i love my GOSM big block. the only problem i had was keeping the temperature stable. it would swing +/- 25 degrees whenever the wind blew. the gas valve that comes with them is just not very adjustable.
i read up on the sentry valve modification and i decided to give it a try. here is my parts list:
from bayouclassic.com i ordered:
Turkey Fryer Item# BC5235 1 $ 1.99
Gas Orifice
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Stainless Steel Item# BCM5HPR 1 $ 24.99
10 PSI Turkey
Fryer Regulator
Kit
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
High Pressure Item# BCBG10 1 $ 11.99
Cast Iron
Burner
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
from http://turkey-shoppe.nwtf.org/product128.html
i ordered the sentry valve for $18.00 delivered
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i started off by removing the lower burner compartment and the front plate that the gas valve mounts to. after removing the stock burner, i had to cut a hole in the outer case to allow the new burner to stick out the side. be sure to cut your hole down as low as you can go to allow the burner to hang as low as possible so that the sentry valve clears the bottom of the door when it is installed.
there is already a hole in the center of the floor of the burner compartment and there is a stud and a nut on the bottom of the new burner. just put it in there and tighten it down.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9439.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9440.jpg
now that you have that done, the sentry valve will just screw into the end of your burner like this
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9444.jpg
now you will need to cut a hole in the front plate to allow the sentry valve room to stick out the front. i cut my hole way too big.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9443.jpg
the sentry valve will come with a mounting clip to mount the temperature sensing bulb. i drilled a 1/4" hole in the side of the GOSM and used one of the handle mounting screws to mount the bulb inside the GOSM.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9460.jpg
now we are ready to test it out. mount the burner compartment, fill the water pan, light the flame and let it get warmed up. if there is nothing in the smoker, it will not keep a stable temperature. since we are using 10psi propane now, it will be a noisy flame and it will sound like a blowtorch. once it was up to temp at 250 degrees, it would lower the flame down to about where the stock burner would be on low. this was a fairly quiet flame. its nice to be able to hear the flame come on and off to tell what is going on. this is the low flame
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9456.jpg
and this is the high flame
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9457.jpg
as with most mechanical temperature valves, the sentry valve takes time to react to a temperature change and do its adjustment to the gas flow. it will not increase the flame up as soon as you open the door. it after the door is open, you will slowly hear the flame increase until it gets loud again.
there is a needle valve that comes with the gas regulator. you will need to adjust it until the high flame is down by about a third. otherwise you will run out of wood chips every half hour and it will overshoot the desired temperature before it backs off.
so how well does it work? i think its awesome. once i figured out how much to limit the flame with the needle valve, it will keep the temperature to +/- 5 degrees with the door closed. i no longer have to worry about the temperature while i am smoking. i get to go about my business and check it once in a whole. this modification has been well worth my money.
i read up on the sentry valve modification and i decided to give it a try. here is my parts list:
from bayouclassic.com i ordered:
Turkey Fryer Item# BC5235 1 $ 1.99
Gas Orifice
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Stainless Steel Item# BCM5HPR 1 $ 24.99
10 PSI Turkey
Fryer Regulator
Kit
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
High Pressure Item# BCBG10 1 $ 11.99
Cast Iron
Burner
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
from http://turkey-shoppe.nwtf.org/product128.html
i ordered the sentry valve for $18.00 delivered
-----------------------------------------------------------------
i started off by removing the lower burner compartment and the front plate that the gas valve mounts to. after removing the stock burner, i had to cut a hole in the outer case to allow the new burner to stick out the side. be sure to cut your hole down as low as you can go to allow the burner to hang as low as possible so that the sentry valve clears the bottom of the door when it is installed.
there is already a hole in the center of the floor of the burner compartment and there is a stud and a nut on the bottom of the new burner. just put it in there and tighten it down.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9439.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9440.jpg
now that you have that done, the sentry valve will just screw into the end of your burner like this
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9444.jpg
now you will need to cut a hole in the front plate to allow the sentry valve room to stick out the front. i cut my hole way too big.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9443.jpg
the sentry valve will come with a mounting clip to mount the temperature sensing bulb. i drilled a 1/4" hole in the side of the GOSM and used one of the handle mounting screws to mount the bulb inside the GOSM.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9460.jpg
now we are ready to test it out. mount the burner compartment, fill the water pan, light the flame and let it get warmed up. if there is nothing in the smoker, it will not keep a stable temperature. since we are using 10psi propane now, it will be a noisy flame and it will sound like a blowtorch. once it was up to temp at 250 degrees, it would lower the flame down to about where the stock burner would be on low. this was a fairly quiet flame. its nice to be able to hear the flame come on and off to tell what is going on. this is the low flame
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9456.jpg
and this is the high flame
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/IMG_9457.jpg
as with most mechanical temperature valves, the sentry valve takes time to react to a temperature change and do its adjustment to the gas flow. it will not increase the flame up as soon as you open the door. it after the door is open, you will slowly hear the flame increase until it gets loud again.
there is a needle valve that comes with the gas regulator. you will need to adjust it until the high flame is down by about a third. otherwise you will run out of wood chips every half hour and it will overshoot the desired temperature before it backs off.
so how well does it work? i think its awesome. once i figured out how much to limit the flame with the needle valve, it will keep the temperature to +/- 5 degrees with the door closed. i no longer have to worry about the temperature while i am smoking. i get to go about my business and check it once in a whole. this modification has been well worth my money.
