How to do the Rec Tec wheel mod

[Hotelone]

Another successful RT-700 wheel mod. Thanks a bunch to everybody involved in engineering and posting this, it is a must-do for Bull owners!

 

[Mike]

Another successful RT-700 wheel mod. Thanks a bunch to everybody involved in engineering and posting this, it is a must-do for Bull owners!
View attachment 251

Looks good @Hotelone

 

[this_is_my_name]

With the RT-700, the pics look like they have screws all the way through the legs. Does that mean that drilling is no longer needed for the crossbar? Was the mod easier with the 700 over 680? Also, I assume this voids the warranty?

 

[Mike]

With the RT-700, the pics look like they have screws all the way through the legs. Does that mean that drilling is no longer needed for the crossbar? Was the mod easier with the 700 over 680? Also, I assume this voids the warranty?

There are screws all the way through the bottom of the legs, however the holes are not big enough to accept the 5/8" all-thread (or rod) which is why you need to drill them out to make them larger. I suggest using a step bit.

The pictures in the first post of this thread is me performing the Rec Tec wheel mod on my new RecTec Bull pellet grill. I would assume it's just as easy to perform on a RT-680 as well.

As for warranty, I would assume your drilled out grill legs may or may not be under warranty any longer.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Just to expand on the warrantee commentary. Consumer protection laws prohibit a manufacturer/supplier from dodging the entire warrantee obligation just because one element of whatever the item is, is modified by the user. While Mike's comment is accurate, that you aren't due consideration from RT for any failure directly related to your modification, you wouldn't lose protection for, let's say, the control hardware. Just like putting custom wheels on your vehicle doesn't kill the warrantee on your engine for example.

 

[NxtGenCowboy]

Just wanted to stay thanks for this! I picked up my 5/8" x 36" zinc plated rod and 5/8' shaft collars from Ace yesterday. Will cut that down today to 23.5. I still need to get the wheels and casters. I'm debating between the way cheaper $7.00 wheel at Harbor Fright or the $32.00 set from Amazon, I really like the way the red looks from Amazon. Has anyone used the locking caps yet to add to the "aesthetics"? Any issue with the wheel rubbing on the frame when using the shaft collars to hold the wheels?

 

[Mike]

@NxtGenCowboy be sure to post pictures once you've completed the mod!

Got a link to those locking caps?

 

[NxtGenCowboy]

Here ya go

 

[NxtGenCowboy]

Those whom did the steel shaft, did you still cut to 23 1/2?

 

[Uncle Bob]

Those whom did the steel shaft, did you still cut to 23 1/2?

Just a suggestion; wheel hub offset and thickness differences likely will affect eventual axle length. It's probably best to work from whatever your wheel choice is rather than relying on someone else's choices that may differ.

 

[NxtGenCowboy]

Just a suggestion; wheel hub offset and thickness differences likely will affect eventual axle length. It's probably best to work from whatever your wheel choice is rather than relying on someone else's choices that may differ.

Ah good point. My wheels haven't shipped yet.

 

[Cowboykirch]

• 5" Steelex D2618 swivel casters - Toolplanet or Grizzly
• Simply screw in your new 5" swivel casters.

@Mike did you leave the nut on the new 5” swivel casters? I’m attempting this mod OOTB, (a must as others have indicated) and I’m trying to get the grill to sit perfectly level from the grill grate. It’s very close, although I feel like being able to screw the caster stud a bit further up into the grill leg would be beneficial. I suspect you left the nut on so that everytime you swiveled the caster it didn’t come further removed from the grill leg? I noticed the stock casters did not have this nut, hence the ask.

I will follow up later with pics of my mod and some further comments!

Thanks!

 

[Mike]

@Cowboykirch yes sir, I left the nuts on the new 5" casters.

 

[Uncle Bob]

@Mike did you leave the nut on the new 5” swivel casters? I’m attempting this mod OOTB, (a must as others have indicated) and I’m trying to get the grill to sit perfectly level from the grill grate. It’s very close, although I feel like being able to screw the caster stud a bit further up into the grill leg would be beneficial. I suspect you left the nut on so that everytime you swiveled the caster it didn’t come further removed from the grill leg? I noticed the stock casters did not have this nut, hence the ask.

I will follow up later with pics of my mod and some further comments!

Thanks!

If removing the nut helps in your situation you can always use a product called Locktite to keep the threaded portion from turning. Use the blue rather than the red as it's easier to unscrew from should that be necessary.

 

[NxtGenCowboy]

Has anyone found the casters anywhere else besides online?

 

[CopperDoc]

Has anyone found the casters anywhere else besides online?

Grainger Supply will probably have them, but it'll cost you more than buying it online will.

 

[Mike]

Has anyone found the casters anywhere else besides online?

I haven't had any lucky locally. I've checked Lowes, Home Depot and Harbor Freight.

 

[Rickrectec]

@NxtGenCowboy be sure to post pictures once you've completed the mod!

Got a link to those locking caps?

Grainger Supply will probably have them, but it'll cost you more than buying it online will.

Bought my 5” Steelex swivel wheels last week through Amazon but shipped from Grizzly Tools. Perfect fit to match up with 10” solid wheels from my local Harbor Freight. Fitted the 10” wheels to 5/8” threaded rod for an axle from Farm & Fleet and held together with washers, lock washers, and nuts (nuts and washers mounted and locked both inside and outside the legs for rigidity). Love my 2014 RT680 but have disliked the original small wheels since day one. Other upgrades I have done include the front shelf, WiFi controller, and grill grates. In last five years the only failure of note has been two igniter probes burning out, as that type of probe tends to do over time. The next time the igniter goes I wii upgrade to a ceramic. I have done hundreds of successful cooks on my RT680 and am a very satisfied customer. Great service from Rec Tec staff.

 

[Acidic]

I just ordered my bull. I saw on the FB page that the legs were changed on the bull now. a little angled, and a leg brace.

do you think tire mod still needed? mine will be stationary. but will move around a bit once i start my backyard 2k sqft paver/ retain wall project. the project will also be going on where the bull will live, so will have a month of it being moved around a lot.

knowing my crew they would tip it over when moving it. was going to order up the parts so it's ready when my bull arrived.

 

[wildblue]

The 'new' legs on the 700 flare out a bit to give it a little wider stance. Buddy of mine just got his and sent me this:

Assembled it looks like this

I'm assuming they didn't change the small casters, but...

The big wheels attach differently. From what I can tell, there's probably a threaded hole there, not a 'pass the bolt through' setup like before. So our parts list / how-to might need to be updated.