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Blackstone Griddle Legs Wobbly
Some Blackstone griddles sit on a stand with adjustable legs. While this is great for using them on an uneven surface, such as a gravel campsite, or a trip to the beach, the legs can sometimes be wobbly. This is an even bigger concern with a cart-based Blackstone griddle, which is meant to sit solid and secure on any flat surface.
If your Blackstone griddle’s legs are wobblier than a newborn colt, it can cause a ton of problems.
Rendered fat, sloppy marinade, and grease can start to pool up as it fails to make it to the grease management system.
This can cause the cooktop to smoke, and might even lead to a catastrophic spill from the grease management system’s collection cup.
Though before you rush to return your wobbly-legged Blackstone griddle, there are a few things you can try to correct the problem and get it standing firm on its own four feet.
Why Are My Blackstone Griddle’s Legs Wobbly?
Loose attachment hardware or missing washers are the most obvious, and common reasons why your Blackstone griddle’s legs seem a little bit wobbly.
Especially if you have a cart-based model like the Blackstone 36 or the Blackstone 28.
If you have a Blackstone Tailgater, or a version of the Blackstone On-The-Go, or Adventure Ready with a portable stand, then it likely has adjustable legs.
This can leave you with additional points of failure for attachment hardware that needs to be tightened.
The legs on these portable models should “Snap” into place with an audible click, and some models have tightening knobs on the sides.
Portable Blackstone griddle stands also have adjustable feet, which are meant to help you level the entire griddle on an uneven surface.
If just one of these feet is out of alignment with the other three, and you have it standing on a firm surface, it can give the portable Blackstone griddle a diagonal wobble.
How Do You Fix Wobbly Legs on a Blackstone Griddle?
Before you start tightening nuts and bolts with reckless abandon, you need to make sure to check that all the necessary washers are also in place.
Washers play a critical role in helping keep the bolts from loosening. They also help to evenly distribute the load from the nut or bolt head over a larger area, which translates into greater stability.
If just one or two washers were absently left out during the assembly process it can make even a seemingly sturdy cart base seem a little wobbly.
Once you are absolutely sure that all the necessary washers are in their correct places, then you can go over every nut and bolt with a nut driver, ratchet, or box wrench.
A nut or two that was just hand tightened when you initially put the Blackstone griddle together can loosen over time causing the entire griddle stand or cart base to wobble.
Just keep in mind that this is no time to do your best Incredible Hulk impression. There’s no need to overtighten nuts to the point where they damage the metal. You are just making sure they are solidly in place.
If you have a portable Blackstone griddle like the Tailgater or the Adventure-Ready, you should check to make sure that the legs have “Snapped” or “Locked” into place when you set it up.
Check any tightening hardware on the sides to make sure it is solid.
If it’s the relationship between the portable stand and the griddle’s firebox that is making it seem wobbly, you should also check the four attachment clips.
They are silver-looking angles of eighth-inch rounded metal. There is one in each of the four corners near where the legs connect to the firebox.
They slip over machine screw bolts to help secure the marriage between the firebox and the top of the stand.
If your Blackstone griddle has adjustable feet, and you have it set up on a level surface or firm ground, one or two misaligned feet can cause a significant wobble.
Check to see if the wobble is side to side, front to back, or diagonal. This will help you identify the misaligned foot and adjust it just like you would one of the feet on your washing machine or stove at home.
Should You Return the Stand If the Legs Are Wobbly?
If you have tried everything to correct the wobble to no avail, and you purchased the stand through a retailer, you might want to consider returning it.
Though Blackstone warrants all their products against material defects for up to one year from the date of purchase.
They also have a reputation for good customer service.
So, it might be a good idea to call them first to see if they can help you identify if it is indeed a manufacturing defect, and how to best redeem any warranty through the manufacturer, or the retailer you purchased your Blackstone griddle from.
Final Thoughts
Wobbly legs on a Blackstone griddle are usually related to loose fasteners, missing washers, or improper setup.
If it is a cart-based model, then the wobble is more likely to be related to a fastener or a missing washer.
If you have a portable model like the Blackstone Tailgater, the On-the-Go, or the Adventure-Ready with a portable stand, then there are a lot of other adjustable parts to consider.
Start by making sure that the legs are locking into place with a “Snap” and that the tightening bolts are solid. If the stand itself is firm, but the firebox seems wobbly, then you might want to check the four attachment clips in the corners.
If you are on a level or firm surface it could also be a misalignment issue in the stand’s adjustable feet.
Sometimes even if all four feet are in plane with each other, a deviation in the surface of your deck, patio, or campsite can cause one or two of the feet to be misaligned with the others.
Robert is a certified Pitmaster, with over a decade of experience in smoking the best meats you’ll ever feast upon. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. When he’s not researching technical topics, he’s most likely barbecuing in his backyard.