Take it apart

What comes out, and the hinge warning

The hinge and the bands are under high spring tension. The manual: never loosen the bands or take the hinge apart without the hinge disengagement kit fitted, because the hinge cannot be removed safely without it. Any change of dome, base or bands needs two people, gloves and safety glasses (the Classic II's 2025 manual; the Big Joe's dome is heavier still). Refit the base band first, front pin first, with a helper holding the hinge (Kamado Joe Europe).

• No tools: grates, deflectors, Divide & Conquer rack, ring, the 6 firebox walls and base, fire grate, ash drawer and funnel, Kontrol Tower.
• Spanners, owner jobs: the hinge tension (the manual, 10 mm and 19 mm) and the latch (the Classic II manual, same part).
• Spanners and the kit, two people: bands, hinge, dome. Kamado Joe Europe says contact your dealer for hinge work if needed.

The manual (p. 14): "Only minor adjustments to the weight of the dome should be made per the instructions on page 16." It calls nothing else technician-only.