Date:         Wed, 18 Jul 2012 09:30:08 -0700
Reply-To:     Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: stove grill rattles
Comments: To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <9572BAB5-C17B-4CF6-AA89-C20A771EA54F@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Say now -- putting plastic or rubber tubing on the ends of the grill
legs could perform double-duty: (a) dampen rattle sounds, and (b) if
tight enough and sturdy enough, the tubing could be slid down the legs
on the lower side of the grill (after unsnapping the grill from the
stovetop) to lift a low side.

Needs to be a tubing that resists heat, has an i.d. smaller than the
diameter of the grill legs so it will grip tightly enough not to slide
with the weight of the grill and cookery, but not so tight that it can't
be slid up/down as needed to lengthen a leg as needed, and sturdy enough
to not collapse under the weight. I keep coming back to the idea of
threading the leg ends and using internally-threaded al standoffs to
adjust leg length.

If truth be told, I like the nose of the van a degree or two higher than
the rear as we sleep on the lower bunk with our heads toward the bow,
and a bit of liftage reduces sinus and nasal congestion. So the grill
needs a bit of bias to prevent foods and liquids from pooling at the aft
sides of the cookware.

--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
Bend, Ore.

On 07/18/2012 08:15 AM, Alistair Bell wrote:
> Rockie's travails with staying level and the discussion about grill rattles reminds me about a mod I found (on the Samba I think) to help quieten the grill. The fix was putting little plastic end caps (found at hardware store) on the ends of the grill rods that sit on top of stove surface. I just used short sections of vinyl tubing, slipped over ends and projecting just a couple of millimeters.
>
> Doesn't need much projection to work. I used vinyl as I could not find the silicone tubing I have, and I worry that the vinyl might not take the heat from the stove. I'll replace with silicone when I find it.
>
> Also, on US westies with the fold down drain tray, there are rubber bumpers (3) on the underside of the stove lid. Check to make sure they are present. And some bits of self adhesive weather stripping foam on the front edge of lid, plus making sure lid latch is adjusted correctly, helps.
>
> And dishcloth on top of stove grate.
>
> alistair