seal between the hopper and the grill barrel.
Similar to how an O-ring prevents water from seeping through the connection point of water pipe and a faucet, the hopper-barrel gasket creates a seal that both affects thermal insulation and keeps grease, ash and smoke from escaping the barrel from the connection point.
Where do I find my grill's hopper-barrel gasket?
If your grill has a hopper-barrel gasket, you'll find it seated between the grill's hopper-burner assembly (HBA) and the barrel. It's placed around the auger/burner tube, providing a seal between the two parts.
The gasket isn't visible all the time you won't see the gasket without removing the HBA from the grill, but occasionally you will see it peek out from the top or bottom of the HBA or even from the inside of the grill in the small space between the auger tube and the entry point on the grill barrel.
When to Replace a Hopper-Barrel Gasket
The most common time that you would want to replace a hopper-barrel gasket is when a customer notices grease leaking down the side of their grill and the source appears to be coming from where the HBA and the grill's body meet.
How to Replace a Hopper-Barrel Gasket
- Remove the grill's hopper-burner assembly
- As you pull the HBA away from the grill, the hopper-barrel gasket will either fall onto the auger tube or it may remain stuck/fused to the side of the grill.
- Remove the old hopper-barrel gasket.
- If the gasket is fused to the side of the grill due to the heat during use. If this is the case, have the customer scrape the remnants of the old gasket using a non-metal tool so as not to scratch the paint.
- Slide the gasket over the burner/auger tube and position it in place as you slide the HBA back into place.
- Reattach the hopper-burner assembly.