Check and tighten the bands
Before you touch the bands
The hinge springs are under tension, and the bands hold the hinge on. The 2020 and 2021 Joe Jr. manuals: do not take the hinge off without the proper hardware; to change the dome or base, call Kamado Joe, who will send hardware that holds the hinge safely closed. The 2024 manual says only to check the bands and hinge. Any change of dome, base, bands or hinge needs two people, gloves and safety glasses.
When: after the first fire, when the 2024 manual says you may notice the bands have lost some tension, and before each use, when it says check all nuts, screws and bolts.
What: each band's ends turn out into ears at the back and are clamped to the hinge with socket (Allen) screws and nuts, four per band (photos and the KJ-SN13 spare).
Alignment: Kamado Joe gives no method for the Joe Jr. Whether its bands have a fixing pin at the front, as the Classic II's do, is not known. This job only checks and tightens. The 2024 manual refers to a "bands adjustment section" that is not in it.
Check the screws are tight
Kamado Joe gives no method for the Joe Jr. bands. This is the Classic I method from Kamado Joe's 2012 guide, with owners' practice.
- Close the dome; the grill must be cold.
- Find the screws where each band's ends are clamped to the hinge at the back: four on the upper band, four on the lower.
- Fit an Allen key in the screw head (inside the hinge) and a spanner on the nut (outside) before you turn anything: the sizes are not published.
- If one is loose, tighten it firmly, a little at a time, alternating upper and lower. Do not overtighten and strip it.
- Check the two handle nuts on the upper band with an 8 mm spanner (the manual's size).
- Check again after the next few cooks.