A Bull grill is built around heavy-duty 304 stainless steel components, and a simple cleaning routine keeps them performing like new for years. This guide covers the exact maintenance steps for cooking grates, flame tamers, heat plates, and burners on the Bull Angus, Outlaw, Lonestar, and Brahma series, using the OEM part numbers Bull owners actually need: 16517, 16521, 16631, 16520, 16516, and 35717.

How Often Should You Clean Your Bull Grill?

The answer depends on how often you cook, but a simple rule works for every Bull model from the Angus to the Brahma: quick cleaning after every cook, parts cleaning every few cooks, and one deep clean per season. Skipping these intervals lets grease bake onto heat plates and clog burner ports, which causes uneven flames and hard starts.

Use this schedule for all Bull gas grills, including the Angus (models 47628, 47629, 26038, 26039), Outlaw, Lonestar Select (87048, 87049), and Brahma 5-burner grills (57568, 57569):

How to Clean Bull Cooking Grates (16517, 16521)

Your Bull cooking grates take the most abuse of any part on the grill. Porous cast-iron style residue builds fastest on them, and 7mm and 9mm round rod grates like the OEM 16517 need slightly different care than the 16521 style grids used on many Angus and Lonestar configurations.

1. Heat the grill on high for 10 to 15 minutes with the lid closed to loosen stuck-on food.
2. Let the grates cool until warm, not scorching, then scrub with a brass or nylon brush along the rod, not across it.
3. Wipe the rods with a damp cloth and a little mild dish soap for stubborn spots.
4. Rinse with a clean damp cloth and dry completely to prevent water spotting on stainless steel.
5. Apply a light coat of high-heat cooking oil with a paper towel before your next cook.

Avoid steel wire brushes. Loose bristles can stick to the grates and end up in food. A crumpled ball of heavy-duty aluminum foil held with long tongs works well as a backup scrubber.

How to Clean Flame Tamers and Heat Plates (16631, 16520)

Flame tamers and heat plates sit right above the burners, so they catch most of the grease and drippings. On Bull grills, the angled 16631 flame tamer bars and the 16520 heat plate shields protect the burners while vaporizing juices. Heavy crust on these parts is the number one cause of flare-ups.

Step-by-Step Cleaning

1. Remove the cooking grates and set them aside.
2. Lift out each flame tamer and heat plate. Most Bull models, including the Outlaw and Brahma, lift out without tools.
3. Scrape both sides with a plastic or wooden scraper to remove carbon flakes.
4. Wash with warm water and mild dish soap using a soft brush or non-scratch pad.
5. Rinse, dry fully, and reinstall with the angled edge facing down, matching the original orientation.

How to Clean Bull Grill Burners (16516, 35717)

Cast stainless steel burners, including the OEM 16516 and 35717 used on many Angus, Outlaw, and Lonestar grills, are the most durable part of a Bull grill, but their tiny port holes clog with grease ash and rust flakes. Clogged ports show up as weak or patchy flames and uneven heating across the cooking surface.

Burner Cleaning Steps

1. Turn off the gas supply and disconnect the grill before starting.
2. Remove grates, flame tamers, and heat plates to expose the burners.
3. Lift each burner off its mounting and slide it off the gas valve orifice.
4. Brush the exterior with a soft brass brush, working along the burner body.
5. Clear each port hole gently with a wooden toothpick or a wire sized for the hole. Never enlarge the ports with a drill bit.
6. Shake out loose debris through the burner's open end, then inspect the spider guards at the air intakes.
7. Reinstall each burner, confirming it seats fully on the orifice before reassembling the parts above it.

Test the grill after reassembly. Each burner should light within a few seconds and burn evenly from end to end with a steady blue flame. Yellow-tipped flames usually mean the air shutter needs adjustment or the port is still partially blocked.

How to Maintain the Igniter, Grease Tray, and Exterior

Cleaning the burners and grates is only half the maintenance picture. The igniter electrode, grease management system, and stainless exterior keep the grill starting reliably and looking good. Igniter failure on Bull grills is usually grease or carbon on the electrode tip, not a dead module.

• Igniter: Gently sand or scrape the electrode tip with fine sandpaper until shiny metal shows. Confirm the tip sits about 1/8 inch from the burner, following your model's spec.
• Grease tray: Pull the drip tray and cup after heavy cooks. Never line it with foil, which can trap moisture against the metal and block airflow.
• Firebox: Vacuum loose ash from the firebox floor once a season with a shop vacuum.
• Exterior: Wash 304 stainless surfaces with warm soapy water, rinse, and dry with the grain. Apply stainless protectant a few times a year, and always use a quality grill cover when the grill is not in use.

Spray-on oven cleaner and chloride-based cleaners damage stainless steel and can void finishes. Warm soapy water is safer and does the job on 304 stainless.

When Should You Replace Bull Grill Parts Instead of Cleaning Them?

Cleaning restores performance, but every part has a service life. 304 stainless steel components resist corrosion far better than coated steel, yet years of high-heat cooking, coastal air, and winter storage outdoors eventually take a toll. Inspect every part during your seasonal deep clean and replace anything that fails a basic check.

If most parts are worn at once, a complete Bull rebuild kit with burners, grates, flame tamers, and heat shields costs less than buying parts one at a time. For a single worn component, 16517 stainless cooking grates and cast stainless steel burner sets are in stock and ship ready to install.

Not sure how to identify the right parts for your model first? Read How to Find the Right Replacement Parts for Your Bull Grill, then follow our Bull installation guide for Angus, Outlaw, and Lonestar models to swap parts in under an hour.

Bull Grill Maintenance FAQ

Can I use oven cleaner on my Bull grill parts?

No. Oven cleaner and other caustic chemicals etch 304 stainless steel and leave permanent discoloration. Remove grates, flame tamers, and heat plates and wash them with warm water and mild dish soap instead. For baked-on carbon, soak parts for an hour in warm soapy water before scrubbing with a non-scratch pad.

How do I stop my Bull burners from clogging?

Clean the burner ports twice a season with a toothpick, and keep the flame tamers and heat plates in good condition so grease never drips directly onto the burners. Burning the grill on high for 10 minutes after each cook also vaporizes residue before it builds up inside the ports.

Why are my flame tamers rusting so fast?

Moisture is the usual cause. A damp or missing grill cover lets water sit on the 16631 flame tamers between cooks. Dry every part fully after washing, empty the grease tray, and use a weatherproof cover. Coastal salt air also accelerates surface rust, so rinse stainless parts more often near the ocean.

How long do Bull grill parts usually last?

With routine cleaning, 304 stainless steel burners often last 3 to 5 years or more, while flame tamers and heat plates typically need replacement every 1 to 3 seasons depending on cooking frequency. Cooking grates last longest when oiled lightly after each cleaning and kept dry during storage.

The Bottom Line

Ten minutes after each cook and one afternoon each season is all it takes to keep a Bull Angus, Outlaw, Lonestar, or Brahma grilling like new. Clean the grates often, the flame tamers and heat plates regularly, and the burners twice a season. Replace anything that rusts through rather than fighting it, and choose 304 stainless steel replacements so the parts outlast the grill season after season.