Please help! Smoker issues.

bgmac60

Newbie

Original poster

Sep 5, 2016

3

10

• Sep 5, 2016

• #1

I have a 2 door Masterbuilt propane smoker.  The first 4-5 times I used it it was great.  The first problem I had was the flames/burner was giving off a heavy black soot or creosote that covered the meat and ruined it.  I continued to struggle with the problem on 3-4 test runs.  I completely cleaned the burner and that didn't work.  I changed out the regulator and that didn't work either.  The only thing that did work was to keep the burner as low as it will go and then the smoker struggles to get to 225.  What am I doing wrong?

 

dirtsailor2003

Epic Pitmaster

OTBS Member

Oct 4, 2012

21,947

4,224

Bend Oregon

• Sep 5, 2016

• #2

Sounds like an air flow issue. Do you have the vents open? Unless it's super windy I leave all my vents completely open.

 

sqwib

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

Sep 25, 2007

5,962

1,034

Philadelphia

• Sep 5, 2016

• #3

Is your flame blue or yellowish?

 

davidhef88

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Jun 24, 2011

2,176

120

Rochester, NY

• Sep 5, 2016

• #4

Make sure the tube going to the burner doesn't have a spider web in it

 

kc5tpy

Master of the Pit

May 12, 2013

4,352

188

Newark on Trent, United Kingdom.

• Sep 5, 2016

• #5

Hello.  The guys are RIGHT ON.  Anytime you are burning a gas ( butane, propane, acetylene, or natural ) without proper oxygen flow you get black sooty smoke.  Keep Smokin!

Danny

 

sqwib

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

Sep 25, 2007

5,962

1,034

Philadelphia

• Sep 6, 2016

• #6

Just an FYI for gassers, I always leave the hose connected to the tank to keep critters from entering the appliance end fitting.

 

pcjack

Smoke Blower

Jul 24, 2012

79

13

Orlando, FL

• Sep 23, 2016

• #7

Welcome to the smoke club!



Any time you have a sooty flame, it's almost always an air intake issue or clogging in the burner or hose. That has been my experience. Keep studying the posts here, you will find a LOT of great people with solid suggestions. You will not find a more inviting group of people sharing ideas and helping others.


Good luck!
James